Cork Con into AIL Division 1A final after a thrilling affair against Clontarf

Just as the two regular-season meetings between the clubs had seen little to separate them, each winning their home games, so this knockout contest stayed true to the pattern.

Sat, 20 Apr, 2024 - 17:14

Simon Lewis, Temple HIll, Cork

ENERGIA AIL DIVISION 1A

CORK CONSTITUTION 40

CLONTARF 34

Cork Constitution survived a nail-biting finish to hold off semi-final rivals Clontarf and book their ticket to the Energia AIL Division 1A final at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Sunday week.

Just as the two regular-season meetings between the clubs had seen little to separate them, each winning their home games, so this knockout contest stayed true to the pattern.

A final-quarter try from centre Niall Kenneally, converted by James Taylor and a late Rob Hedderman penalty took Cork Con to their first AIL final since they last claimed the title in 2019.

It also atoned for two away semi-final defeats, to Clontarf in 2022 and Terenure College 12 months ago as the second-placed league finishers outlasted their Dublin opponents to reach their 13th AIL final and move a step closer to a seventh title.

Con will play either defending champions Terenure or Lansdowne, who were set to play the second semi-final later on Saturday.

They had taken a 27-17 lead into half-time on a sunny afternoon at Temple Hill after an absorbing first 40 minutes, converted tries from forwards John Forde and Ronan O'Sullivan opening up a 17-3 lead after 21 minutes after Con fly-half James Taylor and Clontarf 10 Conor Kelly had exchanged penalties.

The daylight between the rivals quickly closed as Clontarf found some attacking rhythm off the back of a scrum, full-back Nah Sheridan breaking from halfway to Con's 22 before feeding support runner Ben Murphy the scrum-half scoring his side's opening try, converted by Kelly on 28 minutes.

Con hit back almost instantly through an excellent finish from right wing Mark Bowen, Taylor's conversion making it 24-10, only for Clontarf to storm back into the contest through their full-back Noah Sheridan, Kelly adding the extras.

A Taylor penalty ended the first half with Con 10 points ahead but Clontarf were quick out of the blocks after the interval, right wing Peter Maher and outside centre Tadhg Bird scoring tries, one if them converted, either side of a Taylor penalty for Con.

It left the sides in a one-point game, Con 30-29 in front, heading into the last 20 minutes.

The home side took advantage of a Clontarf yellow card for captain and hooker Dylan Donnellan in the 64th minute, taking a scrum inside the Dubliner's 22 from where inside centre Kenneally struck from 12 metres out. Taylor's conversion and then full-back Hedderman's penalty secured a 40-29 lead but Clontarf, the 2022 champions and last season’s losing finalists, were not going to exit quietly, replacement Mark O'Sullivan setting up a nervy finish with his try as the clock edged towards injury time, Con now just four points in front at 40-34. It would be enough, just to win the day and Con can now look forward to a day out at the Aviva next weekend.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Rob Hedderman; Daniel Hurley, Harry O’Riordan, Niall Kenneally, Matthew Bowen; James Taylor, Adam Maher; Alessandro Heaney, Billy Scannell, Luke Masters, Sean Duffy, John Forde, Jack Kelleher, Ronan O’Sullivan, David Hyland - captain.

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Brendan Quinlan, Charlie Connolly, Eoin Quilter, Matisse Lamarque d’Arrouzat, Kamil Nowak, Louis Kahn, Rob Jermyn.

CLONTARF: Noah Sheridan; Aitzol King, Tadhg Bird, Matt D’Arcy, Peter Maher; Conor Kelly, Ben Murphy; Ivan Soroka, Dylan Donnellan - captain, Ben Griffin, Fionn Gilbert, Josh Murphy, Ruadhan Byron, JJ O’Dea, Tony Ryan.

Replacements: Barry Gray, Alex Usanov, Declan Adamson, Jack Murphy, Louis O’Reilly, Mark O’Sullivan, Jim Peters, Darragh Bolger.

Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)