THIS Limerick derby did not disappoint the biggest crowd of the season at Dooradoyle for yesterday's AIB League Division One clash.

Level at the break, Garryowen pulled away in the second-half and when their back-row Anthony Kavanagh robbed two successive UL Bohs line-outs five metres from the home line, the visitors' fate was sealed.

Garryowen went into the lead for the first time on 44 minutes when Man of the Match Eoghan Hickey landed a penalty from halfway and after Hickey had set up good field position on 50 minutes, Damian Varley went over for the try which put the light blues 15-5 in front.

Another Hickey penalty on 59 minutes edged the Dooradoyle side further ahead and at the finish they were full value for their victory.

Yet they had struggled early on. UL Bohemian dominated the early stages and they would have gone into an early lead had the home full-back Conor Kilroy not put in a try-saving tackle on Martin McPhail after three minutes.

A fine break by centre Ben Martin and a neat tap through the defence set up another UL Bohs try chance on six minutes but full-back Ian Hanley failed to get the touchdown.

Garryowen were living on scraps but they got a chance to go in front on 22 minutes.

Awarded a penalty on their first serious incursion into the opposition half, Eoghan Hickey put his effort wide of the right hand post.

Six minutes later the Munster out-half got another chance to put his side on the scoreboard but this time from the 10-metre line he again failed to find the target.

UL Bohemian continued to dominate and they deservedly went in front after 31 minutes. Chris Deloose fed Ben Martin on his own 10-metre line and the centre made great yards before timing his pass inside to Martin McPhail who went over close to the corner flag.

Ben Martin was wide with the conversion attempt.

The same player again missed the target with a penalty effort from halfway at the restart after referee English had flagged for an earlier Garryowen infringement.

The score gave the home side more determination however and they levelled the game on the stroke of half-time.

A UL Bohs attack broke down on halfway when Ian Hanley spilled the ball in the tackle. Garryowen winger Ciaran O'Boyle picked up the loose ball and made the try line with ease.

Hickey's conversion miss was his third of the half with the boot but he completely dominated affairs in the second half.

GARRYOWEN K Hartigan; C Doyle, C O'Boyle, E Hickey, A Kingsley; R Brosnan, D Varley; E McGovern, M Melbourne, D Sheehan, PNeville, A Kavanagh, P Malone Subs E Mackey for Sheehan, 70 mins UL BOHEMIAN I Hanley; M McPhail, B Martin, C Finn, T Luke; Fl Lawlor, C Deloose; G Walsh, G Ryan, M Storey, B Madigan, D Sheehan; A Kavanagh, P Neville, P Malone Subs T O'Donnell for Madgian. 14 mins; R Feeney and C Parkes for Storey and Ryan, both 60 mins; E Forrie for Deloose, P Rowley for Hanley, 70 mins Referee G English