We started very brightly and on two occasions in the first10 minutes we opened up the Cons defence and would have got the perfect startbut for the final pass failing to find its target.
These let offs gave Cons the confidence that this might betheir day and gradually got on top in both the scrum and line-out, and wouldhave gone ahead only for great defence by Declan Brown, Jake Considine and Co who stopped Cons from getting the first try.
We weathered the storm and got the first points of the daythrough a penalty from the half way line from the impressive Shane O’Leary to put us 3-0 up after 23 minutes. Cons leveled thescore after 30 minutes with a penalty straight in front of the posts but wewent back in front in the 36th minute with a fine penalty from BrianHaugh to put us ahead by 3.
With the last play of the first half we did cross the tryline through Mark Mulvaney after agreat back line move only for the ref to call us back for a forward pass toleave the half time score 6-3 in our favour.
Cons started the second half like we started the first andonly our never-say-die attitude by the whole team prevented Cons from gettingon the score board. With 9 minutes left on the clock we were still ahead by the3 points, but our luck ran out when Cons got an over lap on the right to scorea fine try in the corner and to add salt to the wound they kicked theconversion from the touch line to put Cons ahead 10-6 with 8 minutes left toplay. We came storming back knowing that only a try would save us but after aback line move broke down inside the Cons 22 their left wing gathered up theloose ball to sprint the length of the field to score a fine individual try,and again they kicked the conversion from the touch line to leave the final score 17-6 in Cons favour.
We were disappointed in our performance, as we know we canplay a lot better, but on the day the better team won. We now turn our focus toboth the League and Transfield Cup and we know coaches Gearoid Prendergast and Mark Hayes will be doing everything to make sure we get back to winning ways asquickly as possible.
The management and team would like to thank the largefollowing of supporters that travelled to support us in Cork last Sunday.
Final score: Cork Constitution 17 – 6 Young Munster
