24th Cup Title For Cork Constitution

A dramatic finish to the ODM Munster Senior Cup Final, as Cork Constitution snatched victory with a try in the final play of the game.

Cork Constitution 15, U.L. Bohemian 14.
It was heartbreak for U.L. Bohemian as they tried to end a fifty year gap since their last success in this great competition, but the never say die attitude of this Constitution side yet again shone through when a try by winger Niall O’Driscoll in the sixth minute of injury time earned Cork Constitution their 24th success in the final of the ODM Munster Senior Cup at the Mardyke.

The final returned to the Mardyke after a gap of fifty years and it was a battle of the packs from the start to the finish as both sides went at it to gain supremacy in the forward battle.

Fitting that Niall O’Driscoll should score both Constitution tries as his father, a former President of the Munster Branch have been sponsoring the competition under the ODM Financial banner.

It was the Limerick side who made the better start when a pass by scrum half Cathal Sheridan sent Mossie Lawlor in for a try which Ben Martin converted for a 7-0 lead after four minutes.

Constitution came storming back from the restart and a chip ahead by Robert Clune saw Bohes full back David Johnson beat him to the touch down. Graeme Lawlor knocked on for Con’ close to the Bohes line but gallant defending kept the Limerick side’s line intact.

Skipper Ed Kelly led by example for Bohes and his second row partner Darragh Frawley dominated the line outs, winning several Constitution throw ins.

Slowly Constitution had Bohes on the back foot and they were rewarded with a try by Niall O’Driscoll eight minutes before the break and Johnny Holland converted to tie up the scores.

Conor Kindregan was shown a yellow card just on the stroke of half time as tempers flared and the Temple Hill side took full advantage of their numerical superiority when Holland landed a penalty two minutes into the second half from forty meters.

Once Bohes got back to their full complement, they took the game to Con’ and several drives at the Con’ line was contained by the Temple Hill pack.

Eventually the Bohes pressure was rewarded when the ball was spread wide to winger Darren Moroney to score and Martin converted for a 14-10 lead.

With time running out Scott Deasy broke from inside his own Twenty Two and play was brought up to the Bohes line. After several scrums Bohes looked like they would hold out, but one last desperate effort by the Cork side, saw Ivan Dineen make a break for the line and he sent O’Driscoll in at the corner for the match winning score to the delight of the jubilant Constitution supporters.

Holland’s conversion came back off the upright, but it did not matter as the final whistle sounded to yet another exciting chapter in this great competition.

Scorers Cork Constitution: Niall O’Driscoll 2 tries, Johnny Holland con, pen.
U.L. Bohemian: Mossie Lawlor, Darren Moroney tries, Ben Martin 2 cons.

Cork Constitution: Darragh Lyons: Robert Clune, Ivan Dineen, Scott Deasy, Niall O’Driscoll; Jonathan Holland, Gerry Hurley (capt); Brian Cagney, Andrew O’Driscoll, John Ryan; Brian Hayes, Philip Donnellan; Brendan Cuttriss, Graeme Lawlor, James Ryan.
Replacements: Pat Galvin, Andrew Cudmore, Cathal O’Flaherty, Brian O’Hara, Conor Desmond, Pat Parfray, Cathal Quinn.
U.L. Bohemian: David Johnson; Darren Moroney, Mossie Lawlor, Niall Kenneally, Rory White; Ben Martin, Cathal Sheridan; Tom Burke, Eddie Rossiter, Gary Walsh; David Foley, Ed Kelly (capt), Darragh Frawley; Conor Kindregan, Ian Condell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Alex Simpson, Johnny Sutton, Rory Cunningham, Sean Rennison, Keith McManus, Tim Rafferty, Finbar Ryan.
Referee: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell (M.A.R.)