O'Brien tries take Clontarf to final

Clontarf 26 Cork Constitution 6

Former Connacht winger Niall O’Brien grabbed a hat trick of tries as Clontarf won through to their first Division One final since 2003.

It was ‘Tarf’s eleventh straight League win and they were at their clinical best at Castle Avenue.

Out-half Daragh Lyons kicked AIB Cup champions Con into a sixth-minute lead from a penalty, but tries from scrum half Fiach O’Loughlin (10 minutes) and O’Brien (32) had ‘Tarf 12-6 in front at the break.

Con’s only reply was a 22nd-minute penalty from Lyons.

Making the most of their chances, ‘Tarf decisively put O’Brien over twice in the second half.

Scorers: Clontarf: Tries: Fiach O’Loughlin, Niall O’Brien 3; Cons: Daragh O’Shea 3

Cork Constitution: Pens: Daragh Lyons 2