Emotional Cup win for Con
There was a minute’s silence for O’Sullivan before the match, and tears mixed with joy at the end. St Mary’s, despite showing glimpses of potential, can have no complaints. Constitution beat them convincingly by scoring five tries to two. Four of the tries fell to Man of the Match Cronan Healy.
Constitution captain Frank Cogan was ecstatic with the win and the performance: “It was an awesome display from the lads. They gave it everything and I think we played some pretty good rugby as well.
“We all pulled together; we’re a very close unit and I think that showed today. Cronan was brilliant, but we did all the hard work for him!”
There was more than a thought for the memory of their friend. “No matter what we tried to do, Conrad was always on our minds in the build-up to the game. We had to focus on the rugby, but we knew he was somewhere with us for the 80 minutes. We felt his presence, and it was great that we got the win, for us and for him,” said Cogan.
An equally emotional coach Brian Walsh described the victory as: “Remarkable, given the last couple of weeks of heartache suffered by every member of the squad, every member of the club.
“It was very important for the players that we win this, very important to the club, very important that we should do this for Conrad and his family.”
Walsh paid tribute to St Mary’s for the way they competed.
“For a good while, it was a typical cup final; both teams going at it hammer and tongs, and it took a while for us to pull away. We managed to turn around at half-time with a bit of an advantage and when they went chasing the game, we managed to grab scores off mistakes. I was happy with our control and very happy with our use of opportunities.”
And Cronan Healy’s performance? Walsh is on record that Healy’s exclusion for Ireland’s recent club international against Scotland was a “disgrace”. He smiled, commenting: “Yes, that was some special contribution.”
St Mary’s lost out on a possible try when Frank Lynch was knocked into touch right on the Constitution line after eight minutes, and Con took the lead seven minutes later when Healy was sent in for a try by Shane Cottrell; Daragh Lyons converted.
St Mary’s took advantage of slack marking from the kick-off. Substitute Ciaran Potts, on for the injured Adrian Copeland, got an immediate reward when he powered through for a try that Barry Lynn converted.
But Healy, magnificent for Constitution all season, responded within minutes, chipping and chasing for his second try. Lyons extended the lead with a remarkable drop goal on the turn, and Con led 15-7 at the break.
With Cillian O’Byrne sin-binned, St Mary’s struggled for the remaining minutes of the first half and the opening moments of the second and Constitution scored a superb try in his absence. Mike Ross stole possession from a ruck, Frank Murphy took off on the blind side and the move was carried on by Healy. From the breakdown, the ball was swept wide and Anthony Horgan got in at the far corner.
In the 54th minute, St Mary’s tried to run out of defence, lost possession, regained it but Healy was up quickly and snaffled the ball from a defender to score. Lyons converted to make it 27-7.
Lyons kicked a penalty before Keith Douglas got a try back for St Mary’s, but that was small consolation as Constitution powered on. Healy got his fourth try 11 minutes from time, taking advantage of a chip ahead from Richard Lane. Lyons added the extra points to make it 37-12.
St Mary’s coach Stephen Hennessy had no complaints; “Beaten by the better side, the team that took opportunities. We had chances at times, but we couldn’t cope with their strike rate. They are worthy champions.”
: R. Lane, A. Horgan, T. Gleeson, C. Quaid, C. Healy, D. Lyons, F. Murphy, M. Ross, D. Murray, T. Ryan, S. Cottrell, J. Maloney, B. Cuttriss, F. Cogan (captain), M. O’Connell.
: J. Danaher for Ross, D. O’Riordan for Horgan, A. Ryan for Murphy, J. Murray for O’Connell, L. Hill for Murray, R. O’Donovan for Gleeson.
: F. Lynch, J. Norton, K. Douglas, B. Lynn, J. McWeeney, J. Sexton, J. Kilbride, C. O’Byrne, P. Smyth, P. Collins, E. Keane, G. Logan, W. Duggan, A. Copeland, P. Nash.
: C. Potts for Copeland (11, inj), H. Gervais for Nash (38, inj), S. Gibney for Kilbride (53), Temporary, R. Gannon for Sexton (16-23)
: G. Clancy (IRFU).
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