AIB ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE SEMI FINAL Cork Constitution 31 Dolphin 18:CORK CONSTITUTION remain on a course for the double after qualifying for their seventh All-Ireland League Division One final following a merited win at Temple Hill on Saturday.
With the All-Ireland Cup already resting in the trophy cabinet, Constitution are aiming to repeat their most recent league success of 2008, when they accounted for Garryowen in the final. Despite missing half-a-dozen players because of Munster duty, Constitution showed their vast strength-in-depth to make light of absentee colleagues, scoring four fine tries in a game of some sparkling running.
Dolphin encountered further problems on top of missing key players away with the province, because scrumhalf Sam Cronin was stranded in Berlin and couldn’t make it back for what proved a typically hard-fought semi-final.
His experience was missed, as his opposite number, Duncan Williams, was the outstanding player on view, scoring a try and creating two others in a swashbuckling performance.
Number eight Frank Cogan was another important figure for the winners, and Ed Leamy’s impressive contribution underlined the competitive nature of the home backrow, despite not having the likes of Billy Holland and Peter O’Mahony.
Dolphin, appearing in their first semi-final compared to their opponents’ ninth, began promisingly with the wind at their backs and led 8-0 at the end of the opening quarter following a Barry Keeshan penalty and an Eric Moloney try.
But Constitution grabbed a seven-pointer in their first attack after 21 minutes, Richie Lane touching down at the posts after a quick lineout throw in his half to Cronan Healy. Lane converted for 7-8.
The lead swapped hands as Lane (two) and Keeshan kicked penalties, before Dolphin struck in injury-time when number eight Robbie Allen grabbed his side’s second try despite a close-range lineout going askew at the tail.
Keeshan converted, leaving it 18-13 to Dolphin at the break.
Such a narrow advantage hardly looked enough for the visitors given the strength of the wind and Constitution’s ability to spread the ball wide quickly with impressive handling and running.
And they didn’t take long in turning it around once more.
Lane slotted his third penalty in the opening minute of the second-half, and flanker Ed Leamy finished off another dashing move with a try in the corner after 48 minutes for a 21-18 advantage.
Fittingly, Williams effectively sealed the tie with an opportunist try seven minutes later after Healy and Leamy started the move down the left.
While Dolphin kept battling, they lacked the resources to break down the home defence.
Near the end Williams sent prop Martin Gately over for the fourth try, to the delight of the Constitution faithful, with the scrumhalf darting around the narrow side to supply the scoring pass.
CORK CONSTITUTION: R Lane; A Horgan, A Ryan, E Ryan (capt), C Healy; D Lyons, D Williams; M Gately, R Quinn, S Archer; M O'Connell, B Hayes; I Nagle, F Cogan, E Leamy. Replacements: C Jouvet for Horgan (72 mins), G Murray for Gately (78 mins).
DOLPHIN: N O'Driscoll; R Kenneally, E Moloney, K Lynch, P Hurley; B Keeshan, M Purcell; R O'Neill, A O'Driscoll, C Condon; C Rowe, K O'Dwyer; F Stone, R Allen, R Geoghegan. Replacements: C Bohane for Kenneally (inj 29 mins), K Murray for A O'Driscoll (inj 53 mins), G Finn for Geoghegan (58 mins), A Foley for O'Neill (70 mins), D McCarthy for Purcell, T Keogh for O'Dwyer, C O'Flynn for Lynch (all 72 mins).
Referee: G Clancy(MAR).
