Cork Constitution 26 Clontarf 18CLONTARF DISCOVERED just how difficult winning the Ulster Bank League Division One A title is going to be at Temple Hill on Saturday. Having arrived at the venue as the only side to have won their opening four games, they left narrowly failing to even get a losing bonus point. So, for the first time they have lost out on the top spot in the table to Young Munster.
It was a frustrating afternoon. All the more so as Clontarf were reduced to 13 men at one stage in the second half following the sending off of sub Adrian Darcy for what was seen as a spear tackle, and the sin-binning of Ken Dorrian. Clontarf then managed to play their best rugby in the final 10 minutes, scoring two tries through fullback Noel Reid and skipper Barry O’Mahony. That was some consolation for coach Andy Wood.
If he was upset by the red card to Darcy, he wasn’t admitting to it. “The referee (John Carvill) made the call and we had to deal with it. Credit to Cork Con, they are a very good side. We showed we are a good side in those final 10 minutes. I felt we were a bit unlucky not to get that losing bonus point.”
Cork Con, having lost their two previous home games, were determined to prove a point against an outfit which had three of their former players in Frank Cogan, Richie Lane and Evan Ryan.
Con led 13-3 at the interval with fullback Darragh Lyons setting up flanker Brian O’Hara for a try. Scrumhalf Gerry Hurley landed the conversion and kicked two penalties, while Lane was on the mark for Clontarf. Although Con had Joe McSwiney and Scott Deasy sent to the bin at different stages, Clontarf couldn’t get back into contention. They were 16-6 adrift, Hurley having kicked a penalty with Lane replying with one for Clontarf, when Darcy was dismissed midway through the half.
After Dorrian was shown a yellow card soon afterwards, Cork Con moved 26-6 in front with tries from Hurley and Niall O’Driscoll, one of which was converted by the scrumhalf. Everything suggested Con would get the bonus point for a fourth try. Instead, it was Clontarf who claimed the last two tries.
Con coach Brian Walsh was disappointed his side hadn’t secured the bonus point. “Maybe we relaxed a bit in the closing minutes but I can’t complain too much. I’d have taken a win by a point going into the game.”
CORK CONSTITUTION
: D Lyons; R Clune, N O’Driscoll, S Deasy, S Zebo; J Holland, G Hurley; John Ryan, A Cudmore, S Archer, B Hayes (Capt), C O’Flaherty, B Cutriss, B O’Hara, J McSwiney. Replacement: James Ryan.
CLONTARF
: N Reid; R Lane, K Lett, C O’Shea, C Keegan; E Ryan, S Cronin; D Merrey, A Dundon, B Barclay, B Reilly, J Chipman, S Crawford, B O’Mahony (Capt), F Cogan. Replacements: D O’Shea, K Dorrian, D O’Mahony, A Darcy, C O’Flynn.
Referee
: J Carvill.
