ALL IRELAND LEAGUE/Cork Constitution 21 Lansdowne 9:LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists Cork Constitution came from 9-0 down to gain a well deserved victory over Lansdowne in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League on the back pitch at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Not bad considering they have lost quite a few of their leading players, though they are still able to call on the goal-kicking skills of scrumhalf Gerry Hurley.
Hurley, who so uncharacteristically missed a kick to send last season’s final into extra-time, showed that he has lost none of his confidence by landing six out of six.
Outhalf Daragh Lyons was responsible for the remainder of Cork Con’s points, kicking a late drop goal. By the finish there was no doubting the visitors’ superiority, they had played virtually all of the second period in their opponents’ half.
But it was all very different in the first half when the young Lansdowne side, now coached by Mike Ruddock, seemed more at home in the difficult wet conditions. Three penalties from outhalf Craig Ronaldson left them 9-0 clear after 16 minutes.
What’s more, they were unlucky not to be awarded a try when Cian Aherne was deemed not to have grounded the ball. Gradually Cork Con came back to level matters at 9-9 with three penalties from Hurley before half time.
Their greater experience and superior game management saw Con take control after the break.
Eventually the penalty opportunities came and Hurley put over three more to make it 18-9 before Lyons’s well struck drop goal.
Coach Brian Walsh summed it up, stating: “Today was all about finding if we are competitive. We found out that we are.
“This was a great win considering our changed circumstances. That said, it’s much too judge how we are going to do in the league.”
Ruddock was reasonably pleased with the efforts of his young team. He said: “It was a bit frustrating that Cian Aherne’s try wasn’t awarded, the boys tell me it was a definite try.
“But credit to Cork Con, they know what to do to win a game. We were a little bit naïve in the defensive zone, giving away penalties against such a good goal-kicker as Hurley.”
LANSDOWNE: R McCarron; C Aherne, S Carey, W Walsh, M Healy; C Ronaldson, P O’Driscoll; C Murphy, D Toomey, D O’Reilly; N Keogh, M Feeley; K Essex, J Kelly, R Boucher. Replacements: S Collins for Toomey (half-time); W Earle for O’Reilly (46 mins), F Doherty for O’Driscoll (56 mins), I Prenderville for Murphy (57 mins).
CORK CONSTITUTION: S Scanlon; C Quinn, R Clune, I Dineen, S Zebo; D Lyons, G Hurley; M Gately, A Cudmore, J Ryan; B Hayes, P Donnellan; B Cutriss, B O’Hara, J Ryan. Replacements: C O’Flaherty for Ryan (48 mins), I Nagle for Donnellan (65 mins).
Referee: M Black (IRFU).
Young Munster snatch late win over holders Old Belvedere
OLD BELVEDERE'S opening match in their defence of the Division 1A title ended in disappointment as Young Munster snatched a late 23-19 victory at Tom Clifford Park.
Fullback Ray Moloney scored the decisive try in the final minute. Earlier Willie Staunton landed six penalties for Garryowen and Old Belvedere responded with a try from Kevin Buckley and four penalties and a conversion from Conal Keane.
Elsewhere, Clontarf had a comfortable 30-6 victory over Blackrock College at Stradbrook.
It was one of their Cork players, flanker Barry O'Mahony who scored one of their tries, the other coming from Killin Lett. Outhalf Martin Dufficy kicked the rest of their points.
St Mary's College and Shannon also got away to winning starts. St Mary's recorded a hard earned 13-9 away success over Garryowen with Matt D'Arcy scoring the crucial try, while Shannon came from behind to edge out Dolphin 21-18. All of the points came from the boot, Garrett Quinn-McDonagh landing five penalties and Ben Sargent getting two more.
In Division 1B it proved to be a very good opening weekend for the Ulster clubs. All four of them won. Dungannon trounced UCD 35-13, Ballynahinch comfortably saw off Galwegians 33-17, while Belfast Harlequins got the better of UL Bohemians 14-12, and Ballymena pipped UCC 8-6.
The final game saw Buccaneers come from behind to record a very useful 17-11 home victory over Bruff. Conor Lavelle scored the all-important second half try.
