‘Belvo defeated last year’s title winners St. Mary’s College for the second time this season, with full-back and captain Daniel Riordan scoring a brace of tries at Anglesea Road.

The result has moved Andy Dunne’s men into seventh place, level on 30 points with St. Mary’s in eighth with Shannon a further five points back - although Mary’s and Shannon do have a game in hand.

Riordan and Aidan Wynne, two former Connacht backs, both touched down in the opening half in response to an early penalty from St. Mary’s full-back Gavin Dunne.

But a converted try from scrum half Chris Lilly reduced the arrears for the visitors to 15-10 on the cusp of half-time.

Dunne and ‘Belvo winger Josh Glynn swapped penalties as the five-point gap was maintained, until Riordan decided this tight tussle in the 64th minute with his second try of the afternoon and his ninth of the campaign.

St. Mary’s, who lost 18-16 to ‘Belvo at home in November, were unable to respond as they suffered their second successive league defeat. They face a huge match at home to Shannon next Saturday.