Con still have a chance despite loss
AIL DIVISION 1A
By Daire Walsh
LANSDOWNE…………………………………………… 27
CORK CONSTITUTION………………………………. 20
ADAM GRIGGS’ 79th minute try was the difference between the teams on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch on Saturday afternoon, as Cork Constitution fell to their second successive defeat in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League at the hands of table-toppers Lansdowne.
However, the losing bonus point they secured from this encounter may prove to be a valuable one, and thanks to similar results for UCD and Ballynahinch in their respective fixtures, Con have moved back into the play-off positions for the time being.
Tom Tierney’s charges were facing a Lansdowne outfit that had already booked their place in the semi-finals, and with just nine minutes gone on the clock, they took a well-deserved lead. After making a strong burst towards the whitewash, former Rebel hurler Darren Sweetnam crossed over for the opening score of the game.
Out-half Tomas Quinlan was unfortunately off-target from the subsequent conversion (he was forced into a drop-goal attempt when the breeze blew the ball off the kicking tee), but as the half progressed, Con were making significant headway.
It was only a matter of time before the hosts found their rhythm, though, and following several attacking phases close to the Con posts, Conor McKeon’s off-load enabled hooker Tyrone Moran to drive over in the right-corner.
This was a set-back to Con’s prospects, but they managed to restore their five-point lead on 33 minutes. Quinlan’s audacious drop-goal effort had been well-blocked by the Lansdowne rearguard, only for the lively number ten to touch down from his own chipped kick towards the line.
Con now found themselves in an ideal position, but the south Dubliners ultimately finished the half in the ascendancy. Excellent approach play from inside centre Tom Daly helped his centre partner, Tom Farrell, to dot down one minutes before the break, and with McKeon adding the bonuses, Con were suddenly facing into a 12-10 interval deficit.
Lansdowne did start the second period on the front foot, but when a successful McKeon place-kick was cancelled out by Quinlan on the stroke of 50 minutes, Con remained firmly in contention. Yet, Lansdowne were becoming increasingly dangerous with ball in hand, and following an excellent run on the right-flank, Farrell registered his second try of the contest.
This created daylight between the sides, and Con needed to respond in the final-quarter if they wanted to swing the pendulum in their direction. To their credit, this is precisely what they did 13 minutes from time, when Sweetnam capitalised on an error in the Lansdowne defence to race through under the posts.
Quinlan’s sole conversion of the day set-up a tension-filled finale, but courtesy of a late try from replacement scrum-half Griggs, Cork Con will more than likely require positive results in their final two league meetings against Clontarf and UCD.
Scorers for Lansdowne: Tom Farrell 2 tries, Tyrone Moran, Adam Griggs try each, Conor McKeon pen, 2 cons.
Scorers for Cork Constitution: Darren Sweetnam 2 tries, Tomas Quinlan try, pen, con.
LANSDOWNE: Cian Aherne, Mark Roche, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Finn Gormley; Conor McKeon, Paddy O’Driscoll; Ian Prendiville, Tyrone Moran, Adam Boland; Brian Moylett, Stephen Gardiner; Joe O’Brien, Aaron Conneely, Joe McSwiney.
Replacements: Rhodri Jones for O’Brien (38), Adam Griggs for O’Driscoll (half-time), Warren Larkin for Conneely (60).
CORK CONSTITUTION: Darragh Lyons, Luke Duffy, Niall Kenneally, Ned Hodson, Darren Sweetnam; Tomas Quinlan, Andrew Dorgan; Gavin Duffy, Max Abbott, Ger Sweeney; Cathal O’Flaherty, Graeme Lawlor; Luke Cahill, James Murphy, James Ryan.
Replacements: Chris Corkery for Sweeney (34-59), Sonny Dwyer for Murphy (48-80), Aidan Slattery for Duffy (52), Michael Keyes for Kenneally (67), Kenneally for Duffy (72), Alan Ross for O’Flaherty (80).
Referee: Andy Brace (IRFU).