COLLEGES CUP: Athlone Institute of Technology, led by hat-trick hero Niall Smullen, took the Irish Colleges Cup 32-10 for the third year in succession against Waterford IT at Park Avenue yesterday.

The winners were backboned by a clutch of Buccaneers players that have been instrumental in their club's march to the All-Ireland league play-offs.

The gulf in standard was apparent from the start and Smullen, operating at number eight, had compiled his three tries by first-half injury-time.

Athlone, leading 24-21 at that stage, had their second try from left wing Niall Divilly and the rest from out-half Dermot Keegan.

In fact, Waterford right wing Robbie Gaul blazed a trail to the line, in the 10th minute, for out-half John Lillis to add the points to temporarily bring them back on level terms.

After the break, Waterford applied strong pressure for close on 15 minutes, but were unable to force a badly needed breakthrough and Athlone openside Colin Finnerty grounded the ball for his side's fifth try before Keegan shot a penalty at the death.

Scorers: Athlone IT: N Smullen 3 tries; N Divilly, C Finnerty try each; D Keegan pen, 2 cons. Waterford IT: R Gaul try; J Lillis pen, con.

ATHLONE IT: R McGowan; S Quinn, P O'Sullivan, W Wallace, N Divilly; D Keegan, J McDonagh; G Kenny, P Flanagan, A Doolan, J Tormey, A Hall, A Cloonan, C Finnerty, N Smullen. Replacements: N O'Hara for Divilly 27 mins; T Langley for Tormey 48 mins; G Moodley for O'Hara, G Greene for Quinn both 72 mins; A Hughes for Cloonan 74 mins.

WATERFORD IT: P Curran; R Gaul, D Murphy, A O'Brien, G Conway; J Lillis, M Finney; M Doherty, F Strumble, M Slattery, A Hughes, A Walsh, D O'Brien, C O'Connor, K Gaul. Replacements: J Phelan for K Gaul, M Quigley for Doherty both 65 mins.

Referee: R McCann (Leinster Branch).