Cork Con put stop to Clontarf's gallop

Cork Constitution 26 Clontarf 18

Clontarf’s winning start to the Ulster Bank League season was ended by a determined Cork Constitution side at Temple Hill this afternoon.

‘Tarf travelled south on the back of four successive wins and adding extra spice to this encounter, had former Cork Con players Richie Lane, Evan Ryan and Frank Cogan in their team.

Brian Walsh’s home side were desperate to gain a first home win of the campaign and it showed as they broke into a 10-0 lead.

Lane missed an early penalty opportunity and it was Cork Con scrum half Gerry Hurley who opened the scoring with a precise 25-metre penalty.

The first half was entertaining throughout and played in near perfect conditions, with only a slight wind blowing across the pitch.

The Leesiders made a significant breakthrough in the 19th minute. A sparkling break from Simon Zebo had ‘Tarf in trouble and Darragh Lyons expertly drew the cover for the supporting Brian O’Hara to touch down.

A conversion and further penalty from Hurley sandwiched a Lane three-pointer as Constitution headed into the break with a 13-3 buffer.

The second half had an ill-disciplined edge to it, both sides giving it their all and the forward exchanges were particularly heated.

Lane and Hurley swapped penalties again as Cork Con maintained their 10-point lead despite losing Munster’s Scott Deasy to the sin-bin.

In the 57th minute, referee John Carvill reached for his red card after Clontarf flanker Adrian D’Arcy spear tackled an opponent.

A further yellow card reduced them to 13 men and Cork Con took full advantage with a pushover try at the end of which Hurley was credited with the score.

He failed to add the conversion but ‘Tarf were struggled to contain the wave of attacks. Their scrum was dominant and a clever cross-field kick tied up centre Niall O’Driscoll for the hosts’ third try.

Clontarf hit back from the restart, the quick-witted Noel Reid exposing some poor defending with a try that Lane converted.

Andy Wood’s charges managed to grab another try at the death. Reid broke from near halfway to create the opening and captain Barry O’Mahony was up in support to sprint in for the score.

It was not enough to nab a losing bonus point however as Lane missed his conversion attempt and Young Munster have now usurped ‘Tarf as Division 1A leaders.

Scorers: Cork Constitution: Tries: Brian O’Hara, Gerry Hurley, Niall O’Driscoll; Con: Gerry Hurley; Pens: Gerry Hurley 3

Clontarf: Tries: Noel Reid, Barry O’Mahony; Con: Richie Lane; Pens: Richie Lane 2