Constitution do enough in first half

To Cork Constitution the spoils and a priceless bonus point but to the amalgam of under-20s and junior players, sprinkled with a few senior Shannon regulars, the plaudits for a wonderfully spirited second-half performance.

Cork Constitution led 28-0 at the interval having scored four tries but the home side responded magnificently to the challenge and in truth were a little unfortunate not to finish even closer at the end: 17 points was scant compensation for their total dominance in the second half. Ronan O'Gara controlled the first half with his judicious kicking and tactical appreciation. On reflection Cork Constitution will be grateful for their first-half superiority against a Shannon side that showed nine changes from the side that lost to St Mary's College.

With Mick Galwey, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, John Langford, Marcus Horan and Anthony Foley all watching from the stand, Constitution's coach Michael Bradley will be delighted that his charges have put the club in a position to qualify for the semi-finals when the visit St Mary's on Saturday.

Bradley's side displayed the requisite appetite for the task, beginning at a high tempo in a quest for tries and that bonus point. Full back Brian Walsh was the first to profit from the expansive approach after eight minutes.

A series of rucks inside the Shannon 22 allowed O'Gara to use the blindside and his cut-out pass enabled Walsh to forced his way past two tacklers. O'Gara converted as he would do again quite superbly from the touchline on 12 minutes. Constitution again probed the blindside and Brian O'Meara and Walsh combined to put Anthony Horgan racing clear inside the 22.

Horgan then broke through Niall McNamara's despairing tackle. The visitors continued to pressurise Shannon primarily though O'Gara's sublime, wind-assisted kicking. Constitution's third try came on 31 minutes through centre Derek Dillon. O'Gara posted the extra points before he himself crossed for a try close to the posts: he added a fourth conversion to leave the visitors 28-0 ahead at the interval.

Mission accomplished, or so it seemed to Constitution's supporters. However Shannon responded superbly; three substitutions and the sin binning of Constitution's flanker Donnacha O'Callaghan inspired the home side. As they had done in the first half, Mossy Lawlor and Eddie Halvey led by example, superbly abrasive in the tackle and positive in possession.

Their team-mates responded in kind. Shannon kept the ball in hand, the pack responded by making huge yardage and suddenly the backline got going. Constitution may point to the half-time withdrawals of Cian Mahony and Anthony Horgan but they can hardly envisaged the second-half pummelling they received.

Tries from Halvey and Conor Bourke, with the latter adding two conversions, and Jim Galvin's drop goal took Shannon to within 11 points at 17-28. A series of handling errors denied the home side further opportunities to make inroads on the scoreboard.

Scoring sequence - 8 mins: Walsh try, O'Gara conversion, 0-7; 12 mins: Horgan try, O'Gara conversion, 0-14; 31 mins: Dillon try, O'Gara conversion, 0-21; 39 mins: O'Gara try, O'Gara conversion, 0-28. Half-time: 0-28. 43 mins: Galvin drop goal 3-28; 56 mins: Halvey try, Bourke conversion, 10-28; 68 mins: Bourke try, Bourke conversion, 17-28.

Shannon: Jason Hayes; M Lawlor, C Bourke, A McGrath, N McNamara; J Galvin, C O'Loughlin; J Hickey, D Quinlan, G McNamara; K Keane, T Hayes; A Quinlan, E Halvey, R Collins. Replacements: F Roche for G McNamara 45 mins; J Davis for McGrath 45 mins; J Hadnett for Keane 45 mins; P McMahon for Collins 57 mins; J Lynch for Galvin 64 mins; D Duggan for Quinlan 69 mins.

Cork Constitution: B Walsh; A Sherrard, D Dillon, C Mahony, A Horgan; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; R McGrath, F Sheahan, J O'Driscoll; K Murphy, D Sheehan; D O'Callaghan, U O'Callaghan, J Fogarty. Replacements: A Byrne for Mahony h-time; M O'Driscoll for Murphy 42 mins; C Murphy for Horgan 44 mins; H Hegarty for Fogarty 71 mins; F O'Meara for Sherrard 79 mins.

Sin binned: D O'Callaghan , U O'Callaghan (both Cork Constitution).

Referee: D McHugh (Munster).