All-Ireland League Play-off/Lansdowne - 29 UCC - 6: The word relief could have been written in capital letters across the forehead of Lansdowne coach Andrew Doyle as the final whistle blew at the end of the Division One relegation/ promotion play-off on the back pitch at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
Although Aidan McCullen almost guaranteed Lansdowne's survival as early as the 44th minute with a cool finish that, along with Felipe Contepomi's conversion, made it 22-6, Doyle was not about to fall into the same trap as his players did the previous week when Dublin University launched a comeback from a similar position.
"It is a massive relief for the players, the club and myself. We had to do our job. And we did. Obviously, we want to play our rugby in Division One and we will be there next season," he said.
UCC outhalf Jeremy Manning shot penalties from the halfway line in the third and 12th minutes to open up a 6-0 advantage and it looked as though it would be a long day at the office for the home side.
Then Lansdowne's forwards stepped up a gear. The front row of Enda Bohan, Kevin Corrigan and John Lyne dismantled their direct opponents to set up a penalty try and a second out wide for Fiachra Baynes just before half-time.
Contepomi's influence was huge. He never moved out of second gear in a super-smooth performance that was as much about correct decision-making as the try he created for Baynes and the goals he kicked.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: J Manning pen, 0-3; 12: Manning pen, 0-6; 20: F Contepomi pen, 3-6; 30: Penalty try, Contepomi con, 10-6; 40: F Baynes try, 15-6; half-time: 15-6; 44: A McCullen try, Contepomi con, 22-6; 72: I Hopkins try, Contepomi con, 29-6.
LANSDOWNE: J Murphy; F Baynes, G Stafford, K Kennedy, I Hopkins; F Contepomi, S Whelan; E Bohan, K Corrigan, J Lyne; A Maher, R McArdle; S Rooney, A McCullen, A Ronan. Replacements: A Geraghty for Whelan (62 mins), D Toner for Ronan (71 mins), R Byrne for Stafford (74 mins).
UCC: M Kingsbeer; R Lane, T Gleeson, D O'Leary, P Hurley; J Manning, F Murphy; V Soden, R Quinn, T Ryan; D Ryan, A Laffin; R Noonan, H O'Flynn, R Geoghegan. Replacements: C Murphy for O'Leary (46 mins) M Essex for Geoghegan (46 mins), K Murray for Quinn (65 mins), F Gately for T Ryan (65 mins).
Referee: A McKay (Ulster).
Shannon won the Munster Senior Cup for the sixth season in succession when they beat Garryowen 17-8 in the final at Thomond Park on Saturday.
