Cork Con stay top with away win

Co Carlow 14 Cork Con 16

Cork Con remain at the top of Division One by just a single point thanks to late try from former captain Ultan O’Callaghan with three minutes remaining at Oak Park.

But Carlow centre Michael Swetman had a chance to win it for the home side two minutes into injury time, but his 40-metre penalty effort went left and wide of the Cork uprights.

In splendid conditions Carlow opened up well with hopes of ending their recent three-game losing streak in the league. However, Swetman missed two early penalties, and six in total over the game’s duration and that was to prove crucial.

McCarthy opened the game’s scoring in the 15th minute with his first penalty of three. On 28 minutes Carlow struck back as former South African international Dan van Zyl sent captain Andy Melville through the Con midfield.

He was quickly joined by second row Wesley Whitten and the lock rumbled over from close range for his first try of the season, converted by Ben Young for a 7-3 lead.

Con ended the half just a point behind though, with a second McCarthy penalty on 36 minutes.

Two minutes after the restart and McCarthy put Con in front, 9-7, before an incredible sequence of play saw Carlow score their second try totally against the run of play.

A break out from the Carlow end line saw van Zyl move into space and offload in perfect time for full back Billy Murphy to come into the line and score right under the visitors’ posts.

Young’s conversion saw Carlow into the final quarter with a 14-9 lead.

But O’Callaghan struck late on, amidst Swetman’s three second half misses, to seal the spoils for Con.