THE stage was set, the ground was packed and the expectation of celebrating another great triumph in an illustrious history hung in the air for Garryowen's legion of followers at Dooradoyle last Saturday.

Garryowen went into the match against great rivals Young Munster requiring a point to win the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League First Division title for what would have been a record third time.

But when this truly remarkable match was over, it was not the victory chant "Hooray for Garryowen" that split the skies, as Young Munster produced a second-half performance as devastating in execution as it was productive on the scoreboard to win by 37 points to 12.

Thus the point that Garryowen required to finish ahead of the defending champions Shannon proved outside the range of their capacity and Shannon retained the title.

While the drama was unfolding in Dooradoyle the Shannon side was engaged in a Munster Senior Cup tie against UCC 60 miles away in Cork, and as they left the Musgrave Park pitch after winning that cup match, they also knew that they had won the All Ireland League. However, while the presentation of the trophy had, of necessity, to be deferred, the celebrations began.

Back at Dooradoyle the trophy lay in its case, the championship medals in their boxes and Garryowen were trying to come to terms with the defeat. Heads were down as the thousands left the ground and Garryowen reflected on what might have been.

For Young Munster the prize at stake was their pride in this, their centenary season. Those who through the generations have worn the black and amber jersey can rest easy that the tradition they fashioned is in safe hands.

Young Munster did Shannon a great favour last Saturday, but as Young Munster's inspirational captain John Fitzgerald said after his side's great triumph, "we did not play to do anyone a favour, we played for Young Munster, we went out to win and to give it our all." How magnificently they served their cause.

The rivalry between these two great clubs runs deep, its roots are embedded in history and the annals of the game have been enriched by matches between the clubs. The magnitude of Young Munster's achievement is put into perspective by the fact that the club has never, in either league or Munster Senior Cup matches, scored so comprehensive a victory over Garryowen.

No tribute to the Young Munster performance was more fulsome than that of Garryowen coach Johnny McDonnell. "To say we are disappointed is to understate the feeling. They took the match to us from the start. We were in it until early in the second hall, then they completely overwhelmed us up front and totally dominated the game. They played superbly and made excellent use of the possession they won. They would have beaten any club side with a performance like that and we have absolutely no quibble with the result."

No argument could be presented against that analysis.

"We built up for the match all week and were confident. We have been playing very well in recent weeks and are now in good shape for the cup. But for a few slips we could well have won the league. One could sense the tension in the Garryowen side from the start, " said Fitzgerald.

Young Munster coach Tony Grant was delighted with his team's performance and sent out a message for the cup. "We have rebuilt the side and the product was seen there. I believe the team will get better. The pack is very mobile, a good tight five and a superb back row. We asked the players for a big performance and they gave it to us. Whoever was going to win the league was going to have to earn it. That was a great boost for us for the cup."

As circumstances should have it, Young Munster meet Garryowen in the cup next Sunday. A full house at Thomond Park, what a prospect.

Garryowen have lived on the brink in recent weeks but prevailed. This time there would be no reprieve, no late match-winning comeback. For them it was catch up in the first half and devastation in the second. And while forward power laid the foundations for Young Munster's win, the backs responded, superbly marshalled from half back by Derek Tobin and Aidan O'Halloran. Although he missed a few likely penalty attempts, O'Halloran made a personal contribution of 22 points including three beautifully-struck dropped goals.

It was 9-9 at the interval after O'Halloran had dropped two goals within eight minutes, before Kenny Smith kicked a penalty for Garryowen. Then O'Halloran moved Young Munster 9-3 ahead with a penalty and Smith kicked two penalties for Garryowen.

If Young Munster had been the livelier and more inventive side in the first half, Smith's place kicking and Michael Coughlan's line out ability kept Garryowen's hopes alive.

O'Halloran dropped his third goal three minutes into the second period before Smith, yet again, brought Garryowen level with his fourth penalty.

Then Young Munster took over. Their forwards' driving, rucking and mauling had been the more authoritative. They began to win line out possession to add to their other attributes and their forward play took on a new dimension. In a magnificent spell between the 55th and 77th minutes Young Munster scored 25 points, including three tries. Garryowen had no answer and were engulfed.

Des Clohessy scored the first try after David Walsh had made a fine run and O'Halloran converted. Both centres, Mick Lynch and Noel O'Meara, made telling breaks through the midfield and O'Halloran's tactical kicking was superb.

Mick Fitzgerald added Young Munster's second try and Walsh the third as Young Munster were rampant. O'Halloran converted Walsh's try and then added two penalty goals. Garryowen had no response. a title had been lost and the victory chants were coming from far away.

St Mary's, who up to recently entertained championship hopes. ended their league campaign with a whimper, going down to Cork Constitution 23-25 at Templeville Road on Saturday.

Their coach Ciaran Fitzgerald cut a lonely figure as he stood in the middle of the St Mary's dressing room lost in thought. Three defeats in four games. Where did it all go wrong? We never really kicked into the second part of the league after the Munster's match. We failed to put points on the board in all our games, he said.