‘Phenomenal’ Hayes hailed as Con land crown
ST MARY’S COLLEGE 19 CORK CONSTITUTION 24 Daire Walsh BATEMAN CUP FINAL – 29 April 2013
First-half tries from Robert Clune and Scott Deasy proved pivotal at Templeville Road on Saturday, as Cork Constitution held off a strong second-half fightback by a Gavin Dunne-inspired St Mary’s College to secure their third All-Ireland Cup crown, and their first since completing a league and cup double back in 2010.
The Leesiders had to dig deep defensively to seal this Ulster Bank Bateman Cup triumph, and Con captain Gerry Hurley (pictured) was thrilled that their defence proved to be as effective in the second half as their attack had been in the first.
“We’re absolutely delighted. It was a great defensive display, particularly in the second half. We attacked well in the first half,” Hurley remarked afterwards.
“At times this year we’ve let ourselves down early on in games. We’ve had to battle back into them. Defence was going to be key today, and our attack is always good.”
Having led 6-3 at the end of the opening quarter thanks to a brace of finely struck penalties from out-half Johnny Holland either side of an eighth-minute Dunne effort, Con proceeded to cross the whitewash for the first time on 21 minutes, as an enterprising move from a scrum ended with Cronan Healy putting his fellow winger Clune through for a converted try in the right corner.
Two more place kicks from full-back Dunne (with Holland’s third of the contest sandwiched in between) kept the hosts in touch, but Con had the final say before the interval, as outside-centre Deasy drove over for a 39th-minute converted try.
With the Ballintemple outfit’s cushion standing at 21-9 upon the resumption, Mary’s faced an uphill task, but Hugh Hogan’s rejuvenated charges force their way back into the reckoning when flanker Gareth Austin crossed over from an incisive ruck on the right flank eight minutes after the restart.
Dunne was on target with the conversion, and his 55th-minute penalty from 40 metres helped to reduce their deficit to just two points.
Brian Walsh’s side had struggled to impose themselves in attack after an eye-catching first half, but excellent defensive play kept last year’s Ulster Bank League champions at bay during the final quarter, before a superb drop-goal from distance by the ever-impressive Holland in stoppage-time secured their win.
It was a terrific team effort that helped Con to emerge victorious in the end, but Hurley was quick to acknowledge the contribution from man of the match Brian Hayes and match-winner Holland.
“Brian Hayes, the man who’s off to France next year… If he continues to play like that, I’m sure we’ll be calling him back soon enough. He was awesome today. Some of the hits he put in were absolutely phenomenal,” said Hurley of the second-row.
“Johnny has been fantastic this year. He has won us games with his kicking.
“He’s a very promising young player.
“He’s got a very good all-round game. Excellent defender, good attacker, good with the ball in hand and a superb left boot. To step up at the end and kick a drop-goal like that takes a bit of bottle.”
ST MARY’S COLLEGE – G Dunne; S Toal-Lennon, M O’Driscoll, R Hudson, D Fanning; P Brophy, M D’Arcy; C McMahon , Richard Sweeney, Rob Sweeney; C Ruddock, G Sexton; K Sheahan, G Austin, D Keller. Reps: C Hogan for Toal-Lennon (25), A Lyons for Rob Sweeney (54), S Bradshaw for Sexton (59-78), D Fawsitt for Richard Sweeney (68), Richard Sweeney for Keller (71), M Fallon for Austin (76), Robert Sweeney for McMahon (78).
CORK CONSTITUTION – D Lyons; R Clune, S Deasy, A Ryan, C Healy; J Holland, G Hurley; B Carney, A O’Driscoll, C Corkery; B Hayes, J McSwiney; G Lawlor, J Ryan, C O’Flaherty. Reps: D O’Brien for Lawlor (65-69), J Ratchford for Carney (69), N O’Driscoll for Ryan (71).
REF – D Wilkinson (IRFU).