Con romp to Charity Cup final victory

Cork Constitution 34 Dolphin 17

It all came down to the extra pace that Constitution enjoyed out wide and they will give particular credit to New Zealand out-half Stephen McCall who played a major role in Dolphin’s destruction in those vital minutes before half-time.

Scrum-half Pat McCarthy, the former CBC, Munster and Irish Schools player was equally influential in that opening spell. While Shane O’Halloran scored a spectacular 12-minute try for Dolphin, McCarthy kept the Temple Hill side in slight control with penalties on either side of that try.

With the game equally balanced, Constitution were fortunate to be awarded a penalty-try seven minutes from the break. Constitution were attacking and as they swept the ball out wide a Dolphin forward, on his way back to defend, got his body in the path of the ball accidentally. Referee Olan Trevor gave the try and McCarthy converted.

Two minutes later McCall succeeded in chasing his own kick ahead and McCarthy added the extra point.

Just as the dust settled McCall’s magnificent break carried him through for a try under the post and the scrum-half again converted.

Dolphin began the second half in much stronger mode but conceded an 11th minute breakaway try to Derek Dillon with McCarthy converting.

Dolphin pounded the Con line for 10 minutes before James Coughlan got in for the try which substitute Paul O’Rourke converted. They could have scored immediately afterwards but had to wait until John O’Sullivan got in for a 75th minute try.

CORK CONSTITUTION: D. O’Brien, D. Dillon, C. Mahony, J. Vincent, C. Healy, S. McCall, P. McCarthy, J. O’Driscoll, D. Murray, G. Murray, U. O’Callaghan, K. Coughlan, J. Sheahan, F. Cogan, J. Murray.

DOLPHIN: J. O’Driscoll, S. O’Halloran, M. Manning, M. Cronin, L. Twomey, M. Pettman, E. O’Donovan, J. O’Sullivan, D. Blower, E. Knowles, R. McGrath, D. Pomeroy, D. Murphy, J. Coughlan, S. Madigan. Sub: C. Twomey for Blower (10); P. O’Rourke for Pettman (45)

Referee: O. Trevor (Munster)