Healy pounces to punish Bohs

BY their own admission, Cork Constitution got out of jail and sneaked through to the AIB League final against old rivals Garryowen at Musgrave Park next Saturday.

The semi-final at Temple Hill on Saturday was a disappointment in terms of quality, but it certainly didn’t come up short in the excitement stakes. For that, UL Bohs deserve most of the credit by performing so well in a game they really didn’t deserve to lose.

Once again, Constitution winger Cronan Healy was the hero as his opportunist 78th-minute try rescued the game for his strangely lack-lustre team.

The Cork side played some scintillating rugby en-route to a top-table place during the league campaign, but this performance was best forgotten.

Constitution coach Brian Walsh was first to admit that it was far from the perfect display: “We were a bit nervous and didn’t get into any rhythm. I suppose Bohs had a lot to do with that as well. They played well, defended well and we overplayed the ball in the tight channels. When we got ball out wide we did a bit of damage but we just didn’t get it out there often enough.

“We know we didn’t play well and just about got away with it in the end. We were exerting a bit of pressure towards the end but you would have to admit that the winning try was a bit fortunate. Maybe we got caught up in the whole semi-final thing and got a bit tight. Hopefully, we can put this behind us and go out and play as we can in the final.

“Certainly, the players will be given every encouragement to play the type of rugby they’ve been doing. In a sense, we coasted through the league from Christmas on, when we played good rugby. There is no reason why we shouldn’t go into a final determined to play that kind of rugby. We will look hard at ourselves this week; we’ll take it that we’re fortunate to be in the final, but we will also look at our capabilities and hopefully recognise that we can play good rugby and win games at the same time.”

Victory looked beyond Constitution until Healy’s intervention when he seized on a Bohs mistake to intercept and race away to score a try under the posts which, naturally enough, was converted by Richard Lane.

It was a terrible blow to the Limerick side who has kept pressure on Constitution for most of the game.

Brian Madigan and Mike Storey helped keep the visiting pack ticking over and the back division, served so well by Chris Delooze, were as adventurous as they were ambitious.

As usual, Tom Gleeson was a threat for Constitution but Bohs were always alert to him. Dangermen, Denis Hurley and Lane had little opportunity and Healy’s only chance came in that last-gasp assault that reaped such rich dividends.

Lane gave Constitution a six-point lead with a couple of early penalties but Martin McPhail scored a sensational opening try for the visitors and Bohs moved into a position of strength with a drop goal from Fergal Lawlor and a penalty from Ben Martin.

Lane narrowed the gap with a second-half penalty and John Moloney, a blood substitution for O’Connor, put Con into the lead with an excellent 60th minute try.

But Tommy O’Donnell had Bohs back in front quickly when he finished off a fine attacking movement and Martin converted for an 18-14 lead, an advantage they held until Healy and Lane combined to come to Constitution’s rescue.

Down, but not out, was the reaction in the UL Bohemian camp. Coach Mike Tewkesbury made the point that his was a young side.

“There were a couple of under 20’s in that team. It’s a disappointment but it’s not the end of the world. I’m confident that this team can build on what we achieved this season.

“We were within a couple of minutes of a national final. It all came down to just one mistake at the end, so we have to be positive about it and build on that experience for next season. The important thing is that we came to Cork as underdogs and weren’t uncomfortable at any stage of the game. It was a match we could, perhaps should, have won.

“The fact that we lost doesn’t make us feel good, but we have to deal with it and come out all the stronger..”

CORK CONSTITUTION: D. Hurley, R. Lane, T. Gleeson, D. O’Kane (C. Quaid 78), C. Healy, D. Lyons, P. McKee, C. Murphy (Tom Ryan 45), D. Murray (R. Quinn (78), Tim Ryan, R. Noonan, S. O’Connor (J. Moloney 56-59), M. O’Connell, B. Cutriss (E. Leamy 56), F. Cogan.

UL BOHEMIAN: E. Torrie, M. McPhail, B. Martin, C. Finn, T. Luke (I. Hanly (78), F. Lawlor, C. Delooze, G. Walsh, G. Ryan (F. Leonard 56), M. Storey (R. Feeney 71), B. Madigan, R. Hartigan, T. O’Donnell (D. Moloney 82), J. O’Connor, J. O’Neill (A. Hartigan 71).

Referee: G. Clancy (IRFU)