Old Crescent conceded St Mary's a 14-point lead after seven minutes and then hit back in sensational fashion to forge a thoroughly deserved victory at Rosbrien last night.

The result means St Mary's have failed in their defence of the title, while Old Crescent go on to play Shannon on Saturday in a game that will decide whether they will remain in the Premier Division next season. Even then their survival will almost certainly depend on results elsewhere.

It looked as if St Mary's, without Denis Hickie, Trevor Brennan and Malcolm O'Kelly, would keep their hopes of retaining the title alive when tries by Peter McKenna and Shane Jennings, both converted by Mark McHugh, put them 14-0 ahead.

However, the sides were level 17-17 by half-time as Stephen Tuohy went over for Old Crescent and another followed from Eoin Reddan, both converted by Billy Treacy. St Mary's managed a penalty by McHugh in reply.

Old Crescent went ahead for the first time in the 50th minute when centre Wayne Munn scored a fine try which Treacy converted. St Mary's drew level on 54 minutes with a try by Shane Jennings which McHugh converted. By then, however, Old Crescent were dominant and tries by David Bowles and Shane Madigan saw them clinch victory.

Scoring Sequence: 3 mins: P McKenna try; M McHugh con; 0-7; 7 mins: G Logan try, McHugh con, 0-14; 15 mins: W Treacy pen, 3-14; 23 mins: S Tuohy try, Treacy con 10-14; 30 mins: McHugh pen, 10-17; 35 mins: E Reddan try, Treacy con, 17-17; 50 mins: W Munn try, Treacy con, 24-17; 54 mins: S Jennings try, McHugh con, 24-24; 57 mins: D Bowles try, 29-24; 75 mins: S Madigan try, 34-24.

Old Crescent: W Treacy; S Madigan, M Brodie, W Munn, J Cusack; S Tuohy, E Reddan; J Cullinane, M Hayes, G Evans, B Toland, M Bird, G Schoeman, P Glamazina, D Bowles. Replace- ments: B Begley for Cusack (57 mins); D O'Malley for Toland (66 mins).

St Mary's College: P McKenna; C McPhilips, M McHugh, A Conboy, J McWeeney; E Hekenui, P Lynch; P Coyle, P Smyth, D Clare, D Griffin, G Logan, K Jennings, S Jennings, V Costello. Replacements: E McCormack for Lynch (67 mins).

Referee: David McHugh (Munster).