Having treaded for so long in the perilous waters of the relegation zone, Blackrock could have expected little else. News of Clontarf's sensational raid against Terenure at Lakelands Park arrived at Stradbrook just late enough to turn their exultation into visible despondency. It was one last turn of the knife at the end of a painful season.
Initial belief that the side had done enough against Ballymena to stay in division one on points difference was quickly suspended as the word circulated. Captain Shane Byrne slumped to the ground and players around him fell into a limp disbelief. The irony was that the news Blackrock had feared most arrived on the day they might have played their best rugby of the year.
The Blackrock squad now have some serious decisions to make. As one official gruffly complained: "You'll now have every club in division one come sniffing around for players."
Of course he is right. But a vein of defiance also existed at Stradbrook. Pointing to division two leaders Dungannon as the role model club, a supreme effort has been promised to keep the young side together for a season in the hope of earning immediate promotion back into the top flight.
Coach Kevin West had already discussed with the team the possibility of going down long before this knife-edge finish, and although the manner of the execution came as a shock, the possibility of it happening was always apparent.
"We have not been ostriches about this and buried our heads in the sand," said West. "We realised we might be going down, and on the basis of that we are working hard to retain everyone and even build further. In fact, we hope to announce maybe three or four major signings next week."
From the first quarter it was apparent Blackrock were not only looking for the win but a rich points haul, too, and when Michael Jackson bulled over from a scrum, and Brian Carey converted and then kicked a penalty for a 10-0 lead, the home side looked totally in command.
That dominance continued, and Ryan Wheeler latched on to a popped ball from Leo Cullen and again scrambled through the Ballymena defence. Carey converted for a 17-3 half-time lead.
What was impressive about Blackrock was not just the pack's durability and the back line's readiness to run the ball, but also a disciplined defence which steadfastly refused to give Ballymena and Ulster full back Simon Mason a chance to kick.
Mason did land his second kick 10 minutes after the break, but the home side simply lifted their game again, and Paul Jordan profited from a corner lineout and a team push for 22-6.
Blackrock's only lapse came in the 66th minute when Shane Stewart went on an arching run from centre field down the right wing and caught the defence flat for the visitors' only try.
With five minutes remaining Aidan Guinan finished off a sweeping move which began with a Tom Keating punt out of defence. A lightening raid to gain possession set Blackrock into a superb counterattack. The ball moved left to right before Guinan's desperate plunge into the corner.
Out-half Neil O'Donovan, deputising for the injured Alan McGowan, then added his second sweet drop goal to give the home side the points tally they thought would save them.
Scoring sequence: 10 mins: M Jackson try, B Carey con 7-0; 16: Carey pen 10-0; 23: S Mason pen 10-3; 43: R Wheeler try, Carey con 17-3; 50: Mason pen 17-6; 55: P Jordan try, 226; 63: N O'Donovan drop gl 25-6; 66: S Stewart try, Mason con 25-13; 75: A Guinan try 30-13; 80: O'Donovan drop gl 33-13.
Blackrock: T Keating; A Guinan, B Carey, M Jackson, D Johnson; N O'Donovan, N Assaf; D Kavanagh, S Byrne (capt), P Jordan, H Kos, R Casey, R Wheeler, R Rogers, L Cullen.
Ballymena: S Mason; S Stewart, J Topping, J Cunningham, S McDowell; D McAleese, A Matchett; N McKernon, A Stewart, G Cully, M Blair, G Longwell, A Graham, D Topping, T McWhirter. Replacements: W McAllister for McDowell, J Wells for McWhirter (both half time).
Referee: B Smith (MRA).
