Healy sets record in Con’s bonus win
The previous weekend the Tyrone men produced one of the shocks of the campaign when overcoming Shannon 25-18 at home, although the Ulster side’s chances that day were bolstered by the likes of Ulster contracted players Justin Fitzpatrick, Bryn Cunningham and Jonny Bell. Saturday, minus the muscle of Fitzpatrick and go-to players like Cunningham and Bell, the prospects of a repeat against a top four side never looked likely.
On close to perfect ground conditions and with a back line sprinkled with fringe Munster players, Con sparkled and took all five tries with aplomb. Richard Lane scored two, Cronan Healy surpassed the club record of his coach, Brian Walsh, by notching his 34th try in AIB League and Cup competitions, while the very promising Tom Gleeson finished off the move of the match with a classy five-pointer in the second half.
The performances of Ed Leamy and Billy Holland also caught the eye for the winners, while Thomas Anderson — son of Ireland great Willie — and AIB Ireland Club out-half, Richard McCarter, were Gannon’s best performers.
Con’s ability to create and execute tries from any position inside the opposition half is one of its greatest strengths. They possess the forwards to produce quick ruck ball and, with able distributors like Duncan Williams and Jeremy Manning in their ranks, the backs can be sometimes be electric in their execution. A first or second place finish at the end of the regulation season would be Walsh’s choice, thus guaranteeing a home semi-final in the play-offs. Peaking too early is not his or Con’s wish.
“You can’t be disappointed with this result,” said a very pleased Walsh afterwards. “They beat Shannon last weekend and for them every game is a Cup final because of their league position at the moment. It’s the same for us — to come out of this with five tries in the end is very much a positive. From here on it’s about winning matches, it’s about staying up in the top two and not being at your best until the end of the season.”
Dungannon were left with a huge mountain to climb after Con posted two tries inside the opening seven minutes. A minute had passed when Lane took advantage of turnover ball inside the Gannon half to sprint diagonally to the corner. Manning, who enjoyed another excellent afternoon, converted to give Con the dream start.
Lane was involved again six minutes later, bursting inside Gannon’s ‘22’ from which Manning unloaded a perfectly-weighted cross-field kick to Healy who ran over unmarked. The extras were added by Manning.
However, thanks largely to the work-rate of their No 6, Anderson, Dungannon won a penalty in the 20th minute which Richard McCarter converted. But Con could have extended their lead further had they shown more patience inside the red zone. Still, it didn’t get any easier for the northerners who had De-Jay Terblanche sin-binned in injury time. In the meantime, Manning had landed his second penalty to hand Con a comfortable 20-3 half time lead.
The third quarter saw the Ulster side produce their best rugby. Depriving Frank Cogan’s side ball at source, they rolled the ball up the jumpers and patiently built the phases mainly through their forwards. The pack’s hard work yielded two penalties which McCarter converted to make it 20-9 by the 56th minute. But Con’s reply was swift. Excellent work by Billy Holland to bring play well inside the opposition 22 created the space outside. Denis Hurley offloaded brilliantly to Lane who found Tom Gleeson on his shoulder and the latter dotted down in the corner.
Denis Fogarty was then sin-binned for an infringement in the build-up to a penalty that saw Dungannon secure their last points, but, even when down to 14 men, Lane secured the bonus point, showing great upper body strength to score another in the corner in the 70th minute.
Ed Leamy charged over for a fifth two minutes from time which Manning converted.
Lane 2 tries, Healy, Gleeson, Leamy 1 try each; Manning 3 penalties, 3 conversions.
R McCarter 4 penalties.
Denis Hurley; R Lane, T Gleeson, E Ryan, C Healy (P Hurley 72); J Manning, D Williams (D Lyons 72); Darragh Hurley (G Murray 77) , R Quinn (D Fogarty 55), T Ryan; B Holland, S O’Connor (M O’Connell 74); E Leamy, B Cuttriss, F Cogan (capt).
N Patterson (D McKernan 78); M Maguire, P Magee, G Telford (capt), D Black; R McCarter, J Bates; D Terblanche, C Knipe, G Sinnamon (M Farquhar 77); N Magee, M Boyd; T Anderson, D Hall, J Andrews (C Browne 38) (M Riddle for Browne 76).
P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
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