Kiernan comes back to haunt boyhood club in dramatic Lansdowne win over Cork Con

Lansdowne launched their Energia Men’s All-Ireland League campaign with a 16-11 win.

PAUL KIERNAN CAME back to haunt his boyhood club as Lansdowne launched their Energia Men’s All-Ireland League campaign with a dramatic 16-11 win over defending champions Cork Constitution.

After a Mark Boyle try had brought the hosts level on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch, it looked like these Division 1A heavyweights were going to have to settle for a share of the spoils.

That was until busy centre Kiernan, who featured prominently in the underage ranks for Cork Con, pounced in the final minute for a superb match-winning try.

It was Constitution’s first league defeat since March 2019, ending a run of 18 victories. However, the losing bonus point could be an important one in the long run.

It had all started so brilliantly for Brian Hickey’s men today, winger JJ O’Neill bursting through a gap to send former Munster scrum half Duncan Williams over inside the opening 60 seconds.

They led 8-6 at half-time, Peter Hastie picking off two penalties for Lansdowne as their pack began to make inroads. Con captain Aidan Moynihan responded with a 35th minute penalty.

The out-halves had a ding dong battle, Moynihan tagging on his second penalty before his cross-field kick almost set up O’Neill for a try in the right corner.

On the hour mark, and with Lansdowne pressure landing Con lock Eoin Quilter in the sin bin, the home side struck. Number 8 Boyle, younger brother of Connacht and Ireland flanker Paul, crossed from a scrum on the left wing.

Con rallied but there was a final sting in the tail. Space opened up out wide and Kiernan, the former Ireland Under-20 international, was picked out for the game’s decisive score.