Tries from half-backs Gerry Hurley and Tomas Quinlan proved decisive at Lakelands Park as Cork Constitution beat Terenure College 21-7 to consolidate their current place in the Division 1A play-off positions.
It was a disappointing start to 2015 for a ‘Nure side that also suffered recent defeats to Lansdowne, Ballynahinch and UCD, and that lost ground now means they are seven points behind table-topping Lansdowne.
Terenure out-half Mark O’Neill sent an 11th minute penalty wide during a strong opening from the home side. Constitution full-back Darragh Lyons then looked set to touch down from a neat kick by Quinlan, only for referee Dudley Phillips to award a penalty to Terenure for a Con infringement.
The visitors were growing in confidence, though, and despite losing influential number 8 James Ryan to injury after 25 minutes, the Leesiders opened the scoring just shy of the half hour mark.
Young out-half Quinlan made no mistake with a long range penalty. His second successful strike, in the dying minutes of the half, gave Tom Tierney’s men a 6-0 buffer at the break.
The gauntlet had been thrown down to ‘Nure, who were aiming to avoid a fourth defeat in five games. They remained on the back foot when play got back underway, and Con flanker Graeme Lawler went close to scoring a try three minutes in.
Significant breaks by Harry Moore and Kyle McCoy on 50 minutes got ‘Nure moving again, though, and there was greater purpose to their play once more. Mark O’Neill opted for touch rather than the posts three minutes later and this proved to be a wise decision, as hooker Robbie Smyth finished off a powerful lineout maul to secure the day’s first try.
A confident conversion by O’Neill edged ‘Nure into a 7-6 lead and set up an intriguing conclusion. The home team could not push on from there, however, and when Quinlan’s 62nd-minute penalty helped Con to reclaim the advantage, the Cork outfit built some serious momentum.
‘Nure were still in contention with 11 minutes left to play, but Hurley left them in an ominous position when he raced on to his own chipped kick to touch down underneath the posts. Quinlan converted and then benefited from some superb approach play by Hurley to dive over in the left corner for his side’s second try.
Quinlan’s touchline conversion and a 77th minute penalty were both short of the target, but those scores were not needed as Constitution picked up a very valuable four points on the road.