Aaron Ferris grabbed the first of the tries and when blindside flanker Neil Faloon collected an intercept and went clean through the home defence for the second, the warning signs were there that ‘Hinch meant business.

Stuart Morrow made it three tries for the visitors and then it was the turn of his centre partner James Thompson.

Right winger Michael Lawton converted three of those scores and went on to score 19 points, including a try of his own, in a man-of-the-match performance.

Rodger McBurney, Andrew Harper and David McGuigan also crossed the Bruff whitewash, while centre Brian Cahill scored and converted a first half try for the well-beaten Limerick side.

On another day, ‘Hinch would have claimed the result of the round but UCD beat them to it at Stevenson Park with a stunning 84-15 dismissal of out-of-sorts Dungannon.

Leinster prospect Sam Coghlan Murray ran in four of the students’ 13 tries with forwards David Doyle, Conor Gilsenan, Mark McGroarty and Risteard Byrne getting in on the act.

Bobby Byrne’s excellent crop of youngsters had the bonus point in the bag by half-time, leading 34-3.

Tries from Paul Jackson and Timmy Smith were mere consolation scores for the Tyrone men, with Smith’s touchdown only reducing the arrears to 51-15.

UCD are now a point clear of arch rivals Dublin University, sitting in second position eight points behind comfortable leaders Ballynahinch.

Trinity showed their mettle by coming from behind to beat fourth-placed Buccaneers on a 23-19 scoreline at College Park.

A converted try from Conor Fitzgibbon helped Buccs take a 13-10 buffer at the break, but another Leinster hopeful, Cathal Marsh, drove the hosts to a gritty victory.

Tries in each half from Paddy Lavelle and the ever dangerous Niyi Adeolokun were converted by fellow back Marsh, whose 14-point tally included three vital penalty goals.

Malone won the battle of the Belfast sides to jump over Harlequins into fifth place in the standings.

‘Quins were leading 22-16 with five minutes of normal time remaining at Gibson Park, but they lost Michael Kirkwood for the closing stages and paid the price.

Malone produced a stunning finish as winger Michael Barker scored a converted try to edge them ahead and a last-gasp penalty from Mark Gribben sealed a 26-22 triumph.

At Eaton Park, Blackrock College pushed further clear of relegation trouble by seeing off bottom side 32-17.

They enjoyed a 15-point lead at the interval and maintained that in the second half with flanker Peter McCague joining backs David Godfrey, Emile van Wyck and Jan-Simon Byrne on the try-scoring list.