THE HOLDERS got the defence off their title off to a winning start at Eaton Park yesterday with the most comprehensive of victories. Beaten 22-16 by Shannon in the Munster Cup last week-end, they bounced back in style and secured the bonus point courtesy of four well-taken tries.

Back in November 1991 they were the first Limerick side to visit Eaton Park in the All-Ireland League winning 9-7. Last season they won 28-14 at the same venue but yesterday it was never a contest as the Limerick men put down their marker from an early stage and never looked back.

Coach Dara O'Sullivan was delighted with the manner of the victory.

"We lost in the cup last week and it certainly focused us for this game. It was vital that we got a good start and once we achieved that we were in the driving seat.

"As champions we were up there to be shot at but we worked hard in the close season and winning in Ballymena will do wonders for our confidence so early in the season" he said.

Garryowen again did the simple things well whereas a Ballymena side in transition were guilty of too many unforced errors and that ultimately led to their downfall.

Garryowen were significantly stronger all over the pitch. They made it count especially in the scrums pushing Ballymena back and never allowing them to gain a foothold. The home side desperately needed a good start but it all fell apart for them as early as the sixth minute when Garryowen wing Lorcan Bourke got over for the opening try. Conor Kilroy missed the conversion but made up for it four minutes later with a penalty.

The second quarter saw Ballymena offer greater resistance and they were rewarded with a penalty eight minutes before half time by Donovan Raw. But that was as good as they got for the Eaton Park men as within two minutes of the interval the visitors raised the tempo for wing Kieran O'Boyle to get in for a second try and leave them ten points clear at half time.

Ballymena were outclassed and grasping at staws at this stage and they were hoping for scores early in the restart to get them back into contention. Those scores never materialised, however. Instead fifteen minutes into the second half Garryowen captain and number 8 Paul Neville barged over for a third try to open up a 15 point gap effectively closing out any hope of a Ballymena revival.

Garryowen sensed the prospect of a fourth try and the all important bonus point and they raised the tempo still further. Ten minutes from the end they were duly rewarded with a try by full back Conor Kilroy.

Two minutes from the end of normal time the same player wrapped up the scoring with a penalty leaving Garryowen as the most comfortable of winners and giving them the best possible boost before facing Shannon in the pick of next weekend's games in the League. For Ballymena it was another stark reminder of how competitive the All-Ireland League can be if you are a side in transition and on evidence of this performance they face a long and difficult season.