Tarf responded with a lineout maul, which was carried through a few phases, before Jordan Coghlan bullied his way over for 5 7 at half time.
The second half was a looser affair. Clontarf hoped to have wind advantage but storm Dave had other ideas and the wind shifted in Mary’s favour for the second as well!
15 minutes in, Mary’s got their second try after two efforts were arguably denied, one for a double movement and the other for a knock on in the corner. The ball was moved slowly across the Tarf 22 inviting a block which duly arrived and centre O’Gara followed up to score for 5 14.
The game now entered the “What we have we hold phase” and the raft of substitutions from both sides, with the semi in mind, meant it took on a more cavalier tone.
The arrival of Angus Lloyd added some grey haired freshness to the home side and, when Mary’s were pressured into conceding a penalty at the half way, his fast tap caught their defence narrow and Dec Adamson gunned a beauty off his right hand to substitute Dan Magner in space. His sheer pace fuelled by excitement and roared on by the home support saw him home into the corner for a classic try on his AIL debut and 10 14.