AS ON several occasions in the past in this annual fixture, the Colours Match at Donnybrook yesterday was yet again marked by a dramatic finish. Victory went to UCD, who turned a six point, deficit into a win in the game's dying minutes.

The player who emerged as the match winner for UCD was centre Richard Ormond, who kicked a penalty from 32 yards in the 81st minute to start the celebrations for his side and to consign a stunned Trinity team and supporters into a state of dejection.

Ormond's accuracy, and wing Jamie Sharp's opportunism just a few moments previously, had fashioned the victory.

Trinity could scarcely believe the turn of events and the change of fortune in a match that looked" to be in their safe keeping. They will no doubt feel they lost a match they should have won.

Yet one must give credit to UCD for the manner in which they came back and the capacity they revealed to turn opportunity into tangible reward.

They thus took possession of the Compaq Trophy, presented by the sponsors, foiled Trinity's quest for a hat trick of wins, and gained the bonus of two points in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League third division and, of course, two Dudley Cup points. All in all, a rich dividend.

It was a match more interesting than entertaining, not marked by play of quality but full of commitment and, of course, highlighted by that dramatic finish.

Trinity built their six point advantage the second half, when they had the wind, turning an interval deficit of 13-6 into a 19-13 lead by the 72nd minute.

Trinity had much the better of matters territorially for most of the second half. Indeed UCD rarely got into their "25" and never looked like scoring. Then the creative skills and perception of centre Ormond, by some way UCD's most accomplished back, opened up the Trinity defence in the 77th minute and wing Sharp finished off the movement in the left corner. Ormond was wide with the conversion and Trinity held a precious, one point lead.

Fortified by Sharp's try, UCD, who had come back into the match in the closing 15 minutes, attacked again after that crucial score. They were repulsed, but then Trinity, who had failed to get any length into a penalty just inside their own half, lost the ensuing lineout and UCD were back at the gates. Trinity conceded a penalty at a ruck 32 yards out and Ormond, who had three successful kicks from six first half attempts kept a cool head to land the victory points.

The UCD pack, with number eight Denis Finn often in the van of the assaults, had the better of matters early on. But their backs, did not make the most of the possession. Indeed Trinity carried the greater menace outside the scrum, with centre Aleric Turtle especially dangerous.

Ormond had kicked UCD into a six point lead with penalties in the sixth and 10th minutes. Trinity's diminutive scrum half, Ian Quigley, reduced Trinity's deficits with a penalty in the 32nd minute, and then UCD got a try after an attack on the right.

The ball was won in a ruck and moved left and flanker Graham Jones did very well to send out a long pass to Sharp who scored in the left corner. Ormond kicked a splendid conversion and UCD led 13-3. Quigley, an assiduous worker in Trinity's cause, kicked a penalty just on half-time.

With Robert McMahon productive in the lineout, Trinity had most of the possession and territorial advantage for the much of the second half. Quigley kicked his third penalty in the 43rd minute and then a concerted period of Trinity pressure yielded a try from John Doddy in the 52nd minute.

Quigley kicked fine conversion and then added his fourth penalty in the 72nd minute.