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Irish Examiner
Monday, January 05, 2009
Con overcome dogged Crescent to end Cup famine
Old Crescent 13 Cork Constitution 21, by Charlie Mulqueen
Cork Constitution and Old Crescent demonstrated at Clifford
Park yesterday that the ODM Munster Senior Cup is still very
much alive.
The sides produced a highly entertaining final in front of a
fine crowd before Con bridged a 20-year gap by capturing the
title for the 23rd time.
The AIB League champions had to withstand stern resistance
from opposition who belied their Division Two status in
emphatic fashion. Crescent even made light of conceding a
try to the favourites within 35 seconds of the kick-off to
lead 13-11 with 56 minutes played. It was then that the
opportunism of winger Cronan Healy and the greater
experience of the Constitution side told and they went on
for a deserved win.
In a competitive and well refereed game, Munster prop
Federico Pucciariello, Crescent’s stand-in coach on the day,
was well entitled to praise his side for its impressive
showing.
“I think we made everybody in Old Crescent very proud with
the way we played,” he said. “We have a great band of
players now and there are lessons to be learned from this
and we have to keep going. We had a great game plan but,
unfortunately, we lost too many line-outs”.
While Constitution coach Brian Walsh has savoured success at
national level, the club have suffered a Munster Cup famine
in recent years. Their elation at laying their hands on the
coveted old trophy was understandable, with Walsh
understandably happy to see his side prevail:
“There was huge physicality in the game and a lot of good
rugby and I felt the skill levels were good, given the high
levels of passion and enthusiasm,” said Walsh. “We have been
telling the younger players how hard it is to win a cup and
they know that now after wins over UL Bohs, UCC, Shannon,
Garryowen and now Old Crescent.”
Con got the start they wanted, attacking from the kick-off
and Evan Ryan and Duncan Williams, a hugely influential
player over the 80 minutes, set up a try for Tom Gleeson. As
rank outsiders, this early blow could have seriously
undermined Crescent, but they relished the challenge.
Con lost the injured Jeremy Manning after 13 minutes with
Anthony Horgan coming off the bench to play at full-back and
Darragh Lyons moving to out-half. They stretched their lead
to 8-nil with a Richard Lane penalty, Mark Woods narrowed
the gap with a Crescent penalty and they went in front with
a well-taken try at the posts by veteran hooker Pat
Humphreys. Woods converted and Crescent led 10-8 until the
stroke of half-time, when a moment of madness by back-row
forward Juan Pablo Ruiz cost his side dearly.
Not alone was he yellow carded for throwing a punch, but
Lane knocked over the penalty from halfway.
Even though they played the first 10 minutes after the break
with only 14 players, Crescent were the better side, not
only keeping Con scoreless through the 10 minutes but
regaining the lead through a second Woods penalty.
That was as good as it got for Crescent. On 56 minutes,
Cronan Healy struck the crucial blow.
He followed up his own clever kick into the left corner,
hand tripped Alan Purcell as he tried to clear and then
pounced on the loose ball for a try. Lane landed a fine
conversion before opening the gap to eight points with a
68th minute penalty.
The trophy was on the way to Temple Hill for the first time
since 1989.
CORK CONSTITUTION:
D. Lyons; R. Lane, T. Gleeson, E. Ryan, C. Healy; J.
Manning, D. Williams; G. Murray, L. Gabriel, T. Ryan, M.
O’Connell, D. Kelly, E. Leamy, B. Cuttriss capt, W. Holland.
Replacements: A. Horgan for Manning 17 mins; F. Cogan for
Kelly 50; R. Hassan for Murray 54.
OLD CRESCENT:
R. Moloney; A. Carroll, W. Leahy capt, D. Grace, E. Dalton;
M. Woods, A. Purcell; P.J. McLoughlin, P. Humphreys, E.
McGovern, L. Toia Tiola, M. Ryan, L. Viapula, J. O’Neill,
J.P. Ruiz.
Replacements: T. Bowles for McLoughlin half time; D. Sheehan
for O’Neill 59; K. Ellis for Dalton 64; McLoughlin for
Bowles 67.
