UCD 3 CORK CONSTITUTION 31, Belfield Bowl
Scorers: UCD: Pen: Matthew Gilsenan
Cork Constitution: Tries: Vincent O’Brien, Rob Jermyn, Jason Higgins, Shane Daly, Billy Crowley; Cons: Aidan Moynihan 3
HT: UCD 3 Cork Constitution 19
Cork Constitution maintained the heat on Clontarf at the top of Divison 1A with a convincing 31-3 bonus point triumph over UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Saturday.
Adding to first half tries from Vincent O’Brien, Rob Jermyn and Jason Higgins, Ireland Sevens international Shane Daly and Billy Crowley both crossed late on for a rampant Constitution side, who remain just a point behind ‘Tarf and five clear of Lansdowne in third.
Con also kept Garryowen to just three points last time out, and their defence again denied their opponents a try as the students, who have had a mixed campaign to date, were held out. They did take the lead thanks to out-half Matthew Gilsenan splitting the posts with a fourth minute penalty.
UCD had the Con defence on its toes early on, but a powerful carry from Ireland Sevens international Alex McHenry, coupled with an offload to Conor Kindregan, got the visitors on the front foot. Aidan Moynihan missed a penalty attempt soon after, but he sent a second penalty to touch as the Con pack took control.
A well-worked lineout maul saw hooker O’Brien touch down, and although it went unconverted, a second try soon followed for the Leesiders. Possession from a scrum sent winger Jermyn breaking through a gap to touch down at the posts and Moynihan converted for 12-3. He also added the extras to their third try of the half, which came on the back of UCD centre Stephen Murphy’s sin-binning.
Constitution had a series of scrums close to the posts before their relentless pressure paid off with scrum half Higgins finishing off from close range for a 19-3 interval lead. UCD sought out a try on the resumption, aided by Murphy’s return and Con lock Brian Hayes’ yellow card for a high tackle on Sam Griffin.
Andy Skehan’s charges worked their way into try-scoring range but a superb defensive turnover saw Con snaffle possession and they largely controlled possession for the remainder of the third quarter. Although UCD also tightened up in defence, flanker Joe McSwiney made a considerable impact off the Con bench as did Munster Academy ace Daly who slotted into the back-three.
Indeed, it was Daly who finally secured the bonus point score by powering over off a Moynihan pass, nine minutes from the end. The out-half converted, and UCD could not halt winger Crowley’s progress as he snapped up a last-minute try as Brian Hickey’s men ran out worthy 28-point winners.
UCD: Tim Carroll; Rob Keenan, Andy Marks, Stephen Murphy, Oisin O’Meara; Matthew Gilsenan, Nick Peters; Sam Griffin, Bobby Sheehan, Liam Hyland, Charlie Ryan, Tom Treacy, Ben Murray, Alex Penny (capt), Stephen McVeigh.
Replacements: Sean Molony, JP Phelan, Emmet MacMahon, Shane Murphy, Ian O’Kelly.
CORK CONSTITUTION: Liam O’Connell; Billy Crowley, Alex McHenry, Niall Kenneally (capt), Rob Jermyn; Aidan Moynihan, Jason Higgins; Gavin Duffy, Vincent O’Brien, Dylan Murphy, Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregan, Kevin Sheahan, Ross O’Neill, Luke Cahill.
Replacements: Patrick Casey, Brendan Quinlan, Joe McSwiney, Richard Cassidy, Shane Daly.