Dunne disappointed despite salvaging point

A HOMECOMING of sorts, albeit a spoiled one.

Cork man Gavin Dunne’s last-gasp penalty, which rescued a bonus point for St Mary’s College at Temple Hill, could prove crucial later in the All-Ireland League season, but there was no hiding the full-back’s disappointment at his side’s loss.

Mary’s headed south intent on exacting revenge for Con’s extra-time, 17-10 win in last season’s AIL decider, and this encounter proved there is little to choose between these teams again this term.

“That loss was a huge motivation for us,” Dunne said. “We talked about it during the week and before the match. We really wanted to get one up on them, but it wasn’t to be. The beauty of the league though, is that we can play them again on our own patch. It’ll be the same motivation, probably even more so now.”

Dunne would have wanted to put one over some of his old team-mates, having spent four years piloting a successful UCC side from out-half before an accountancy job opportunity with Pricewaterhouse Coopers took him to Dublin.

The 24-year-old from Sunday’s Well is among an ever-growing UCC and Cork rugby diaspora in the capital, and he name-checked Clontarf trio Sam Cronin, Barry O’Mahony and Evan Ryan, Neilus Keogh of Lansdowne and Bective’s Conor Harbison as friends who have helped create “a home away from home”.

Dunne was last season’s top points scorer and although Munster never came calling, he is more than satisfied with his lot.

“It’s been great to get the opportunity to play with a Division One club, I was delighted Mary’s approached me,” he offered. “I felt I was ready and I wanted to challenge myself after four years in Division Two and 1B. I’m not going to say it’s more professional in any sense — UCC is as professional as it gets for an amateur club. They look after you very well and I really enjoyed my four years there.

“I was in the Munster sub-academy while in second year in College. Munster was always an ambition - you idolise them growing up and you want to be involved - but it’s very competitive. It’s great seeing academy lads get used to the professional lifestyle, as it’s a huge commitment.

“I did commit myself hugely to it (at the time), but I knew that by moving to Dublin I was concentrating on my professional career and my accountancy exams. Rugby is something I keep separate from that, but I enjoy doing all my training and living a semi-professional lifestyle if you like.”

His primary goal these days is to win silverware with Mary’s, who will know this was something of a missed opportunity.

Anyone expecting these sides to serve up scintillating fare from the get-go, having been idle since the end of November, was predictably disappointed. Enforced errors abounded and two penalties each for Dunne and Con scrum-half Gerry Hurley left the sides level at 6-6 early in the second half.

The game sparked to life on 50 minutes, when Con captain Frank Cogan produced a freak try that will certainly have impressed onlooking Munster forwards coach Laurie Fisher.

Having risen high to nick a Mary’s line-out on his own 10-metre line, Cogan came back to earth, found no-one home and sped off down the left touchline. The number eight burned Mary’s wing Paul Gillespie and beat the despairing tackle of Dunne to finish off a stunning effort in the left corner.

Hurley’s conversion and a further penalty — with one three-pointer from Dunne in reply — left Con 16-9 to the good, before substitute scrum-half Matt D’Arcy, barely on the pitch 60 seconds, scooted down the blindside and beat the Con cover to the corner for an unconverted score and a two-point deficit.

Munster’s Scott Deasy looked to have replied in style for the hosts, crossing after some stunning work in the build-up from Con’s best backs, Cyprian Jouve and Simon Zebo, but referee George Clancy surprised many by ruling that the out-half had lost the ball forward.

Hurley made partial amends with two penalties inside the final 10 minutes for a 22-14 advantage. But a quick restart from impressive Mary’s out-half Ian McKinley, collected by Ireland U20 wing Darren Hudson, caught Con cold, eventually leading to a penalty which Dunne nailed to secure the bonus point.

Scorers for Cork Con: Try: F Cogan; Con: G Hurley; Pens: G Hurley 5.

Scorers for St Mary’s: Try: M D’Arcy; Pens: G Dunne 4.

CORK CON: S Scanlon; S Zebo, C Jouve, I Dineen, C Healy; S Deasy, G Hurley; M Gately, M O’Leary, S Archer; C O’Flaherty, B Hayes; B Holland, B Cuttriss, F Cogan (capt).

Replacements: J McSwiney for O’Flaherty (27, inj); R Lane for Zebo (76, inj); G Murray for Gately (80+1).

ST MARY’S: G Dunne; P Gillespie, S Grissing, M Sexton, D Hudson; I McKinley, D Campbell; C McMahon, R Sweeney, J McGrath; S Bradshaw, C Ruddock; D Hall, H Hogan (capt), P Nash.

Replacements: K Carroll for Bradshaw (12, inj); D Kilbride for Hall (55, inj); P Brophy for Sexton, M D’Arcy for Campbell (both 62).

Referee: G Clancy (IRFU).