Lansdowne’s Aviva Revival: Lawlor Inspires Stunning Comeback Against Old Belvedere

By Keith Hammond · Ireland

Lansdowne 35–26 Old Belvedere · Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A · Aviva Stadium · 2026-10-10 · Player of the match: Todd Lawlor

There are comebacks, and then there are afternoons that remind us exactly why rugby is a game of two halves. At the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, Lansdowne looked destined for another difficult afternoon as Old Belvedere raced into a commanding 19–0 lead inside the opening 30 minutes.
But the hosts had other ideas.

Lansdowne desperately needed a result after two opening defeats. What followed was a stirring display of resilience, attacking ambition and clinical finishing, as Rhys Ruddock’s side scored 35 points to turn a potentially disastrous afternoon into a memorable 35–26 victory.
For Old Belvedere, it was a painful lesson in the importance of seeing out the full 80 minutes. For Lansdowne, it was a statement win that could provide the platform for their season.

Belvo in control early on-
Old Belvedere arrived in confident mood after winning their opening two fixtures, and their early-season attacking form was immediately apparent.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Ed Byrne crossed for a try, with Sam Wisniewski adding the conversion. Lansdowne were struggling to contain the visitors, and matters deteriorated rapidly in the 28th minute.
Scrum-half Chris O’Connor crossed before Patrick Dowling followed with another try, as Old Belvedere punished Lansdowne’s defensive shortcomings to establish a formidable 19–0 advantage.
Three tries inside the opening half-hour had left the hosts staring down the barrel. Belvo were playing with freedom and precision, while Lansdowne looked short of answers.
Then came the moment that changed the mood.
With half-time approaching, Todd Lawlor burst through to score a crucial try in the 37th minute. Michael Moloney converted, cutting the deficit to 19–7 and giving Lansdowne a much-needed lifeline.
It was a score that mattered psychologically as much as it did on the scoreboard. Suddenly, the hosts had something to build on.

The comeback gathers pace-
If Lawlor’s try had offered hope, Lansdowne wasted little time turning it into momentum.
Just one minute after the restart, flanker Paul Wilson crossed for the second try, with Moloney again adding the extras. At 19–14, the contest was alive, and Old Belvedere were suddenly under serious pressure.
Lansdowne had improved their accuracy around the set piece, tightened their discipline and begun to play in more productive areas of the pitch. The difference was clear: the hosts were no longer chasing the game but dictating its tempo.
Ruddock’s side continued to press, and their reward arrived in the 66th minute when centre Dylan O’Keeffe crossed for the third try. Moloney converted, putting Lansdowne ahead for the first time at 21–19.
From 19 points behind to leading by two , the transformation was extraordinary.
O’Keeffe was not finished. Seven minutes later, the centre crossed again to complete his brace, and Moloney’s conversion stretched Lansdowne’s advantage to 28–19.
Old Belvedere had been unable to halt the momentum, and Lansdowne sensed the opportunity to deliver the decisive blow.

Lawlor lights up the Aviva-
That final flourish arrived in the closing stages, with Todd Lawlor once again at the heart of Lansdowne’s attacking threat.
Lawlor’s clever cross-kick created the opportunity for Dylan O’Keeffe to claim his second try of the afternoon, further underlining the full-back’s influence on the contest. Lansdowne were now playing with confidence and attacking intent, and Old Belvedere were struggling to contain the wave of pressure.

Then came another moment of brilliance. A sharp break, rapid interplay and perfectly timed support lines sliced through the Belvo defence, allowing Juan Beukes to finish the move with Lansdowne’s fifth try in the 76th minute.
Michael Moloney added the conversion to make it 35–19, capping a remarkable turnaround. Lansdowne had scored 35 unanswered points after trailing 19–0, transforming a match that appeared to be slipping away into a commanding home victory.

To their credit, Belvo refused to go quietly. Fionn McWey crossed for a late try in the 80th minute, and Wisniewski converted to bring the final score to 35–26 and secure a losing bonus point.
But the comeback was complete, and Lansdowne had their first win of the campaign.

Final score: Lansdowne 35–26 Old Belvedere.