Lansdowne and Cork Con prove class with late wins

Lansdowne continue to look the team to beat in Ulster Bank League Division 1A after winning at Tom Clifford Park for the first time since 2011, while defending champions Cork Constitution have leapfrogged Terenure College in pursuit of the second home semi-final berth.

Despite outscoring Lansdowne by four tries to three, Young Munster fell to a 27-24 defeat at the hands of Mike Ruddock’s table toppers. Teenage wingers Luke Fitzgerald and Conor Hayes both touched down for the Cookies, who will miss out on the play-offs unless results go their way in Saturday’s final round.

As ever, former Munster out-half Scott Deasy played a key role for Lansdowne, converting first-half tries from influential hooker Tyrone Moran (2) and centre Mark O’Keefe (his ninth of the campaign). It was the Corkman’s 66th-minute penalty which proved decisive.