Cork Constitution Retain Bateman Cup

Cork Constitution retained their Ulster Bank Bateman Cup title with an impressive performance against U.C.D. at Temple Hill to continue Munster’s dominance of this competition since its reintroduction.

Cork Constitution 19, U.C.D. 6.

It was the defensive qualities of the home side that set the pattern for this victory as they Cork Constitution never allowed the Dublin students any room to play an expansive game and their commitment to the tackle paid dividends.

U.C.D. always looked dangerous with ball in hand especially their back line where Barry Daly and Andy Boyle made some telling runs. Injuries to three of their back line Stephen Murphy, Alex Kelly and Sam Coghlan-Murray in the first half disrupted their momentum.

James Thornton broke the deadlock on twenty four minutes as dominance by the Dublin side was rewarded with a penalty.
Little was seen of Con’ as an attacking force up this but a great break out of defence by Darragh Lyons saw him kick ahead and the ball bounced kindly for him as he outpaced the UCD defence to score and Gerry Hurley converted to give Con’ a7-3 lead they would never relinquish.
A yellow card to Con’s hooker Andy O’Driscoll saw Thornton kick his second penalty on thirty two minutes but the Students out half was off target with a penalty two minutes before the break.
Hurley extended Con’s advantage with a penalty on the stroke of half time to leave the Temple Hill side 10-6 ahead at the break.

Con’ had UCD on the back foot but Hurley missed a drop goal effort and a penalty to extend his side’s advantage.

Continuous pressure by the Con’ pack where Graeme Lawlor, Billy Holland and Ger Sweeney were prominent saw Hurley kick penalties on 54, 70 and 76 minutes to secure victory for the Temple Hill club.
Cork Constitution: Darragh Lyons; Eoin O'Donnell, Michael Keyes, Niall Kenneally, Conor Desmond; Johnny Holland, Gerry Hurley (capt); Gavin Duffy, Andrew O'Driscoll, Ger Sweeney; Joe McSwiney, Billy Holland; Graeme Lawlor, James Ryan, Willie Ryan.

Replacements: Max Abbott, Chris Corkery, Rory Burke, Cathal O’Flaherty, Luke Cahill, Ryan Foley, Alex Ryan.
UCD: Andy Boyle; Sam Coghlan Murray, Alex Kelly, Stephen Murphy, Barry Daly; James Thornton, Jamie Glynn; James Tracey, Risteard Byrne, Kieran Moloney; Shane Grannell (capt), Emmet MacMahon; Josh van der Flier, Mark McGroarty, Eoin Joyce.
Replacements: Liam Hyland, Brian Cawley, Rory Harrison, Adam Clarkin, Shane O’Meara, Niall Earls, Tom Fletcher.
Referee: Nigel Correll (IRFU).