After all their hard work early on, Clontarf very nearly threw it all away but with out-half Richie Murphy in impeccable kicking form, it was holders Lansdowne who eventually made their Leinster Cup exit at Lakelands on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Brent Pope had been hoping to see Clontarf through one more game before he moves on to St Mary's and on this occasion it was nothing less than they deserved. The game may have been dominated by the penalty exchanges of Murphy and Lansdowne full back Rory Kearns, but when it came to hunger, Clontarf had it all.

Clontarf, leading by 9-6 at the break, came out even more determined and a quick switching move started by Murphy's run down the line was flicked out to full back Daragh McGelliott and back to Murphy for an inventive try after just two minutes. Murphy converted and left Clontarf comfortably in front 19-6.

That wakened up Lansdowne and 14 minutes into the second half Enda Bohan carried the ball over from a line-out for their first try. Brian Glennon then showed even more conviction to run over a second just four minutes later and with another fine conversion from Kearns, the holders were suddenly a point in front.

But Murphy had the final say, kicking two great penalties at full time and four minutes into injury time.

Scoring sequence: 2 mins: Murphy pen, 30; 6: Kearns pen, 3-3; 11: Murphy pen, 6-3; 20: Kearns pen, 6-6; 33: Murphy pen, 9-6; 43: Murphy try, con, 16-6; 49: Murphy pen, 19-6; 54: Bohan try, Kearns con, 19-13; 58: Glennon try, Kearns con, 19-20; 80: Murphy pen, 22-20; 84: Murphy pen, 25-20.

Clontarf: D McGelliot; A McLean, M Smith, C Bewley, O Winchester; R Murphy, A Kelly; H Hurley, B Jackman, T Kearns, D Moore, C Power, D O'Brien, P Ward, C Brownlee. Replacements: P McQuillan for Kearns (65 mins), J Ball for Power (70 mins).

Lansdowne: R Kearns; M Dillon, R Niland, K McQuilkin, N Gunne; B Glennon, I Murphy; R Corrigan, C Egan, E Bohan, S O'Connor, G Fulcher, S Rooney, L Toland, C McEntee. Replacement: D O'Mahoney for Kearns (88 mins).

Referee: T Redmond (ARLB).