DUNGANNON'S hopes of making the knockout stages may have suffered a mortal blow after this shock defeat to Blackrock at Stevenson Park yesterdy.

Dungannon, unbeaten at home all season, were confidently expected to maintain their proud record and it looked secure when they ran in two tries in the second quarter.

The first came from centre Glenn Telford and this was followed by another from full back Richard McCarter who added the conversion.

They appeared in little real danger at this stage but with half time in sight the visitors hit back with a vengeance, their outstanding full back Fionn Carr getting through for a try which he converted himself.

Within minutes of the restart, Blackrock added a second try through flanker Richard Woods, Carr again adding the conversion.

They went in 14-12 ahead at the break, but Dungannon soon regained the lead with a try by Neil Patterson.

Dungannon now increased the tempo and confirmed their increasing superiority with a try by prop Mark Neilly after a powerful rolling maul had driven the visitors back over their own line.

Suddenly, the home side were 10 points to the good and looked set for another victory, but again the game changed as Blckrock hit back late in the match surprising Dungannon players and supporters alike. Five minutes from the end of normal time Blackrock full back Carr got through for a try after a great sweeping move that began back on their own 22. The same player added the conversion to leave only three points seperating the sides.

In a dramatic last few minutes, Blackrock threw caution to the wind in search of a match-winning try and their enterprise was rewarded when wing Patrick Louvat crashed over in the corner.

They failed with the conversion but that didn't matter as they now hwld a two-point advantage - 26-24 - and maintained control for the last few minutes.

DUNGANNON R McCarter; N Patterson, J Bell, G Telford, P Magee; A Larkin, D Spence; G Sinnamon, C O'Kane, D Fitzpatrick, M Rainey, S McCarroll, A Hughes, O Hennessy, S Lamb Subs M Neilly for Sinnamon, 48 mins; T Anderson for McCarroll, 58 mins; J Bates for D Spence, 64 mins BLACKROCK F Carr; A Henry, K Tonetti, S Morrissey, P Louvat; E Farrell, D Rowan; F Palamo, H Vermaas, M Cuffe, D Dillon, O Cullen, D Laffan, R Woods, P Graham Referee L Colgan (IRFU)