Con turn the tables on Blackrock

CHAMPIONS Cork Constitution got their All-Ireland League campaign off to a perfect start with victory at Blackrock College on Saturday.

Con lost their first away fixture at Stradbrook last season, yet recovered sufficiently to take the title.

That defeat to Blackrock was enough to forewarn them, and they never looked like falling into the same trap on Saturday at the same venue.

In fact, they picked up a bonus point with two late tries as they secured a 31-23 victory. Skipper Frank Cogan, Darragh Lyons, Richie Lane and Stephen Archer were the try scorers as new Blackrock coach Andy Wood failed to bring his successful Clontarf formula across the city.

Old Belvedere also enjoyed an away victory against old rivals St Mary’s at Templeville Road (17-9).

The fourth game of the division was just as interesting with Dolphin securing an unexpected but deserved victory over league specialists Shannon at Musgrave Park.

The crucial difference between the teams was the only try of the match, from Munster’s back row forward James Coughlan. Promoted Lansdowne found life hard in the faster lane when they lost out in their away game to Buccaneers in Division 1B while Bruff fell to Clontarf at Castle Avenue. The Dublin team were aided by the efforts of former Dolphin players Sam Cronin and Barry O’Mahony, while Con’s successful captain of last season, Evan Ryan also made his mark. Indeed Cronin and Ryan each scored a try in Clontarf’s three-try tally.

University College Cork were involved in a thriller at the Mardyke against Dungannon and relied on ace goal-kicker Andrew Burke to steer them to a 33-29 win, despite conceding the try count 3-4.

UL Bohemian lost out by a single point at home to Galwegians.

It was no surprise that Ballymena came away with the points from a division two clash with Midleton at Towns Park or that Dublin University should secure the points at the expense of newly-promoted Queens.

Nenagh Ormond secured a 21-7 win over Highfield while Sunday’s Well went on a scoring spree against Greystones in a 38-23 win. Seapoint, the recently promoted Leinster junior club, scored a significant 40-15 win away to Rainey Old Boys.