Con hold firm to sink old rivals Dolphin

DOLPHIN suffered a galling defeat at the hands of arch city rivals Cork Constitution in the Ulster Bank League at Musgrave Park last night.

A minute from the end, Dolphin almost smashed their way through for what would have been a deserved draw, only for impressive centre Harry Fleming to drop the ball, with the line at his mercy.

It just about summed up Dolphin’s night; the only consolation being a losing bonus point and a financial boost from a big home gate of 2,000, on a night when Tomás O’Leary made a successful return from injury.

Right to the end, Dolphin played the better rugby but also made too many mistakes to give them the result their efforts deserved.

With limited possession and territory, Constitution were ruthless and must get credit for that.

Last year’s beaten finalists had a dream start with a try inside five minutes. The utilisation of their backs out wide on the left paid dividends, even though Simon Zebo was stopped short of the target. Constitution won the ruck and Dara Lyons sent Brian Hayes in under the sticks, with the out-half converting for a seven-point advantage.

Dolphin were to rue a missed chance in the 12th minute. The home side were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Keeshan went to run it but his pass to winger Kevin Brophy was forward and the chance was lost.

Dolphin’s big, abrasive, pack dictated the pace and it allowed international O’Leary a comfortable if uneventful return after injury.

Zebo’s midfield break almost unlocked the home defence late in the half and it indicated the potential behind a struggling Con pack. It got better for them when Scott Deasy’s injury-time angled kick found Niall O’Driscoll in space and the centre won a high ball to score in the corner for what was surely an undeserved 12-0 scoreline.

Amazingly, 10 minutes into the second half, Dolphin were back in the game. Keeshan kicked a penalty, then provided the opportunity for Willie Devane to race in for a try, which the out-half converted to cut the deficit to two.

With O’Leary and Con number eight Joe McSwiney both sin-binned for technical offences, the battle continued to enthral the fans.

Even against the wind, Dolphin camped in the Con half, but the nearest they came in that third quarter was a penalty chance missed by Keeshan in windy conditions.

Then Constitution grabbed the all-important score, with O’Driscoll getting his second of the night, and ultimately it mattered little Gerry Hurley missed the conversion.

That advantage was enough to keep the Temple Hill side in control, despite Dolphin’s frantic late efforts.

DOLPHIN: N Whalley, C Bohane, H Fleming, W Devane, K Brophy, B Keeshan, T O’Leary, J Cronin, A O’Driscoll, C Condon, C Rowe, D O’Mahony, D O’Callaghan (captain), R Allen, J Quill.

Replacements: G Duffy for Cronin (33), R O’Herlihy for Allen (46), E O’Shaughnessy for Brophy (55), J O’Flynn for O’Leary (60).

CORK CONSTITUTION: R Clune, C Quinn, N O’Driscoll, S Deasy, S Zebo, D Lyons, G Hurley (captain), M Gateley, A Cudmore, J Ryan, B Hayes, P Donnellan, I Nagle, J McSwiney, B Cuttriss.

Replacements: J Holland for Lyons (52).

Referee: D Phillips (IRFU).