Healy double seals Cork Con win

Cork Con 30 Ballymena 20

Cork Con earned their first AIB League Division One win of the season as winger Cronan Healy grabbed two tries in a 30-20 defeat of 2003 champions Ballymena at Temple Hill.

With new coach Steph Nel taking a spectator's role, the Ulster visitors edged 10-0 in front midway through the first half as Scott Young breached the Con line and returning full back Dirkie Strydom converted and added a penalty.

But Con, who were defeated 28-5 on the Braidmen's last visit south, took in the break 17-10 in front as Healy's elusive running and the supreme boot of scrum-half Pat McCarthy - who kicked 15 points in all - played them back in.

Flanker Rory Kenneally also got off the mark in the second half as Con stretched their lead to 30-15 with ten minutes remaining.

With a bonus fourth try evading Paul Derham's side, Ballymena grabbed a late consolation through number 8 Michael McComish. However it will be of little comfort to stand-in coaching duo David Smyth and Peter Millar who hand over the reins to Nel with Ballymena currently third from bottom.

Scorers: Con: Tries: Cronan Healy 2, Rory Kenneally; Cons: Pat McCarthy 3; Pens: Pat McCarthy 3

Ballymena: Tries: Scott Young, Dirkie Strydom, Michael McComish; Con: Dirkie Strydom; Pen: Dirkie Strydom