Sport

Revenge of sorts for Irish captain

Dion O'Cuinneagain is not a vindictive person. Nor is he someone who looks for revenge

Mon Jan 24 2000 - 00:00

Dion O'Cuinneagain is not a vindictive person. Nor is he someone who looks for revenge. However, there was more than a hint of a smirk on his face after Ballymena had captured full points from a workman-like Clontarf on Saturday.

O'Cuinneagain, in fact, had the freedom of Eaton Park following a five-star performance that would have brought a wide smile to the face of Warren Gatland.

Not only did he pick up a couple of tries, but while operating at number eight O'Cuinneagain was simply superb in all aspects of the game. After the final whistle the Ballymena pack leader didn't waste much time in announcing himself to Clontarf coach Alex Wyllie. As Ireland's World Cup captain, O'Cuinneagain suffered at the hands of Wyllie's Argentinian side in Lens.

"I just thought I would have a little word in his ear," laughed the loose forward. "Naturally it doesn't make up for what happened in the World Cup, but victory did taste good on Saturday."

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In fact there was never any doubt that Ballymena would win, even though they took time to dominate, Clontarf hogging possession early on.

But in essence Ballymena destroyed the Dubliners up front. Not only did the Clontarf scrum reverse on many occasions, but they also had two strikes against the head, the second leading to O'Cuinneagain's try.

That touchdown was the difference between the two sides at the break with Simon Mason and Ritchie Murphy swapping two penalties each.

But Ballymena started with a real flourish in the second half and tries by Simon Broughton (two) and O'Cuinneagain sealed the win.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 1 min: Mason penalty, 3-0; 8: Murphy penalty, 3-3; 14: Mason penalty, 6-3; 39: O'Cuinneagain try, 11-6; 40: Murphy pen, 11-6; 41: Broughton try, Mason conversion, 18-6; 59: O'Cuinneagain try, 23-6; 78: Broughton try, Mason conversion, 30-6; 80: O'Brien try, Murphy conversion, 30-13.

BALLYMENA: S Mason; S Stewart, S Broughton, J Wells, J Park; D Andrews, M Edwards; N McKernan, A Stewart, C Millar, G Longwell, M Blair, A Graham, D O'Cuinneagain, D Topping. Replacements: W McAllister for McKernan (56 mins), J Andrews for Blair (67), C McCarey for Graham (58), A Dougan for Topping (71).

CLONTARF: O Winchester, C Bewley, A Reddan, D O'Brien, D Rossi, R Murphy, S Foster; W O'Kelly, T Kearns, D Moore, R Vorster, P Ward, C Brownlie, B Davitt. Replacements: D Hyland for Kearns (35 mins)

Referee: O Trevor (Munster).