Con come back to hold UCD

Cork Con 27 UCD 27

Cork Con came back from a 24-9 half-time deficit to draw with John McClean’s UCD at Temple Hill, and in doing so managed to win their first point against the Dubliners in their last three meetings.

The home side were under pressure as early as the fourth minute when UCD wing Garett Hayes, a former Leinster U21, made use of a gap out wide to ghost over from a pass by centre Kevin Kennedy.

Wing Alan Henry clipped over the conversion for a 7-3, with Con’s sole score coming from a 20 metre Pat McCarthy penalty after 2 minutes.

Henry, who played full back in UCD’s opening two league fixtures, hit over a seventh minute penalty from 15 metres.

Poor defence from Con saw back row Neil Coughlan pick up a loose ball twelve metres from the Cork line and burrow his way over on 17 minutes for a second UCD try.

They added a third on 32 minutes when out-half Niall McNamara ran through, which Henry converted.

Into the second half, Cork Con’s McCarthy scored a fourth penalty after 43 minutes before wing Dave O’Brien crossed for their first try.

The comeback was looking more and more likely as a further McCarthy penalty closed the gap to 27-20, with the out-half failing to convert O’Brien’s try.

The 65th minute saw Con’s Cronin Healy score a second and final try, with McCarthy adding the conversion to level the match.