McCarthy penalty gives Cork Con win

Ballymena 6 Cork Con 8

A home play-off semi-final is within Cork Con’s grasp as a Pat McCarthy penalty five minutes from the end handed them a sixth away win of the season at a sleety Eaton Park, maintaining their one-point lead at the top of Division One.

Now unbeaten in eleven, Con were behind for over an hour of this low-scoring game, but a late try from centre Jean-Vincent Igarza, his second in consecutive games, and McCarthy’s penalty edged Con’s seventh win in-a-row.

Back by a sizeable breeze the fifth-placed Braidmen hit the front in the 14th minute when out-half Ian Humphreys, making his first start since December 13, dropped a 20-metre goal following good ground work by his forwards and in particular number 8 Michael McComish.

Namibian Dirkie Strydom had earlier missed a penalty and went on to miss a further two either side of his only success from 25 metres out, with twelve minutes of the half remaining.

Con swung the possession stakes in their favour after the break, and turned Ballymena’s 6-0 lead around.

With eighteen minutes remaining a Strydom kick was charged down brilliantly by French man Igarza and he collected and crossed for his fourth try of the season.

McCarthy missed the conversion and a 73rd minute penalty from 35 metres.

But the scrum-half was on target two minutes later to seal the victory.

Scorers:

Ballymena: Pen: Dirkie Strydom; Drop goal: Ian Humphreys

Cork Con: Try: Jean-Vincent Igarza; Pen: Pat McCarthy