It wasn't akin to shooting ducks in a bath, for while Cork Constitution had peddled their troubles prior to Saturday's encounter, no one could fault them for their application over the 80 minutes. Fate and Munster's superb odyssey in the European Cup had decreed that the reigning champions would arrive at Templeville Road distracted by injuries and off-field complications relating to the timing of the game.
From the start Constitution threw themselves into the fray with a conviction that belied their muddled mental state. Coach Michael Bradley would later point out that none of his players shirked their responsibilities, tackles were made and the graft and work ethic exemplary. Perspiration, though, would not be adequate.
"I couldn't fault the effort. The players tried hard. We didn't lose it (the title) today. We lost all bar one match away from home. You cannot succeed like that." Constitution encountered a St Mary's College side that appears to be blossoming at the requisite time, in seasonal terms. There was a great deal to admire in the home side's destruction of their opponents, even allowing for the patchwork quality of the opposition. Trevor Brennan led by example, his withering physical assault on those who ventured round the fringes of rucks and mauls, an inspiration.
Victor Costello once again excelled, making huge yardage, bouncing tacklers and giving his pack a target to work off. Ross Doyle ensured continuity, his support play vital in facilitating a couple of St Mary's five tries. Malcolm O'Kelly's form hasn't dipped one iota, and his fielding of restarts in difficult conditions would grace the pages of a coaching manual.
Prop David Clare's ball skills are likely to get him debarred from the front row union. Behind the scrum Mark McHugh was assured, making several half breaks and also enjoying a reasonable success-rate from the placed ball, given the soggy underfoot conditions. Denis Hickie grabbed a brace of tries, John McWeeney scored one and made another while Peter McKenna performed the basics competently and managed to squeeze in one great run.
Brennan was understandably pleased. "We didn't want to give up the possibility of a home semi-final. We feel that we should beat anyone here. We have taken a long time to peak this season but we feel that it is coming together at the right time. They came here looking to score four tries and that was never going to happen. We have only given up six in total all season.
"We spoke about discipline beforehand and the need to stay onside. It's about having the confidence to let them have the ball and then make the hits."
Constitution, while combative in the opening exchanges, were gradually pummelled by a superior Mary's eight, and but for a little overplaying of the ball up front the home side could have prevailed by an even greater margin. Donnacha O'Callaghan, Frankie Sheahan, Mick O'Driscoll and John Fogarty tried hard to turn the tide but found it increasingly difficult.
Ronan O'Gara never received the platform to place his imprint on proceedings and Munster coach Declan Kidney must have been delighted to see O'Gara withdrawn from the match on 69 minutes. Anthony Horgan also departed, a knock to the hip bone/back demanding his substitution at halftime: it was a precautionary gesture and it is not expected to hamper him on Munster duty this week.
St Mary's led 10-0 at the interval, all the points coming from outhalf Mark McHugh. His try, on 32 minutes, was beautifully created, the centrepiece Doyle's pop pass in the tackle which sent McHugh scurrying over. The second-half tries mixed individual flair with good teamwork. McWeeney accelerated through the cover for one, Hickie's first was a straightforward finish, his second a fine individual effort as he escaped the clutches of several would be tacklers.
Replacement Alan Conboy profited from great approach work to canter over unopposed, bringing the try fest to a conclusion.
Scoring sequence: 22 mins: McHugh pen, 3-0; 32: McHugh try, McHugh con, 10-0. 45: McHugh pen, 13-0; 47: O'Gara pen, 13-3; 51: McWeeney try, 18-3; 57: McHugh pen, 21-3; 60: Hickie try, McHugh con, 28-3; 71: Hickie try, McHugh con, 35-3; 76: Conboy try, Campion con, 423.
St Mary's: P McKenna; J McWeeney, G Gannon, R McIlreavy, D Hickie; M McHugh, P Lynch; P Coyle, P Smyth, D Clare; I Bloomer, M O'Ke lly; T Brennan (capt), V Costello, R Doyle. Replacements: A O'Sullivan for Lynch (56 mins), E Byrne for Clare (60 mins), P Sullivan for Brennan (67 mins), D Lee for Smyth (71 mins), F Campion for McHugh (72 mins), A Conboy for Gannon (72 mins).
Cork Constitution: B Walsh; T Kiernan, D Dillon, C Mahony, A Horgan; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; R McGrath, F Sheahan, J O'Driscoll; M O' Driscoll, D Sheehan; D O'Callaghan, J Murray (capt), J Fogarty. Replacements: C Murphy for Horgan (40 mins), H Hegarty for Murray (60 mins), K Murphy for M O'Driscoll (66 mins), F O'Meara for O'Gara (69 mins).
Sin binned: D Sheehan (Cork Constitution).
Referee: A Lewis (Leinster).
