IN the end, the most surprising thing about the 36th success in the Fitzgibbon Cup by University College, Cork was that they made such a meal of it. Leading yesterday's final at Pairc Ui Rinn by a point, 0-6 to 0-5, at half-time and. with a strong wind to come, it was generally expected that the supply of ball to their forwards would be generous enough to provide for a healthy margin of victory in the competition sponsored by Bus Eireann.

That the second half failed to go entirely to script was a tribute to the stubbornness of the Garda College, but also a reflection of College's loss of concentration in defence of their title.

A reason for favouring UCC was that Garda had laboured mightily in the semi-final against Waterford RTC despite leading by seven points at the interval.

It is likely, however, that the winning margin yesterday would have been stretched beyond three points had Garda's Denis Byrne not scrambled a goal in the 46th minute. The score came at a stage when UCC looked like pulling away and it re-invigorated the Garda College's challenge, forcing the winners to get cracking and win the match all over again.

This they duly did. The verve of UCC's forwards was the most appealing aspect of the weekend and it was a fittingly decisive factor in the victory.

John Enright, also prominent in last year's success, was named Player of the Tournament after a two-match haul of 1-13. His nine points yesterday included some clinical placed-ball scores and three beautifully-struck points from play in the second half.

In the first half, it was Glen Rovers' Sean McGrath who electrified the crowd every time he got near the ball, and three times he raised a flag, including from an exquisitely-executed take, solo and strike in injury-time. He was quieter after the break but ended the match on an appropriate note by dribbling the ball through the Garda defence in the 60th minute and flicking it narrowly wide.

The match hadn't started with such exuberance for the holders. With the wind at their backs, Garda had dominated the early exchanges. Ollie Baker and Tommy Kennedy hardly let the ball pass into their half of the field and when it did, centre back Conor Gleeson promptly repelled it.

UCC looked nervous. Goalkeeper Brendan Kelly skied a few puck-outs, and clearances were regularly fluffed as the Garda full-forward line clearly unsettled their opponents with Byrne exciting a particularly jittery response. The further threat of Damien Cleere's dependable free-taking only heightened the alarm.

The match might be said to have turned in the 18th minute when Seamus McIntyre of Garda was spotted applying himself too literally to the task of holding Kieran Morrison and referee Pat Horan awarded a penalty. In contravention of the advice once proffered by Christy Ring, the man after whom the venue is named, John Enright went for a goal when a point would have done and for the fourth time in the weekend, a penalty went unscored.

College, however, had started to move. Despite Cleere's free-taking moving the score to 0-5 to 0-2 in Garda's favour, the match's course was being set against them.

UCC's supply to their forwards improved. Monopolising possession had kept Garda in front. Now that ball was being more evenly shared, Garda couldn't compete.

At half-time Garda College had been on level terms for a total of only six minutes, and that was largely the result of Byrne's scrambled goal. They never looked as if they had the steam to move ahead and keep ahead.

Defensively, UCC upped the ante. Their half-backs were sound, with Danny Murphy particularly impressive and Richard Woods holding the centre well and clearing big distances. In goal, Brendan Kelly was alert, and steady under the dropping ball.

Martin Hayes and Colm O'Brien competed at midfield and all the forwards did their bit. Derek McGrath was effectively marked by Seamus Hogan and Joe Deane received too many deliveries by airmail to maximise his impact - although he had a 35th minute opportunity to kill the match, which was saved by Cathal Jordan - but the danger was constant.

Kieran Morrison was a valuable target-man at full-forward, and although he didn't make the scoreboard, he created one point for John Enright, and earned two converted frees and the penalty.

Finally, Eddie Enright's virtuoso point in the 39th minute was the score of the afternoon.

Since their entry to higher-level competition, Garda College have brought intense levels of preparation to their challenge and it will surely be only a matter of time before they break through.

The future was constantly in view over the weekend. Waterford made their last appearance as a Regional College and their young team hurled with great spirit in awful conditions. With their intimidating records of success at Freshers' level, the new Waterford Institute of Technology will hardly be long surpassing the RTC's two appearances on the roll of honour.

Lastly, the Ryan Cup was won by Tralee RTC in what could be a very big year for the Kerry college, who next weekend go questing after the distinction of being the first RTC to land the Sigerson.