Cork Con make it four in a row

Galwegians 19 Cork Constitution 38: Cork Constitution’s sheer hunger for silverware was obvious when captain James Ryan spoke in the aftermath of their 38-19 Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final win over Galwegians at Crowley Park.

Tries from man-of-the-match Ryan Foley (2), Shane Daly, and Max Abbott, allied to another assured goal-kicking display from Tomas Quinlan, steered the Leesiders to an unprecedented fourth Bateman title in a row.

It was the first leg of a potential All-Ireland double for Constitution who face Clontarf in Sunday’s league decider. Number 8 Ryan said: “The Bateman Cup is a special trophy for Con. I’m lucky enough to have won it four years now — I think there’s only three of us that have done that. Roll on Tuesday when we get back training, get back into the office. We’ll start again, put this behind us and try to beat Clontarf.”