Referee:
Darragh McCormack (MAR).
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Clever Healy secures victory
Mon, Jan 05, 2009
MUNSTER CUP FINAL/Cork Constitution 21 Old Cresent 13: CORK
CONSTITUTION'S 20-year wait is over after the All-Ireland
League champions swept to their 23rd Munster Senior Cup
title following a deserved victory over second division Old
Crescent in a terrific final at Clifford Park yesterday.
The Limerick side took much credit from the game before being hit with a
sucker punch after 56 minutes. Crescent led 13-11, when
Con's adventurous wing Cronan Healy cleverly kicked into
open space deep in the opponents' 22. He followed up with an
impressive burst of speed to clip the heel of scrumhalf Alan
Purcell just as he was about to clear to touch.
The ball broke free in the in-goal area and Healy reacted quickest to
touch down for all-important second try, which Richard Lane
converted. Lane made it an eight-point game 11 minutes from
the end.
Within 35 seconds of the kick-off Con scrumhalf Duncan Williams and
centre Evan Ryan combined to send midfield partner Tom
Gleeson crashing over for the opening try. A Lane penalty
eased them 8-0 ahead after the first quarter. Woods cut the
deficit with a penalty before converting Pat Humphreys' 33rd
minute try to leave Crescent 10-8 in front. Lane completed
the half, though, with a monster kick from half-way. Then a
50th minute by Woodsto reclaim the lead was cruelly wiped
out by Healy's opportunism.
CORK CONSTITUTION: D Lyons; R Lane, T Gleeson, E Ryan, C Healy; J
Manning, D Williams; G Murray, L Gabriel, T Ryan; M
O'Connell, D Kelly; E Leamy, B Holland, B Cuttriss, captain.
Replacements: A Horgan for Manning injured 17 min, F Cogan
for Kelly (50 mins), R Hassan for Murray (54 mins).
OLD CRESCENT: R Moloney; A Carroll, B Leahy, captain, D Grace, E Dalton;
M Woods, A Purcell; PJ McLoughlin, P Humphreys, E McGovern;
L Toia-Tiola, J Pablo Ruiz, J O'Neill. Replacements: T
Bowles for McLoughlin half-time, D Sheehan for O'Neill (58
mins), K Ellis for Dalton (64 mins).
Referee: D McCormack (MAR).
© 2009 The Irish Times
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Healy pounces as Con bridge 20-year gap
CORK Constitution claimed the ODM Munster Senior Cup for
the first time in 20 years after securing a hard-earned
21-13 final victory over a plucky Old Crescent side at
Clifford Park yesterday.
Fancied Cork Constitution were made fight all the way for
their 22nd cup success against an Old Crescent side which
had threatened to pull off a shock when leading 13-11 some
15 minutes into the second half.
However, Cork Constitution's greater experience and
strength in depth proved crucial in the end with an
opportunist try from winger Cronan Healy proving key to the
winners' success.
Cork Constitution made a dream start when centre Tom
Gleeson touched down for a try inside the opening 35
seconds.
A Richie Lane penalty increased Con's advantage, before
AIL Division 2 side Crescent, who were seeking their first
final victory in the competition, came storming back.
Out-half Mark Woods landed a penalty, before experienced
hooker Pat Humphries barged his way over the line for a
well-deserved try for the Limerick side.
Woods converted to see Crescent into a 10-8 lead. However,
another Lane penalty on the stroke of half-time had Cork
Constitution 11-10 to the good at the interval.
When Woods landed his second penalty, 10 minutes into the
second half, Old Crescent were back in front.
However, Healy's opportunist try in the 56th minute and
another Lane penalty helped the Cork Constitution secure a
precious victory.
Cork Constitution -- D Lyons; R Lane, T Gleeson, E Ryan, C
Healy; J Manning (A Horgan 18), D Williams; G Murray (R
Hassan 54), L Gabriel, T Ryan; M O'Connell, D Kelly (F Cogan
51); E Leamy, B Cuttriss (capt), B Holland.
