Cork Con Set Out Their Stall

Cork Constitution have started as they finished the AIB League last season, on top of the table, following their 33-21 win over St Mary’s College at Temple Hill. It was a victory that was never really in doubt after they’d opening the try-scoring with a Mick O’Driscoll effort in the opening half that helped them to a 13-9 interval lead. Mary’s scores (penalties) came from the boot of Barry Lynn.

The visitors did take the lead briefly in the second half when Dave Claire scored a try but Con tacked on three more to put the final outcome beyond doubt although James Norton ended the scoring with a try in the closing minutes. Con scrum-half, Pat McCarthy was responsible for 18 of his side’s total.

In Lakelands, the home side looked likely to cling on to their 15-12 lead as Garryowen battered their line desperately looking for the winning score. In the end it came when Dermot O’Sullivan raced onto to a hack-through to get the vital touchdown. Killian Keane, who had been such an influence on this game throughout, added the simple conversion before landing an injury time penalty.
Terenure fielded a youthful side and their defence perfomed heroically for the duration. However, in the end, the greater strength of the Garryowen pack and the experience of players like Keane, Dominic Crotty, Paul Neville and Simon Kerr proved decisive.