Hickey delights in Con’s away win
AIL RUGBY
Daire Walsh
AFTER seeing his side record a fifth consecutive league triumph at the expense of Dublin University last Saturday, Cork Constitution coach Brian Hickey was understandably delighted.
A total 21 second-half points helped Con to move up to third spot in Division 1A, and Hickey was particularly pleased that they overcame the challenge posed by Irish rugby’s oldest club.
“I suppose the fact that we’ve won a few on the road is a big positive for us.
“I asked the other day how many guys had played against Trinity before, and only two had, and not with Con. None of the group had played in College Park before, and I said it’s a venue that they’ll long remember playing in,” Hickey remarked.
“They’re the oldest club side in the country. Huge tradition, and we were just very conscious of the challenge that they were going to put up. I thought it was a great game really.”
The ever-reliable Tomas Quinlan once again proved to be a valuable asset for the Temple Hill men, and his decision to kick for touch six minutes after the restart led to a try from Liam O’Connor.
This score was a major catalyst for Con, and Hickey feels it is important to allow players to make their own decisions on the field.
“He [Quinlan] kicked very well today, and just kept getting us ticking over.
“I think [the penalty for the first try] was quite far out, but we tried one just before it, and it hadn’t come off.
“We were confident in what we were doing, and I think nowadays you’ve got to back the players to make those decisions.
“Coaches will say ‘do one or the other’, but the players are out on the pitch. They know better what they’re dealing with.”
It had been a difficult week for the club in the build-up to the game, following the passing of former club coach and president, Brian Ludgate, last Tuesday night.
Hickey revealed that the players spoke of wanting to honour Brian’s memory, and he believes they managed to do that in their commanding success.
“It was a very tough week for the club, because we lost one of our stalwart members, and former coach and president, in Brian Ludgate. Tuesday night, very suddenly.
“I hadn’t mentioned it much in the build-up, but it was good that the players very much spoke this morning about the need to put in a performance for him and the Ludgate family.
“I think they did that.
“That’s what I’d probably be most proud about today,” Hickey added.