Cork Con cruise to charity Cup win

HAVING won last season’s delayed Charity Cup final three weeks ago at Temple Hill, Cork Constitution took this season’s decider with a deserved victory at Musgrave Park.

Con had led 9-0 after 20 minutes thanks to three Richard Lane penalties but only came to life in the final 25 minutes when they sensed the game might slip from their grasp.

College had come back into the game with a penalty either side of half-time from Andrew Burke and Brian Kingston and with the wind to their advantage, had looked like they might win the cup for the 25th time.

Con had been denied tries on the stroke of half-time with Frank Cogan having put a foot in touch and Alex Ryan knocking on as he went to ground the ball but they raised their game and their pack totally dominated in the final quarter.

Hooker Michael O’Leary eased Con’s worries with a try on 65 minutes after a series of Con drives at the UCC line and Lane’s conversion made it 16-6.

College lost Johnny McCarthy shortly after to a second yellow card and Con full-back Robert Clune rounded off a great performance with two excellent tries in the final six minutes.

Cork Constitution: R Clune; R Lane, C Desmond, T Kenneally, P O’Connor; D Lyons, A Ryan; M Gately, M O’Leary, A Foley; R Gee, B Hayes; J McSwiney, T Dukelow, F Cogan. Replacements: M Kearney, G Murray, B Cagney, P Dooley, D Dunne, P Sheehan, C Jouve.

UCC: G Nugent; O Dennehy, J Holland, B Kingston, C Crowley; A Burke, C Nolan; G Duffy, A Cudmore, N O’Donoghue; B Quill, M Kennefick; K Murphy, J McCarthy, P Hackett. Replacements: K O’Byrne, John Ryan, D O’Riordan, C Gallagher, B Slater, G Mackesssy, A Joyce.

Referee: W O’Connor (M.A.R.)