O'Driscoll a class apart

UCD savoured their triumph, Monkstown acknowledged that the better team had prevailed and everyone agreed that Ireland under-21 international centre Brian O'Driscoll is a class apart.

The hugely talented 19-year-old's response to the presence of Ireland's assistant coach Philip Danaher at Sydney Parade on Saturday broached perfection: 26 points in a high-profile display. When the senior and A squads are announced on Wednesday for the Italian games, O'Driscoll may possibly make the former, but almost certainly the latter.

The former Blackrock College is not the midfield messiah, at least not yet. On Saturday, though, there was much to admire in the manner in which he broke open the game. For long periods, a depleted Monkstown team clung tenaciously to UCD refusing to afford the visitors a chink of daylight.

Twice O'Driscoll intervened and on the second occasion it proved decisive, his superb try shattering the last vestige of hope that Monkstown harboured.

UCD had established a 26-15 advantage and they dominated the closing 15 minutes, recording another 13 points. O'Driscoll kicked an early penalty, but spurned two other opportunities before Monkstown established a foothold. Player coach Dustin Watts was largely responsible, the New Zealander's powerful surges a constant discomfort for UCD tacklers.

At half-time UCD led 13-9 with an O'Driscoll break pre-empting Shane Moore's touchdown. Tempers frayed just before the interval and Monkstown second row Kieran Rigney should have been sent off for a blatant punch. Despite Monkstown centre Greg McWilliams accuracy with the boot, the Students eventually pulled clear through O'Driscoll's try and another from the excellent Gordon Cantwell.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins: O'Driscoll penalty, 0-3; 16: McWilliams penalty, 3-3; 18: Moore try, O'Driscoll conversion, 3-10; 24: McWilliams penalty, 6-10; 37: McWilliams penalty, 9-10; 39: Moore drop goal, 9-13. 43: O'Driscoll penalty, 9-16; 45: McWilliams penalty, 12-16; 53: O'Driscoll penalty, 12-19; 59: McWilliams penalty, 15-19; 64: O'Driscoll try, O'Driscoll conversion, 15-26; 69: Cantwell try, O'Driscoll conversion, 15-33; 77: O'Driscoll penalty, 15-36; 80: O'Driscoll penalty, 15-39.

Monkstown: O Wixted; A Langford, G McWilliams, R McInerney, J Kennedy; J Gibson, C Heaney; B Markey, D Dent, M Smith; K Rigney, P McManus; H McGuire, D Watts, D O'Brien. Replacements: B O'Reilly for Markey (35 mins); F Rowan for O'Brien (62 mins).

UCD: P Bredin; H McMahon, B O'Driscoll, M Colling, Jacob Smith; S Moore, C Scally; M Moynagh, D Blaney, R McCormack; James Smith, C Keane; J Shine, G Cantwell, A Kearney.

Referee: A Rowe (Connacht).