Students found out by Cork Con

Cork Constitution 46 UCD 13

Cork Constitution ripped UCD to shreds as they turned in their best display of the campaign at Temple Hill.

The Division One leaders, helped by a commanding performance from out-half Jeremy Manning, ran in seven tries through Richie Lane (3), Tom Gleeson (2), John Kelly and Daragh Lyons.

UCD were 27-3 behind at half-time and despite two Vasily Artemiev tries, the students could do little to stop on song Con.

The buoyant Leesiders travel to second-placed Shannon in their next game on January 12.

Con struggled to a 28-21 win over UCD at Belfield last March but there was no disputing the best team on show at a windless Temple Hill this afternoon.

Brian Walsh’s charges were in excellent form and a combination of great handling skills and lineout dominance led to the visitors being shut out of the game for long periods.

Former Munster and Ireland centre Killian Keane was brought in recently to help with the UCD backs but they got little chance to show off their training ground work as Con led from start to finish.

It was the second quarter when the hosts really had UCD on the rack. After an early try from centre Gleeson, his third of the campaign, and penalty from Manning, Con scored 19 points between the 20th and 40th minutes to thunder clear.

Everything move Con tried seemed to come off and the UCD defence were sick of the sight of wide men Lane and Kelly by the turnaround. Both saw plenty of ball, as did full-back Lyons who hardly put a foot wrong in defence or attack.

UCD’s only points of the first half came from a 35-metre penalty from winger Cian Aherne and while an unconverted try from Moscow-born flyer Artemiev cut the gap to 39-8, the visitors’ comeback bid never materialised.

Artemiev did well to round his man and notch his fifth try in seven league games but once again the conversion was missed and Con had an easy run-in to the final whistle.

Scorers: Cork Constitution: Tries: Tom Gleeson 2, Richie Lane 3, John Kelly, Daragh Lyons; Cons: Jeremy Manning 4; Pen: Jeremy Manning.

UCD: Tries: Vasily Artemiev 2; Pen: Cian Aherne.