Cork Constitution were extended every inch of the way in Kilternan yesterday evening but duly secured top place and a home semi-final against the fourth placed club in the play-offs. For a game DLSP outfit, buoyed by recent back-to-back wins, there was at least the deserved consolation of a bonus point as their first division status goes down to the wire on Saturday.
This result moves them alongside Belfast Harlequins on 19 points but, remarkably, still below the relegation threshold on scoring differential by the narrowest of margins. DLSP meet Lansdowne, who are now safe, on the final day, whereas Harlequins must travel to a Young Munster side still in need of a win to earn a play-off place.
Despite the positive running of both sides the expected scoring spree didn't quite materialise. For that, the respective defences can take a fair degree of credit.
DLSP had possibly as much of the territory if not more, and likewise had possession more often. Working off an initially superior line-out their continuity game was good.
Cork Constitution, who not unexpectedly were without Ronan O'Gara despite the presence of Donal Lenihan, generally answered the questions that were asked of them to ensure real penetration of the white line was minimal. Even so DLSP had enough of the game for Damien McCabe to land two from four first-half penalty attempts as against one from two by Brian O'Meara for a deserved, hard-earned if slim interval lead.
On the resumption though, whatever Brian Hickey said during the interval had an impact on Constitution. A sustained bout of continuity culminated in Derek Dillon going over for a forcefully taken try by the corner flag.
Within two minutes Dillon himself came infield to take a good angle on to Jerry Murray's short flat pass and score with a diagonal burst under the posts. O'Meara converted for a 15-6 lead.
DLSP's talismanic centre Shane Stephens brought them to within striking distance again after 59 minutes. Again Mihai Vioreanu was the extra runner, though it was Eddie Devitt's switch that breached the Constitution defence for Declan O'Brien and Mark Cross to provide support. From the recycle an outnumbered Constitution drifted in desperation but Stephens simply straightened through them for McCabe to add the conversion.
Either side of this Vioreanu cut through twice but lacked support when just one off-load to one support runner would probably have closed out the deal either time. Constitution got their own recycling game going to generally play out the last quarter in home territory for O'Meara to land the second of two more penalty attempts. DLSP were riskily running the ball from deep and jeopardising their bonus point at the death, with Cross breaking up to halfway with the last play before his offload went to ground. And Constitution's joy at the final whistle also underlined their relief.
Scoring Sequence: 24 mins: McCabe pen 0-3; 32 mins: O'Meara pen 3-3; 37 mins: McCabe pen 6-3; (half-time); 42 mins: Dillon try 6-8; 44 mins: Dillon try, O'Meara con 6-15; 59 mins: Stephens try, McCabe con 13-15; 69 mins: O'Meara pen 13-18.
DLSP: E Devitt; B Hogan (capt), S Stephens, D McCabe, M Vioreanu; S Broughton, M Cross; D Dobson, S Sarsfield, D Masters, R Frost, K Wheelock, D O'Brien, T Giles, S O'Donnell. Replace- ments: C Condron for Dobson (71 mins), M Kavanagh for Sarsfield (71 mins), P Costelloe for Devitt (74 mins).
Cork Constitution: B Walsh; D Dillon, J Kelly (capt), Cian Mahony, A Horgan; Conor Mahony, B O'Meara; I Murray, F Sheahan, R McGrath, K Murphy, M O'Driscoll, C Taylor, D O'Callaghan, J Murray. Replacements: J Fogarty for Murphy (66 mins), R O'Donovan for Cian Mahony (70 mins).
Referee: T Redmond (IRFU).
How they stand
Cork Con - 1411 03387 2349 53 Galwegians< LI 1410 04319 2367 47
Dungannon< LI 149 14396 2497 45 Young Munster - 149 05317 2237 43 Ballymena< LI 148 15353 2938 42 St Mary's - 148 15278 2614 38 Blackrock< LI 147 16306 2795 35 Shannon< LI 147 16323 2764 34 Garryowen< LI 137 24268 2762 34 Terenure - 146 17308 3344 30 Lansdowne< LI 145 27238 2704 28 Clontarf< LI 145 09320 4315 25 Buccaneers< LI 134 09221 3005 21 Harlequins< LI 143 01124 73717 19 DLSP< LI 144 01023 63613 19 Old Crescent - 143 01127 53985 17
