Quinn Double Helps Cork Con Get Back On Track
Cork Constitution completed a season’s double over Lansdowne as they got their Division 1 title bid back on track on Saturday afternoon.
Having lost to leaders St. Mary’s College last time out, this was a ‘must win’ game for a Cork Con side that beat Lansdowne 21-9 at headquarters on the first day of the season.
Defending the clubhouse end at Temple Hill, Brian Walsh’s men took an early lead thanks to a crisply-struck 40-metre penalty from Gerry Hurley.
The scrum half added a second successful kick after 16 minutes, before Lansdowne number 10 Craig Ronaldson replied from 30 metres out.
The visitors lost the services of lock Willie Earle due to a yellow card and Constitution took a 9-6 lead into the break, after Hurley and Ronaldson swapped further penalties.
The second half was a much more open affair, a slashing break from John Cooney opening the way for Lansdowne winger Matt Healy to impressively finish off his fifth try of the campaign.
Ronaldson added the extras to give his side a 13-9 advantage with 48 minutes played. But Cathal Quinn then took centre stage for Cork Con.
Good work from Brian Hayes and Brian O’Hara laid the platform for Quinn’s first try in the 57th minute which went unconverted.
And a second score from the promising youngster, just eight minutes later, saw him outstrip the visitors’ defence to move Constitution six points clear.
In the end, it was enough of a gap to seal a timely sixth league victory for the Leesiders, who travel to Young Munster next weekend.
Referee: Leo Colgan (IRFU)