Con race away from the pack
Constitution are now eight points clear of their nearest rivals with their only concern now being who they will meet in a Temple Hill semi-final on April 28.
But, if coach Brian Walsh has a preference, he wasn’t about to reveal the identity of a favoured opponent.
“If you look at the quality of the four remaining teams competing for a place in the top four, maybe you wouldn’t want it to be any of them!”
The chasing pack is now led by UL Bohemians, who secured a trouble-free victory over Galwegians, winning in Annacotty by 29 points to seven.
They take over that second spot from Clontarf who were edged out by determined Garryowen at Castle Avenue — the light blues won 12-10 to give themselves a chance of qualification.
But because Clontarf had points advantage to spare anyway, and because Shannon secured a 26-15 win over Blackrock College at Stradbrook, Garryowen stayed in fifth place.
Shannon’s out half Andrew Thompson steadied the ship for his side with a personal contribution of 16 points, but even that didn’t come near matching the massive 37 points haul from Constitution winger Richard Lane in the 62-12 demolition of Terenure.
Lane scored four tries, seven conversions and a penalty as Constitution ran riot to score a total of nine tries.
Not everyone in the club agrees with Walsh in allowing his charges to play such high risk rugby, but the coach is happy to give the team a licence to thrill.
Eight of the nine tries came from the backs, but the only forward to score — Ross Noonan — hardly scored a typical forward’s try. He was at the end of a magnificent movement to dive in unopposed under the posts.
On Constitution’s overall style of play, Walsh observed: “the coaches are happy to coax them to play that type of rugby because it suits them, and it pushes them to make more decisions for themselves. They leave school, where there is a structured game, and they might move on to representative rugby where it’s also very structured.
“We hope to give them the opportunity to develop those decision-making skills that will help them if and when they move to a higher level.”
Constitution’s final home game is against Ballymena on April 21.
Elsewhere, UL Bohemians can secure second place but must win away to Blackrock; Garryowen take on Galwegians and Shannon meet Dolphin, with both Limerick teams playing at home. Both are expected to win and a bonus point victory might even come into play.
It’s just as intriguing a situation at the other end of the table. Buccaneers will go down, while UCD, Belfast Harlequins, Dolphin and Ballymena — in that order from the bottom up — try to avoid joining them.
Because UCD (23 points) play Harlequins (24), either one of these two are the most vulnerable. If the Belfast side win, then UCD go down; if the students edge it, then Harlequins would need a bonus point to slug it out for survival with either Dolphin or Ballymena (both on 25), who each have a slightly better points difference, but not enough to put them in the comfort zone.
In division two, Old Belvedere (champions) and Greystones are promoted, Midleton, already relegated, will be joined in division three next season by County Carlow, who take the drop despite a fine 31-5 win over Thomond. Fellow strugglers Malone lost to the champions but picked up a crucial bonus point for safety.
April 21:
Blackrock College v UL Bohemian;
Garryowen v Galwegians;
Shannon v Dolphin;
Clontarf v Dungannon;
Cork Constitution v Ballymena;
UCD v Belfast Harlequins;
Lansdowne v Buccaneers,
Terenure v St. Mary’s College.
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