Walsh shrugs off title talk as Con hit season high

UCD coach Killian Keane conceded AIB League defeat to Constitution long before the finish of this tie at Temple Hill on Saturday, and then boldly predicted that the Cork side would win the title.

That declaration was taken with a grain of salt by counterpart Brian Walsh, who helped bring the club to the final last year — only to suffer agony at the final hurdle. But Walsh admitted it was the best performance of the season by the hosts.

“It was the best on two counts, because of the score line and the brand of rugby the guys played,” he said.

“It was probably the first dry day of the campaign, and that was the type of rugby we have tried to play. Up to now it wasn’t always possible.”

Walsh praised Richard Lane, who scored a first-half hat trick of tries to demolish the UCD challenge, observing: “He finished off very well but he had a good bit of work to do for a couple of them.

“I thought Evan was the guy who made most things happen; his distribution and awareness were very good. The backline as a unit played very well, and it’s was great for us to have John Kelly available. He has huge experience and is a calming affect on the guys around him.”

Walsh would not be drawn into discussing league titles despite Keane’s claims.

“We have a long road to travel yet; I’m just pleased that we’re getting results and playing well at the same time,” he said, “This league has always been about taking one step at a time.

“We have to remember that league rugby turns into cup rugby at the end of the campaign. One wrong move and it’s all over, as we found out to our cost last year.”

On Saturday, Gleeson set the ball rolling with a smashing 10th-minute try and after an opening “cat and mouse” type quarter following which Con led 8-3 (a penalty apiece from Jeremy Manning and UCD’s Cian Aherne), the home side pulled clear.

Lane ran in for tries in the 23rd, 34th and 36th minutes and Manning added two conversions to leave the score at 27-3. Aherne narrowed the gap with a 38th-minute try, but the visitors were unable to cope through a one-sided second spell. Darragh Lyons, Kelly and Gleeson all crossed for tries, with Manning and Lane kicking a conversion each. Aherne scored a breakaway consolation try for UCD.

CORK CONSTITUTION: D. Lyons, R. Lane, T. Gleeson, E. Ryan, J. Kelly, J. Manning, D. Williams, G. Murray, D. Murray, C. Murphy, S. O’Connor, M. O’Connell (captain), E. Leamy, B. Holland, F Cogan.

Replacements: R. Hassan for G Murray, D. O Kane for Manning, D. Fogarty for D Murray, C. Nolan for Williams UCD: P. Twomey, C. Aherne, A. Comiskey, K. Croke, V. Artemiev, M. Hasting, G. Geraghty, G. Moran, C. Geoeghegan, K. Doyle, A. Sullivan, B. Cawley, D. Gilchrist, P. O’Brien, K. McLoughlin.

Replacements: D. Herlihy for McLoughlin, C. Quinn for Twomey, G. Telford for C. Mitchell, R. Shanley for Geoghegan, G. Moran for D. Gerath.

Referee: B. Moran (IRFU).