FINAL PREVIEW/Cork Constitution v St Mary's College:THE BLUE riband of the Irish club game probably has the best pairing it could have produced. Over the course of the Division One A campaign, Cork Constitution and St Mary's proved themselves the best two teams, and with the weather set fair and Alain Rolland once again in charge, all the ingredients are there for a good contest between two progressive, well-coached teams.
Rolland was in charge at Thomond Park last season, when Shannon were unsatisfactorily declared the winners – after a 19-all, 20 minutes of extra-time and both sides having scored two tries apiece – by dint of having scored the first try.
In the unlikely event of the sides finishing level again after extra time, there will be a replay.
Constitution are a little more reliant on contracted or academy players such as the hugely-influential Duncan Williams, and were yesterday hit by Munster calling up centre Tom Gleeson, which is likely to mean a promotion for Alex Ryan or Tim Conneally.
Otherwise though, they are pretty much at full strength as, thankfully, are St Mary’s, who also have a good balance of former professionals such as Conor McPhillips and Gavin Hickie, their 30-year-old Australian outhalf Shaun McCarthy and a smattering of youngsters such as the Sweeneys in the frontrow, Jonathan Sexton’s younger brother 22-year-old Mark, and the Connacht-bound winger Darragh Fanning – son of former number eight Declan.
Whereas this is Constitution’s fifth final in nine years, St Mary’s are in their first decider since a team coached by Brent Pope and captained by Trevor Brennan overcame Lansdowne 25-22 a decade ago.
Thus, this is more of a novel day out for them, and accordingly St Mary’s have eight coaches of supporters organised.
Constitution were the league’s most consistent side, boasting the best defence, and in addition to winning the AIB Cup have lost only one of their last dozen league games.
St Mary’s, a big physical side and very good going forward, were the division’s best attackers and accrued the most try-scoring bonus points.
They hit a mid-winter trough of four defeats in a row against Munster opposition, but come into the final in form on the back of five successive and free-scoring wins.
CORK CONSTITUTION: S Zebo; R Lane, T Gleeson, E Ryan (capt), C Healy; D Lyons, D Williams; M Gately, R Quinn, S Archer, M O’Connell, I Nagle, P O’Mahony, E Leamy, F Hogan. Replacements: J Silke, G Murray, B Cuttriss, B Hayes, D O’Driscoll, A Ryan, T Conneally.
ST MARY’S COLLEGE: G Dunne; D Fanning, S Grissing, M Sexton, R Doherty; S McCarthy, C McPhillips; Rob Sweeney, Richie Sweeney, J McGrath, R Copeland, S Bradshaw, D Hall, P Nash, H Hogan (capt). Replacements: C Quinn, S O’Flanagan, C Donohoe, B O’Flanagan, G Logan, G Hickie, C McMahon.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU).
Previous meetings: Cork Con 16 St Mary’s 9; St Mary’s 24 Cork Con 20.
Betting (Paddy Powers): 8/15 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 13/8 St Mary’s. Handicap odds (St Mary’s +4pts) 10/11 Cork Con, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 St Mary’s.
Forecast: Constitution to win.
