ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AND THREE FINALS/UCC 18 Young Munster 8:THE TONE for UCC's approach was set the week before this when they became the first club in seven seasons to win away in the Division Two play-off semi-final.
It was a reflection of how seriously coach Conor Twomey took what many see as the celebratory post-season afterthought the play-offs can be to clubs who have already achieved their goal of emerging from the lower divisions.
Perhaps the students were driven to repair their dismal record of four semi-final exits in five seasons. They were full value for their dedication to a job that looked like getting away from them at times.
When Young Munster openside Eoin Ryan stampeded down the left wing for the only try of the game in the third minute, this one looked like it would follow the trend set by the all-running, all-entertaining Division Three final that preceded it.
It was possibly the worst thing that could have happened to Young Munster. Thereafter, they played as if it was only matter of time before their juggernaut pack would blow UCC out of their path.
The Limerick club could not establish any worthwhile territory and were hindered by the slow ball delivered to their unusually tall Ireland Under-19 scrum-half Conor Murray and outhalf Tom Wells.
UCC knew they had to stand up to the pressure up front and they did. They knew they had to move them around. They did.
Outhalf Gavin Dunne recovered from a flaky beginning - he pushed away two early penalties - to smack over six kicks from a variety of angles and distances as a reward for his forwards' commitment to playing the game on the front foot.
Dunne owed a world of thanks to the clever play of his scrumhalf Sam Cronin, the aerial prowess of Ireland Under-20 Ian Nagle out of touch, the strength in contact of the frontrow of Ronan O'Neill, Wayne Falvey and Stephen Archer, and the scavenging exploits of backrows Dave Nathan, Rob Barry and Don Keogh.
UCC: S Deasy; P Shallow, I Dineen, A Kelleher (capt), C Crowley; G Dunne, S Cronin; R O'Neill, W Falvey, S Archer, I Nagle, N Keogh, D Nathan, R Barry, D Keogh. Replacements: B Dennehy for Kelleher (53 mins); J Carton for O'Neill (73 mins); S Scanlon for Crowley (80 mins).
YOUNG MUNSTER: M Connolly; S Carey, D Corcoran (capt), C Clohessy, E Broderick; T Wells, C Murray; G Flaherty, G Slattery, H McGrath, D Payne, S O'Neill, L Óg Murphy, M Shorely, E Ryan. Replacements: D Grace for Broderick (61 mins); A Cottor for McGrath (64 mins); P McMahon for Slattery (73 mins); J Ryan for E Ryan (75 mins).
Referee: D Keane (Leinster Branch).
