AN immense depth of character and resilience have long been a hallmark of the Garryowen club. These have been central components that have carried the club through many a crisis and to many of their great triumphs. They were in evidence again on their home soil at Dooradoyle last Saturday and they needed to be to see off the challenge presented by St Mary's College in Division One of the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League.

This victory leaves Garryowen level on points with Shannon, so the match that will decide the title will be at Dooradoyle next Saturday when Garryowen play Young Munster and need only a draw to win the championship for the third time.

Throughout this league campaign Garryowen have revealed a great capacity to come from behind - they have done so five times in the last six matches - and they did it again on this occasion. Once more it was Richard Wallace who struck the crucial blow with a great try 17 minutes from the end to give Garryowen the lead for the first time. They protected it, not without difficulty and anxiety but with courage and resolution. Wallace has been a prolific try scorer in the league campaign and none he has scored has been more valuable than this latest effort.

With Shannon's points difference vastly superior, Garryowen had to get either a win or a draw from the match last Saturday to keep their championship hopes alive. And the tension showed as St Mary's, although out of contention, cast aside the burden of never having won a league match in Limerick to give what their coach Ciaran Fitzgerald correctly identified as "their best display of the league."

Although they lost both their international number eight Victor Costello and their Ireland under-21 out-half Fergal Campion after 21 minutes Costello had to have 30 stitches in a head wound and Campion eight St Mary's dominated the first period and built a nine-point lead that did not flatter them.

Garryowen had threatened to take the lead inside the first five minutes, but it was St Mary's who established control up front and had their opponents under almost constant pressure. Steve Jameson and Malcolm O'Kelly won a liberal supply of ball from line-outs and St Mary's rucking and driving was as authoritative as it was effective, despite the loss of Costello, who had given signs that he was going to have a really big match. Frank Fitzgerald proved an able deputy for Costello, as did Dermot Quigley for Campion.

With the rain coming down. St Mary's carried the game to Garryowen, and while the home defence stood firm, they conceded penalties and Quigley kicked three from four first half attempts. Campion had missed two before his departure. Those concessions were a measure of the pressure. "It would be fair to say that I had a few harsh words at half time. It was a good job the parish priest was not listening," said Garryowen coach Johnny McDonnell. "We knew we could not afford to go further behind. The players' response was tremendous and they showed the kind of courage and determination that has enabled us to come from behind so often during the league."

"It was a great match and an extremely clean match " said Ciaran Fitzgerald. "I was especially pleased with our first half performance. I felt at half-time if we could get another score we would win. I knew Garryowen would come back at us and they did. That is what you expect from Garryowen. But I am pleased with our performance. We could still have won it, even after they took the lead."

With the St Mary's pack dominant and very well led by Barry Browne, half-backs Philip Lynch and Quigley played very well to add that strength and Quigley's tactical kicking was well placed.

But, as is their tradition, Garryowen were a team transformed after the interval. Paddy O'Grady and Michael Coughlan won good line-out possession and with Paul Hogan and Dara O'Sullivan often in the van of the forward surges they put St Mary's under pressure. Scrum-half Stephen McIvor offered the necessary response and Garryowen established good attacking positions. Kenny Smith kicked a penalty and added a second within 13 minutes of the resumption and the stage was set for a battle royal. And that we got.

With 17 minutes left Wallace scored the vital try. The score was a great tribute to his dedication of purpose: He gathered a very well-placed chip by Paul Murphy and beat two defenders to score in the right corner. Smith was wide with the conversion. But Garryowen had the lead for the first time.

They were extremely hard-pressed to retain it as St Mary's went in pursuit of victory in a tremendously exciting finish.

Quigley was narrowly wide with a dropped goal attempt and Smith wide with a penalty from 40 yards that would have eased Garryowen anxiety. St Mary's got a penalty on the right touch-line in the 80th minute and Garryowen hearts missed a beat or two. Although Quigley struck it well, the hall floated wide. Then, in injury time it took a superb tackle by McIvor to stop Denis Hickie just short of the Garryowen line.

Garryowen had won, but St Mary's left the scene with their honour intact. This was a match in the very best traditions of this competition.