Cork Constitution 17 Clontarf 3:CORK CONSTITUTION made it through to their sixth AIB All-Ireland League final with victory over Clontarf at Temple Hill on Saturday. They meet Garryowen in the final in Musgrave Park next Sunday.
The only score of a close first half fell to the home side after 25 minutes, when winger Cronan Healy raced some 60 yards to touch down in the corner for his 34th try in the competition, breaking a club record long held by the Cork Constitution head coach, Brian Walsh.
The conversion attempt from the touchline by outhalf Darragh Lyons was just off target.
Clontarf put their first score on the board seven minutes into the second half when Darragh O'Shea put over a close-range penalty, and it looked as if the visitors, who had finished fourth in the table, would give the side that finished on top a close battle.
But a second try for the Corkmen after 56 minutes set them up for victory, prop forward Tim Ryan crashing over near the posts after some good forward pressure, and Lyons adding the conversion to leave the score 12-3.
Clontarf were left with a mountainous task as Constitution had not been beaten on home soil in 19 matches and had not lost at Temple Hill to a Leinster side in five-and-a-half years.
So when Constitution scored a clinching third try with 10 minutes remaining their was much delight for the home fans in the big bank holiday weekend crowd.
Fullback Richard Lane kicked over the defence and received a favourable bounce near the corner flag to touch down and give his side a deserved victory.
CORK CONSTITUTION: Lane; Kelly, Gleeson, E Ryan, Healy; Lyons, Stringer; Hurley, Murray, T Ryan; O'Connell (capt), O'Connor; Cogan, Cuttriss, Holland. Replacements: O'Leary for Stringer (inj) 62 mins, Leamy and O'Kane for Cuttriss and Kelly both 66, Murphy for Hurley 72, Moloney for O'Connell 74, Brohan for Lyons 79.
CLONTARF: Keatly; Howard, O'Shea, Keegan, Hewitt; O'Brien, Treacy; Clarke, Carson, Treston; Trenior, Ó Siochàin; Crawford (capt), Elvin, Garvey. Replacements: Keane for Hewitt 58, B O'Donnell for Clarke 61, Perdue for Trenior 75.
Referee. George Clancy (Bruff).
