ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE ROUND-UP Blackrock 23 Cork Constitution 31:COACH BRIAN Walsh was entitled to feel more than a bit concerned going into the final quarter of Cork Constitution's opening game in their defence of the All-Ireland League Division One A title at Stradbrook on Saturday.
Cork Constitution trailed Blackrock 23-18 and a surprise defeat was definitely on the cards. Unless, that is, last season's All-Ireland League and Cup winners got their act together in the closing stages.
Walsh, as it turned out, should not have been overly concerned. Suddenly realising the seriousness of their situation, Constitution raised their game to score two tries from wing Richard Lane and prop Stephen Archer, plus a penalty by Lane, in the final 10 minutes.
So, not only did the defending champions secure a victory but they also came away with a bonus point having secured four tries. Not a bad return really from a venue where they lost last season.
"We were a bit rusty," admitted Walsh. "That side hadn't really been together for a long time.
"We knew that this would be a tough place to come and play. We also knew that we had to set a standard that we could aspire to at some stage during the game.
"Unfortunately we didn't set that standard until we had to. We eventually got the bit between our teeth and played super rugby for that period.
"We just need to click a bit earlier, especially as we have a very tough away game against Old Belvedere next weekend."
Blackrock deserve credit for running Cork Constitution so close. They have a new coaching set-up with Andy Wood and Simon Broughton at the helm, and quite a few different players.
Yet, they matched the title holders for most of the game, and were unfortunate to even miss out on a losing bonus point. Centre Robert Keogh was on the mark with two first-half penalties, and he converted a try by secondrow Alex Dunlop to keep Blackrock very much in contention in the first half.
Cork Constitution went in at the interval 18-13 ahead by virtue of tries from outhalf Daragh Lyons and number eight Frank Cogan. Lane landed one conversion and also kicked two penalties. Blackrock wasted a great opportunity at the start of the second half, Brendan Macken holding on when a pass would have put Andrew Conway over in the corner. But, with Alan McGinty proving a useful substitute for the injured outhalf Leon Ellison, they soon had their supporters celebrating.
Fullback Niall Morris availed of some poor Cork Constitution defence to go over for a try which Keogh converted and Keogh added a penalty. Now the upset was a real possibility.
Unfortunately for Blackrock, however, they just couldn't quite go through with their effort and, most crucially, Cork Constitution raised their game. Those late tries from Lane and Archer, combined with Lane's penalty, meant that they scored 13 unanswered points in the final 10 minutes.
BLACKROCK: N Morris; A Conway, B Macken, R Keogh, D Rowan; L Ellison (A McGinty 40), C Crowley; J Barretto, C Culleton (R Fisher 59), K Cahill (B Prescott 40), A Dunlop, D Dillon (capt), M Noone, B Kelly, M Carroll (R Graham 40).
CORK CONSTITUTION: S Scanlon; R Lane, S Zabo, T Gleeson, C Healy; D Lyons, D Williams; M Gately (G Murray 64), R Quinn (M O'Leary 51),S Archer, I Nagle, B Hayes, B Holland, F Cogan (capt), P O'Mahony.
Referee: S McDowell.
Old Belvedere and Dunne make impressive start
OLD BELVEDERE have wasted little time in proving that they are more than able for Division One A of the All-Ireland League.
In fact, their 17-9 opening victory over last season's beaten finalists St Mary's College at Templeville Road suggests that the promoted outfit can be real contenders in the top flight. Once again, the contribution of their outhalf and player/coach Andy Dunne was vital.
Old Belvedere have recruited well, bringing in another former representative player Simon Keogh to partner Dunne at half-back.
Ahead 10-0 at the interval, Old Belvedere scored two tries through wing Kieran Hurrell and flanker Richie Leyden.
Dunne kicked the two conversions and added a penalty as Old Belvedere took revenge for last season's controversial semi-final defeat. St Mary's could only manage three penalties from Shaun McCarthy and substitute Ian McKinley (2) in reply.
Elsewhere, Dolphin made an excellent start to their campaign by beating Shannon 16-9 at Musgrave Park. Unsurprisingly, Munster backrow James Coughlan made a big impact, scoring the game's only try to give Dolphin a 10-3 interval lead.
Outhalf Barry Keeshan contributed the remaining points with the conversion, two penalties, and a drop goal. Given that they have lost two major players in scrumhalf Sam Cronin and flanker Barry O'Mahony to Clontarf, this was a very useful opening victory.
Shannon, by comparison, seem to be struggling. They could only manage three penalties from Gareth Quinn-O'Donogh.
In Division One B, relegated Clontarf already seem to be the side to beat. They were very impressive in beating a decent Bruff outfit 26-11 at Castle Avenue.
New signings Cronin and Evan Ryan scored two of the tries with the third coming from Michael Keating. Under-20 international Noel Reid's accurate boot was responsible for the remainder of the points.
It was a good weekend for the Connacht clubs with Buccaneers upsetting newly-promoted Lansdowne 22-16 at Dubarry Park and Galwegians getting the better of UL Bohemians 14-13 at Thomond Park.
UCC also started with a very fine victory by defeat Dungannon 33-29 at the Mardyke. Andy Burke contributed 18 points with four penalties and three conversions.
