Hurley stars for Con

Cork Constitution 19 St Mary's College 8

Fresh from coaching the Ireland AIB Club international team to victory over Scotland, Brian Walsh watched his Cork Constitution side do the business against St Mary’s College this afternoon.

At Temple Hill, Munster-contracted full-back Denis Hurley did most of the damage for Con by scoring a try in each half.

Mary’s edged the first quarter thanks to a Frank Lynch penalty, but Hurley scored on the stroke of half-time with Daragh Lyons converting for a 7-3 Con lead.

Lyons set up a 61st-minute try for Munster’s Anthony Horgan before Hurley touched down again and Mary’s grabbed a consolation try in injury time through back rower Robin Copeland.

The win was Con’s fourth league success on the bounce and it comes at the crucial stage as it keeps them at the league’s summit ahead of the final three rounds of regulation games.

In excellent spring-time conditions, Mary’s began well with big forwards Gareth Logan, Conor McInerney and Hugh Hogan standing out in their pack.

Con welcomed back winger Cronan Healy from his run-out with the Ireland AIB club international side last week but were without former Munster and Ireland utility back John Kelly who is currently away.

Mary’s punched some early holes in the hosts’ defence before they were awarded a 35-metre which out-half Lynch was able to smack through the uprights.

With defences on top for most of the first half, scoring chances were at a premium and it took a sublime piece of play from Hurley to open Con’s account just before the interval.

Making it look so simple, the pacy full-back come up into the line and weaved his way past three Mary’s defenders before crossing close to the posts.

Lyons, who was deputising for Jeremy Manning, added the extras to put four points between the sides.

With the breeze favouring neither team, play was kept largely between the 22s but just when it looked like Mary’s were living with the table-toppers, up popped Horgan on a great line to take a pass from Lyons and ghost over to the left of the posts.

Lyons converted for a 14-3 Con lead and a Mary’s back-line that contained Jonathan Sexton’s younger brother Mark, could only look on as the lively Hurley completed his brace soon after.

In the fourth-minute of injury-time, the Dubliners were rewarded for some late endeavour when young back rower Copeland spotted a gap and went over from close range.

There was no denying Con however as they beat Mary’s for the sixth successive time in the league.

Scorers:

Cork Constitution: Tries: Denis Hurley 2, Anthony Horgan; Cons: Daragh Lyons 2

St Mary's College: Try: Robin Copeland; Pen: Frank Lynch.