Quinlan haul helps Con to victory
AIL RUGBY
Daire Walsh
LANSDOWNE………………………………………… 13
CORK CONSTITUTION………………………………. 15
CORK CONSTITUTION’S quest for a home draw in this season’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A semi-finals remains alive, following their narrow triumph over Lansdowne on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch on Saturday.
Results on Friday ensured that Brian Hickey’s side would finish in the top four, and although they had to work for their victory, a 10-point haul from full-back Tomas Quinlan helped them to secure the spoils.
After centre Niall Kenneally almost broke through with a drive inside the Lansdowne ’22’ on 27 minutes, a five-metre scrum was finished off underneath the posts by right-wing Aaron Spring. This score was supplemented by a conversion from Quinlan.
Lansdowne opened their account on the stroke of half-time, though, when former Cork Con out-half Scott Deasy split the posts from a distance of 30 metres.
Two minutes after the restart, the hosts moved into the ascendancy. Cian Kelleher broke free on the right-hand side, and following a neat offload by the full-back, Eoghan Quinn squeezed through for a try on the right-flank. Deasy was wide of the mark from a tricky touchline bonus kick, however, and Quinlan was successful from a close-range penalty. The Temple Hill outfit registered their second try 52 minutes in.
Graeme Lawler and Ned Hodson forced Lansdowne on the back-foot, and excellent approach work from lock Brian Hayes and fly-half Darragh Lyons provided Quinlan with the simple task of touching down on the right-wing for an unconverted five-pointer.
A 56th-minute break from Lansdowne’s Tadgh Beirne offered the platform for centre Mark Roche to dot down, but courtesy of another missed conversion chance by Deasy, Con kept a slender cushion.
With Quinlan and Lyons leading by example, Cork Con claimed their ninth league win of the season.
Scorers for Lansdowne: Eoghan Quinn, Mark Roche try each, Scott Deasy pen.
Scorers for Cork Constitution: Tomas Quinlan try, pen, con, Aaron Spring try.
LANSDOWNE: Cian Kelleher; Eoghan Quinn, Mark Roche, Tom Daly, Ian Fitzpatrick; Scott Deasy, Adam Griggs; James Barry, Jack McKenna, Ian Prendeville; Phil Donnellan, James Ryan; Tadgh Beirne, Max Deegan, Ross Deacon.
Replacements: Peter Dooley for Barry (40), Matt D’Arcy for Griggs (56).
CORK CONSTITUTION: Thomas Quinlan; Aaron Spring, Ned Hodson, Niall Kenneally, Rob Jermyn; Darragh Lyons, John Poland; Gavin Duffy, Max Abbott, Rory Burke; Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregen; Graeme Lawlor, J amesRyan, Luke Cahill.
Replacements: Ger Sweeney for Burke (46), Ryan Foley for Poland (56), Shane Daly for Spring (60), Cathal O’Flaherty for Kindregen (75), Brendan Quinlan for Duffy (78).
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU).