The Towners were blown away in a slick opening term from the hosts – which led by 26 points at the first change – but proved the better team across the duration of the match.

Dunnstown put the clamps on after quarter time and hit the lead during the third quarter before the scores sat tied at the final break.

The Towners broke the match open with the first three majors of the last term, the Blues then trimmed it to seven points before Rhys Cahir did some clever crumbing and banged home the sealer in the closing minutes of the game.

“We said ourselves it was a mini final today. We desperately needed to win the game,” said coach Justin Abrams. Dunnstown is now just four points behind the eighth-placed Blues.