Humphreys in sparkling form

It's all coming together for Dungannon, and if 15-man rugby is something of a novelty at Stevenson Park, then it's a warming phenomenon to which local fans will have to grow accustomed. Innovative and creative up front, the backs consequently moved with a new-found fluidity, but again it was the brilliance of David Humphreys which made Dungannon tick.

Humphreys chalked up a total of 23 points, and his tactical game was spot on, particularly when defending champions Cork Constitution threatened to somehow craft a result out of a daunting 19-points deficit. He conjured up two wonderful kicks, creating late tries for himself and winger Tyrone Howe to put the game beyond the Munster side. After building up a comfortable 19-0 lead, Dungannon lost their way for a spell, conceding two tries early in the second half. Earlier, Humphreys had kicked four penalties to set up a 12-0 interval lead, and he was central to the game's opening try in the 43rd minute, chipping to the corner for Howe to gather and go over. When Humphreys slotted home the touchline conversion there appeared to be no way back for the champions.

But centre Conor Horgan plundered a try in the 52nd minute, with substitute full back Tom Kiernan adding the conversion. And seven minutes later Cork Con were right back in it when referee Brian Campsell awarded them a penalty try, again converted by Kiernan to leave just five points between the sides. But while Cork Con suffered from the absence of regular half-back pair Brian O'Meara and Ronan O'Gara, Dungannon had that man Humphreys. He turned defence to attack with a pinpoint kick, and finished off with a try, before repeating the dose to set up Howe for his second of the game.

Scoring sequence: 15 mins: Humphreys pen, 3-0; 20 mins: Humphreys pen, 6-0; 29 mins: Humphreys pen, 9-0; 40 mins: Humphreys pen, 12-0; 43 mins: Howe try, Humphreys conv, 19-0; 52 mins: Horgan try, Kiernan conv, 19-7; 59 mins: penalty try, Kiernan conv, 19-14; 79 mins: Humphreys try, conv, 26-14; 81 mins: Howe try, Humphreys conv, 33-14.

DUNGANNON: J Bell; T Howe, J Cunningham, Alistair Clarke, J Davis; D Humphreys, S Bell; N Brady, Allen Clarke, G Leslie; P Johns, K Walker; J Patterson, A Hughes, T McWhirter.

CORK CON: D Dillon; J Kelly, C Horgan, C Mahoney, A Horgan; Conor Mahoney, C Murphy; I Murray, F Sheehan, J O'Driscoll; D Sheehan, M O'Driscoll; J Fogarty, J Murray, U O'Callaghan. Replacements: T Kiernan for Dillon, D O'Callaghan for M O'Driscoll.

Referee: B Campsell (RFU).