ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: Old Belvedere 9, Cork Constitution 12:OLD BELVEDERE'S plan to make a second statement in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League came apart in injury-time at Anglesea Road on Saturday when Cork Constitution fullback Seán Scanlon landed a 50-metre match-winning drop goal.
Having seen off last season’s runners-up St Mary’s in their opening match in the top flight, much was expected of Old Belvedere. The expectation was that, with Simon Keogh and Andy Dunne guiding them at half-back, they were in with a decent chance of adding the scalp of the defending champions.
Only Dunne, the outhalf, assistant coach, and probably their most influential player, didn’t start. Instead, head coach Phil Werahiko surprisingly choose to operate a rotation system and leave the former Harlequins and Leinster man on the bench, with Colman Keane starting at number 10.
Eventually, Dunne did come on as a substitute for Keane eight minutes into the second half with his side trailing 9-6. He was outstanding for the next 12 minutes, his penalty enabling Old Belvedere to draw level at 9-9, but then had to retire with a hamstring twinge.
No doubt, the Anglesea Road crowd thought the injury was the real reason he didn’t start. But Dunne was to later confirm he was available for selection and absolutely perfect before the game.
“I was fine, it was a selection decision. I picked up the injury after I came on,” he pointed out.
Yet, you were left wondering if things could have been better had Dunne started, particularly as Old Belvedere had the advantage of the wind in the opening half.
The sides were level 6-6 at half-time, with Keane’s two penalties cancelled out by two from Cork Con wing Richie Lane. After Lane added a third penalty to make it 9-6 early in the second half, Cork Constitution appeared to have taken control but the arrival of Keane from the bench seemed to rejuvenate Old Belvedere.
For a time, they applied considerable pressure, with Keane’s penalty bringing them level. But, following his departure, they had to reorganise their back division, switching Leinster centre Eoin O’Malley to outhalf.
Keogh very nearly broke away for a try only to be stopped by an outstanding tackle from Cronan Healy. And, as the game moved towards its conclusion, Cork Constitution regained the initiative, with the impressive Scanlon putting over his spectacular match-winning drop goal in injury-time.
OLD BELVEDERE: B Woods; E Devitt, J Kennedy, E O'Malley, G Waller; C Keane (A Dunne 48, D Mongan for Dunne 60), S Keogh; V Soden, M Cooney, S Maguire, D Moore, A Trenier (B Marshall 48), R Leyden (capt), J Risdon, L Auva'a.
CORK CONSTITUTION: S Scanlon; R Lane, S Zebo, C Jouve, C Healy; D Lyons, A Ryan; M Gately (G Murray 63), R Quinn M O'Leary 66), S Archer, B Hayes, I Nagle, B Holland, P O'Mahony (J McSwiney 84), F Cogan (capt).
Referee: R Kerr.
