THE VITAL requirement of gaining two points allied to the ongoing burden of failure to win on Limerick soil in the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League, weighed heavily yet again on St Mary's College at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday when Young Munster won by 12 points to five.
The defeat represents a major setback to St Mary's ambitions to become the first Leinster club to win the first division title, as once more they left Limerick empty handed from a match they badly needed to win. They went into the game having dropped two points in the league as have Garryowen, with the holders Shannon having been defeated twice.
So high stakes involved, especially as a visit to Garryowen lies ahead. Nor was there anything in the way of consolation for St Mary's after they left the field, heads bowed. Garryowen had won and so indeed had Shannon. So now there is a twin assault on the title from a familiar area - no variation on a familiar theme.
St Mary's needed to deliver. Their failure to do so was a costly lapse against the side that deprived them of the title in 1993. Sober reflection will obviously do nothing to ease the regrets, but should bring an equal awareness that 80 minutes of concentration, application and unyielding commitment from all are usually required to win at this level in Limerick. Young Munster imposed those demands last Saturday in what was an absorbing contest and one which the home side deserved to win.
Young Munster went into the match knowing that the title was beyond their reach, however it did not diminish their desire, appetite or commitment in any way. Nothing summed up their attitude in more fitting manner than the magnificent defence they offered in the closing minutes as St Mary's sought to erase the seven points lead they carried at that stage and get at least a share of the points.
"They find it hard to win in Limerick," said Young Munster's admirable captain John FitzgeraId with a broad grin, after leading his pack by example to 80 minutes of non-stop endeavour. St Mary's very disappointed coach Ciaran Fitzgerald played down the Limerick factor, and was gracious in his tribute to the winners. All credit to Young Munster. Their defence was superb, they countered us well in the line-out in the second half and their outside half Aidan O'Halloran used the ball very well. Their whole pack played very well. We were too conservative initially and then when we needed the points there was a raggedness and desperation about too much of our play. But all is not lost we are still in with a chance."
That chance now looks tenuous, a point taken up by Young Munster coach Tony Grant. It looks like Garryowen or Shannon now and I hope the title stays in Limerick. As well as the loss of the points, that defeat was a huge blow to St Mary's psychologically. We went out to disrupt their halfbacks and to stop them creating space for the support players. Our defence did that. They also relied too much on Victor Costello to break us down. Our back row was superb, indeed so was the whole pack. It was a great team effort. We went out there focused to do a job and did it."
It is hard to offer an argument against that assessment. Young Munster took the lead with a penalty from O'Halloran after one minute and St Mary's never got on terms. They were as their coach said too conservative, one might say tentative, for much of the first half. O'Halloran added a second penalty after 27 minutes and a six points lead did not flatter Young Munster, who played with the desire of a team in pursuit of the title. Fergal Campion missed two penalty chances for St Mary's who scored a very good try in the 35th minute. That came when scrum-half Conor MeGuinness made a fine break and found Malcolm O'Kelly in support and he scored on the left. Campion missed the conversion. St Mary's, through O'Kelly and Steve Jameson, had done especially well in the line-out in the initial period, but failed to make it pay and there was a frenetic aspect to much of what they did.
Young Munster started the second half as they had the first, full of fire, commitment and industry and when O'Halloran kicked his third penalty in the 60th minute, St Mary's trailed by four points. A great break by O'Halloran carried on by the excellent Ger Earls, was stopped just on the line in the 65th minute and then St Mary's launched a series of assaults but were repulsed, notably by one great tackle by Niall McNamara. When Mick Lynch kicked a superb penalty from over 50 yards in the 76th minute, St Mary's trailed by seven points. Saving the game was now all that was open to them. They attacked vigorously if not with maximum awareness and scorned four penalty attempts in pursuit of the try. They twice opted for scrums and after losing a ball against the head, they then went for the tapped ball. They met an unbreachable barrier as Young Munster stood firm.
