UL Bohemian grind out victory

Div Two Final/UL Bohemians 18 St Mary's 12: There was plenty of smiling Limerick faces at Saturday evening's post-match reception under the West Stand. As another Shannon team wrote a chapter in club folklore, the newest force from the city began their ascent.

After losing the last two Division Two finals, the amalgamation of Bohemians and the University of Limerick is finally reaping the benefits. They came into the finals weekend having topped the league and thereby ensuring promotion. This performance merely proved the point.

Staying true to Limerick-style rugby, they grinded the opposition down up front. Whenever St Mary's sought to generate some rhythm, a hidden hand turned the ball over. In the opening 40 minutes alone, this occurred three times in sight of the try line.

UL Bohemian coach Mike Tewkesbury reflected as much afterwards.

"They are a good side and at stages here today I thought 'oh Christ here we go' but defence was the key to it. It has been all season. We get the tackle in, we're quiet good at turning over ball so sides can't really mount the attacks or get in behind the gain line as often as they would like."

The hard graft up front was complemented by three quality tries from the backs.

Ben Martin opened the account midway through the first half when he sniffed a gap between forwards in midfield and was gone. The cover being non-existent.

Then in the second half he dropped the ugliest of goals, ably assisted by a howling wind from north to south terrace.

Cruelly for St Mary's these three points came against the run of play as captain Barry Lynn had reduced arrears to a single point with a third penalty into the gale.

The other two tries came from right wing Ian Hanley. In first-half injury-time he shrugged off number eight Adrian Copeland to scamper down the touchline. His second came with 15 minutes remaining and pushed the game out of St Mary's reach. James O'Neill supplied the final pass but Hanley coolly stepped inside the last defender.

It was all the more valuable considering captain Aidan O'Gorman was in the sin bin.

So, the silverware goes to Limerick but it's a job well done for both clubs. St Mary's did what Dublin neighbours Terenure College could not and immediately bounced back to Division One.

The challenges for Steve Hennessy and Peter Smyth get tougher now but there are plenty of positives from this season. For starters, the manner in which teenage outhalf Jonathan Sexton commanded a first-team place. On Saturday his influence was muted but the raw talent is undeniable.

Several professionals also lent their weight to the club cause. In particular, Gavin Hickie, who accommodated fellow hooker and player-coach Smyth by moving to wing forward, excelled with ball in hand.

And yet, the season belongs to UL Bohemian as Englishman Tewkesbury (His mother hails from Cork) takes them up for the second time in his five-year tenure.

"We stuck with the same players the last time and probably suffered for that so a few faces will have to come in," he admitted.

"I haven't seen many first division games this season but what I have seen I have been very impressed with. Our main objective next season is to stay up there."

Scoring sequence: 20 mins: B Martin try, 5-0; 32: B Lynn pen, 5-3; 43: I Hanley try, 10-3. Half-time. 44: B Lynn pen, 10-6; 50: B Lynn pen, 10-9; 54: B Martin drop goal, 13-9; 66: I Hanley try, 18-9; 78: B Lynn pen, 18-12.

UL BOHEMIANS: C Garvey; I Hanley, C Finn, M McPhail, K Matthews; B Martin, A Rees; M Harty, G Ryan, M Story; B Madigan, A Hartigan; A O'Gorman, P Van Esbeck, J O'Neill. Replacements: JE O'Connor for J O'Neill (67 mins), K Flanagan for M Storey (70 mins), C O'Boyle for A Rees (78 mins).

ST MARY'S: D Hughes; P Brophy, B Lynn, C Fifield, J McWeeney; J Sexton, J Kilbride; C O'Byrne, P Smyth, P Coyle; J Ellis, G Logan; K O'Brien, G Hickie, A Copeland. Replacements: M Donnellan for K O'Brien, C McPhilips for C Fifield (both half-time), D Clare for P Coyle (56 mins), R Smyth for J Kilbride (62 mins), B McCormack for P Smyth, B Moran for C O'Byrne (both 71 mins), G Crawford for R Smyth (76 mins).

Referee: S McDowell (URS)