While the application and combativeness lent a certain tension to the occasion, particularly with regard to the duelling packs, the quality of fare bordered on the atrocious at Templeville Road. Mistakes abounded, from the basic variety to the blood-rushes, leaving spectators and team-mates shaking their heads.
The game itself was not helped by referee Bertie Smith. His inconsistent interpretation and the negligible support he received from his touch judges in policing the offside line contributed to the scrappy affair. There was a macabre fascination in awaiting the next error and the ignominy of a 0-0 draw loomed before it was banished in first-half injury time by St Mary's College outhalf Eddie Hekenui, when he kicked a straightforward penalty. Indeed the New Zealander was a central figure in the home side's victory, as much for his general play as the contribution of three penalties from six attempts.
Mary's will argue that when a team is shorn to the bare bones by injury, victory is the only commodity that matters. They will be relieved too that centre Ray McIlreavy, who lay without moving for seven and a half minutes while a neck brace and stretcher was summoned, is expected to make a full recovery after spending a night in hospital.
Coach Brent Pope confirmed that nothing had been broken but that McIlreavy would be out for at least a month. Mary's deserved this victory, not least because they were creatively superior and might have tagged on a couple of tries were it not for a brilliant last-ditch tackle by James Ferris on Hekenui and a lack of composure and precision in the Blackrock 22.
Hekenui aside, Mary's better performers came from the pack. Hooker Peter Smyth, a former 'Rock boy along with captain Victor Costello, wasn't lacking motivation, his work-rate and desire an inspiration to those around him. Costello made decent yardage even when hampered by a standing start. In defence, he manhandled first Dan McGettigan and then Ross Murphy, denying 'Rock any impetus from the base of the scrum.
Shane Jennings may be a novice at this level but there is no doubting his ability: he is an outstanding prospect. But it was Trevor Brennan, comfortable with his new home "in the row" that acted as a catalyst for Mary's more cohesive moments, usually on the back of a Blackrock turnover.
Brennan spent 10 minutes in the sin bin despite his protests that as he fell, his knees made contact with his own player, prop Jock O'Connor. However, his impact either side of the binning was enormous. Impressively aggressive in the tackle, he forced countless turnovers and was certainly unfazed by the demands of playing in the second row.
Blackrock's pack competed with great endeavour but they lack penetration behind the scrum, the obvious exception their hard-running, try-scoring Michael Jackson. The halfbacks were indecisive and the back line too often cluttered with trundling forwards. Coach Kevin West admitted: "We had enough opportunities to win the game but didn't take our chances.
"We now have one win from three games when we should have three from three. We need to be more clinical." The return of Nathan Turner and Brian O'Driscoll can't come quickly enough.
Jackson's unconverted try on 57 minutes, when he was fed by Ferris following a five-metre scrum, pre-empted Blackrock's best period of the match. Andrew Greally's break was taken on by Conor Kilroy but his intended pass was knocked into touch by Peter McKenna, the Mary's centre showing impressive pace to thwart what should have been a Blackrock try.
Mary's survived and apart from the odd self-induced moments of mayhem defensively, did so with a gritty resolve that will be required to resurrect their season.
Scoring Sequence: 40 mins: Hekenui penalty, 3-0; 45: [ RO] Hekenui penalty, 6-0; 48: Hekenui penalty, 9-0; 57: Jackson try, 9-5.
St Mary's: D Hughes; B Bartley, P McKenna, R McIlreavy, G Ingles; E Hekenui, E McCormack; J O'Connor, P Smyth, E Byrne, T Brennan, D Griffin;, F Fitzgerald, V Costello (capt), S Jennings. Replacements: A Conboy for McIlreavy (64 mins).
Blackrock: C Kilroy; P Noble, A Greally, M Jackson, D Johnson; A McGowan, J Ferris; I McLaughlin, S Byrne, G Halpin, R Casey, L Cullen (capt), T Hogan, D McGettigan, R Rogers. Replacements: R Murphy for McGettigan (56 mins); P Drew for McGowan (76 mins).
Yellow cards: T Brennan (St Mary's) 27-37 mins; R Casey (Blackrock) 73-83 mins.
Referee: B Smith (IRFU).
