AIB Cup: Cork Con Stun Shannon

…Shannon fly-half is tackled by Cork Constitution’s Daragh Lyons (left) and Shane O’Connor (right) at Thomond Park…

Cork Constitution scored a dramatic victory over Shannon in the First Round of the AIB Cup on Sunday thanks to an injury-time penalty try. Galwegians also came from behind to pip Munster junior side Cashel 13-9.

AIB CUP: FIRST ROUND: Sunday, December 18

Shannon 17 Cork Constitution 20, Thomond Park

Scorers: Shannon: Try: Eddie Halvey; Pens: David Delaney 4

Cork Con: Tries: Frank Murphy, Penalty try; Con: Daragh Lyons 2; Pens: Lyons 2

Shannon, the Division One champions and current leaders, were left stunned as the game ticked into injury-time. Leading 17-13, they were pushed off a second set scrum by Con, close to their line, and collapsed it leaving referee Peter Fitzgibbon with little option but to gift the visitors’ a penalty try.

Con had been the better team in drizzly conditions. They led 13-3 at half-time thanks to a try from scrum half Frank Murphy, converted by number 10 Daragh Lyons, who also slotted two penalties.

Murphy created his 10th-minute score himself, beginning the move outside the Con 22 and linking with prop Tom Ryan before finishing under the home posts. Shannon fly-half Dave Delaney kicked a penalty in reply on 36 minutes.

The second half saw Shannon assert more control. Delaney added two more penalties on 41 and 46 minutes, and with Con prop Mike Ross in the sin-bin, evergreen former Ireland international Eddie Halvey made full use of a quick tap penalty from Stephen Keogh to cross for Shannon’s only try on 67 minutes.

Delaney missed the conversion but added his fourth penalty for a 17-13 lead. However, Con’s pack, marshalled superbly by number 8 and captain Frank Cogan, then exerted maximum scrum pressure on their hosts to steal a prized win at the death.

Galwegians 13 Cashel 9, Crowley Park

Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: John Burke, Ross Davies; Pen: Brendan Bartley

Cashel: Pens: Oliver McGlinchey 3

There was no giant-killing act at Crowley Park as Cashel, the only junior club in the All-Ireland competition, went down gamely to Division One outfit Galwegians.

The Tipperary men put in a brave effort in atrocious conditions, but they failed to sniff out a try and paid the price as replacement prop Ross Davies’ 70th-minute try saw ‘Wegians confirm their presence in the draw for February’s AIB Cup quarter-finals.

Backed by the driving wind and rain, Cashel ended the first quarter 6-3 up. Brendan Bartley kicked a second-minute penalty for ‘Wegians but Cashel replied with two penalties from Oliver McGlinchey, who missed two other attempts from distance in the first half.

A 26th-minute driving maul from a lineout saw hooker John Burke go over in the left corner for ‘Wegians’ opening try, and an 8-6 half-time lead.

Cashel, for whom flanker Ed Leamy, younger brother of Munster and Ireland forward Denis Leamy, had an outstanding game, retook the lead on 65 minutes through another McGlinchey penalty. But Davies’ try – from another drive off a lineout – rescued the result for Paul Young’s home side.