Blackrock coach George Hook wanted Dean Oswald for Christmas but unfortunately Santa, or more accurately his New Zealander's employer, refused to oblige: Oswald was refused leave of absence, much to the chagrin of the Blackrock club who were hoping that the prodigal son was set to return.
It is easy to recognise why Hook cherishes the hard edge and mental toughness that Oswald brings to a team. Saturday's performance from the Blackrock eight was insipid, ineffective and pedestrian, rarely managing to combine two phases of continuity without error.
Hooker Shane Byrne, grafting honestly, stood alone, cutting a defiant if forlorn figure. Hook conceded: "I locked the dressingroom door for five minutes and told the players a few home truths.
"It was almost as if we believed that we shouldn't be playing in th rain 'cause the conditions did not suit us. I told the players not to expect sunshine next week either when we go to Dolphin. Playing in the rain is a fact of rugby life in Ireland.
"I would have to question our attitude out there. Garryowen's was so superior and a credit to everyone involved. How you inculcate that in Dublin middle class guys I don't know. We are in a dog fight now and anything resembling that performance next weekend and I'll be out of a job and 15 players will be looking for a new club."
In contrast the Garryowen eight made light of the appalling conditions to produce several excellent passages of forward play, invariably at the behest of number eight David Wallace.
Denied an IRFU contract following the Summer tour of New Zealand, the youngest of the Wallace brothers has responded in exemplary fashion, working diligently to improve his physique with no discernable loss of pace. The watching Irish coach Brian Ashton noted the performance: "I thought David Wallace was the game's outstanding player." Wallace tortured Blackrock from the base of the scrum, making huge yardage and found a willing acolyte in flanker Andrew Bermingham. They provided a target for the rest of the pack as Garryowen swept forward relentlessly in the first half.
Snapping at the heels of his forwards was scrum-half Steve McIvor who revelled in the mucky underfoot conditions, punching holes around the fringes and barging aside limp Blackrock tackling; the central spine of the visitors team was immeasurably more effective in all facets of play.
Barry Everett was a perfect foil for McIvor at half-back, invariably choosing the right option in possession and scoring a cheeky try that prompted Ashton to enthuse: "I wouldn't mind seeing that guy (Everett) in dry conditions." When Blackrock did threaten and try and give the ball air, centre Joe Brookes was ruthless in the tackle.
Too many players underachieved for the home side: the rucking and mauling was cumbersome as was the manner in which they tried to take the ball on through the pack. Brian Carey's introduction at the interval gave them a batter balance in the centre while wing Aidan Guinan - both of whom were being scrutinised by the Irish coach - took his try well.
Garryowen were 10-0 up after a quarter of an hour through a penalty from wing Conor Kilroy who also added the conversion to captain Killian Keane's try, the product of sheer weight of numbers out wide after good driving by the pack.
A poor pass by scrum-half Andrew Boyd was snapped up by Wallace who set Kilroy scampering over after 26 minutes: that Garryowen lock Shane Leahy became the first player to be sin binned in Irish club rugby and was off the pitch when the try was scored further added to Blackrock's embarrassment.
Although the wing failed to convert his try he was more accurate on 34 minutes when Bermingham was on hand after McIvor eluded the home defence, taking play to within metres of the line.
Blackrock rallied, temporarily, after the interval with a penalty from Alan McGowan and Guinan's try only to self-destruct with some terrible decision making which cost them at least one try.
Everett's neat show of the ball from a scrum on the Blackrock 22, mesmerised the home defence and he cantered over close to the posts making Kilroy's conversion all the easier.
Garryowen coach Philip Danaher paid tribute to the player's dedication over the break, highlighting the amount of work achieved: the Dolphin defeat a possible catalyst for the Limerick side as a productive new year looms.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 11 mins: Kilroy penalty (0-3); 14: Keane try, Kilroy conversion (0-10); 26: Kilroy try (0-15); 34: Bermingham try, Kilroy conversion (0-22); 43: McGowan penalty (3-22); 48: Guinan try (8-22); 53: Everett try, Kilroy conversion (8-29).
BLACKROCK: T Keating; M Jackson, B Scally, O Cobbe, A Guinan; A McGowan, A Boyd; D Kavanagh, S Byrne, P Flavin; J Ryan, H Kos (capt); D Hackett, D Moore, T Goldfinch. Reps: M Cuffe for Flavin 25 mins; B Carey for Scally h-time; D Casey for Ryan 62 mins; P Smyth for Byrne 72 mins.
GARRYOWEN: D Crotty; K O'Riordan, K Keane (capt), J Brookes, C Kilroy; B Everett, S McIvor; P Spain, P Humphreys, G Walsh; V Humphreys, S Leahy; P Hogan, D Wallace, A Bermingham. Reps: K Ronan for Spain 68mins; C Varley for Bermingham 68 mins; T Tierney for McIvor 72 mins.
Referee: D Napier (Ulster).
