He beats critics with club

"I believe in my own ability and am really enjoying my rugby. I'd love to be playing for my country but there is nothing I can do about that. I think I have shown character in the way I have handled my disappointments."

- Victor Costello

Brickbats and bouquets; Victor Costello attracts them with equal facility. On the pitch, the man of the match garlands he has amassed this season are almost too numerous to catalogue. In the committee rooms though, or certainly in the enclave of the Irish team management, he remains an outcast, overlooked for last year's World Cup and this season's Six Nations Championship.

He is something of a cause celebre in Irish rugby, acclaimed or denounced with the same ardour. His omission from Ireland's touring squad for test matches against Argentina, Canada and the US is grist to the mill. Costello, while naturally disappointed to be left out, is enjoying his rugby.

"You kind of get used to it every time a team is announced. There is that initial hint of disappointment and then you reflect and concede that you didn't expect to be selected. I take solace in the way that I am playing, the way I have been for most of the season. I think I have won four man-of-the-match awards for Leinster and the same number for St Mary's."

Costello is not looking to trumpet his cause, merely adding substance to the assertion that he is playing the best rugby of his career.

"I believe in my own ability and am really enjoying my rugby. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be playing for my country but there is nothing I can do about that. I think that I have shown character in the way I have handled my disappointments."

His present preoccupation is Saturday's AIB League Division One semi-final against Ballymena at Templeville Road.

"I really want to win an AIL medal with St Mary's. I have set my heart on it. We have a team with great ability but have not always been focused this season. You could see that in some of our performances, but in the games against Shannon and Cork Constitution we got it right.

"It a question of continuing in the same vein against Ballymena. We are well aware of the resurgence in their form recently. I suppose I'd be a little bit nervous about Saturday. We have been down this road before and have suffered some bad results.

"We want to be the first Leinster club to win it."

Several neutral Division One coaches say that the title is St Mary's to lose. Costello concurs: "I think that if we play to the levels we can reach, then we'll win.

"That is not arrogance, nor are we under any illusions about the merits of the other teams. It is an acknowledgement of the quality we possess. Guys like Ian Bloomer and Dave Clare have been superb for us this season every bit as determined as Denis (Hickie) and Mal (Malcolm O'Kelly) who have refocused brilliantly when returning from international duty.

"We know that we have a great chance on Saturday and it's up to us to grasp the opportunity." And what of his clash with Dion O'Cuinneagain? "It's a bit of a cliche but you can't really focus on just one other player, otherwise you won't be fulfilling all your duties.

"We play a different game, have different qualities. I like to run off the back of a scrum, he's hard to catch in broken play. Let's just say we'll run into each other along the way."

Irrespective of the opinions of the national team management, it is a reasonable assertion that Costello will once again be prominent when it comes to handing out the bouquets on Saturday.

Cork Constitution, Munster and Ireland flanker David Corkery - a player noted for his thunderous tackling - recently admitted that Costello was the one player he didn't enjoy playing against. "You just know it's going hurt when you tackle him. He's so strong and powerful. I have great respect for him."

Costello is enjoying his rugby and that is manifest in his performances. Look out for the debris.