Old Crescent -- R Moloney; A Carroll, B Leahy (capt), D
Grace, E Dalton (K Ellis 64); M Woods, A Purcell; PJ
McLoughlin (T Bowles h-t) (PJ McLoughlin 68), P Humphries, E
McGovern; L Toia Tiola, M Ryan; L Viapula, J O'Neill (D
Sheehan 60), J P Ruiz.
Ref -- D McCormack (MAR).
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Constitution Celebrate ODM Munster Senior Cup Final Win
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4
January
2009,
3:22 pm
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By Trish
Drinan
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In
perfect
conditions
in
Clifford
Park in
front of
a
sizeable
and
vocal
crowd, a
spirited
and
determined
Cork
Constitution
claimed
their
first
Munster
Senior
Cup
since
1989,
claiming
a 21-13
win over
a
valiant
Old
Crescent
side in
what
proved
to be an
engaging
and
exiting
ODM
Munster
Senior
Cup
Final.
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Old
Crescent
13-21
Cork
Constitution
It
wasn't
long
before
Cork
Constitution
opened
the
scoring
with a
well
worked
try in
the
corner
after
just 50
seconds
by
centre
Tom
Gleeson,
which
wasn't
converted.
However
it did
put
Constitution
in the
driving
seat
early on
although
Manning
did have
the
opportunity
to put
his side
further
ahead
after
six
minutes
with a
drop
goal
attempt,
however
the kick
didn't
find its
mark.
Old
Crescent
found
their
step
however,
and
settled
into the
game,
holding
onto
possession
and
keeping
play
well
inside
the
Constitution
half
before a
penalty
brought
Constitution
back
down the
field.
An
infringement
in the
scrum
allowed
Richie
Lane to
stretch
Constitution's
lead to
8-0
after 20
minutes,
after
Lane
took
over
kicking
duties
from the
injured
Jeremy
Manning.
Ray
Moloney
had the
chance
to put
Old
Crescent
on the
scoreboard
after 23
minutes
with a
penalty
attempt
however
his
attempt
fell
short.
No
mistake
was made
4
minutes
later
with the
Crescent
outhalf
Mark
Woods
claiming
their
first
three
points
from a
penalty
kick.
Crescent's
persistence
paid off
with a
well
worked
try
after 31
minutes
by
hooker
Pat
Humphries,
converted
by Mark
Woods to
put
Crescent
10-8
ahead as
the
first
half
counted
down.
Old
Crescent
suffered
a blow
in the
last
play of
the half
when No.
8 Juan
Pablo
Ruiz was
sent to
the bin,
allowing
Constitution
to
reclaim
the lead
with a
Richie
Lane
converted
penalty.
The half
time
score
stood
11-10 in
Constitution's
favour.
Both
teams
came out
fighting
in the
second
half,
but it
was
Crescent
who made
most
ground
early
on, and
were
rewarded
with a
49th
minute
penalty
kicked
by Woods
to edge
them
ahead
once
more.
After 56
minutes
however
a try
from
Constitution
winger
Cronan
Healy
converted
by Lane
put
Constitution
18-13
ahead.
With
little
advantage
being
gained
in the
dogged
battle
in the
middle
of
pitch,
both
teams
sought
to gain
yards
with
piercing
kicks to
the
corners
throughout
the
second
half,
with
penalties
awarded
proving
the
difference
between
the
sides.
Constitution
stretched
their
lead
after 67
minutes
with
Lane
again on
target
with a
penalty
kick to
put the
Cork
side
21-13
ahead.
Crescent
rallied
however
and
continued
to push
towards
the
Constitution
line.
Crescent
had a
chance
to
reduce
the
deficit
after 71
minutes
kicked
by Woods
went
left of
the
posts,
however
it did
signal a
resurgence
by the
Limerick
side who
continued
to test
the
Constitution
defence
in the
last
quarter.
However,
Constitution
held on
for the
victory,
their
22nd
Senior
Cup
title.
Standing
out for
Constitution
included
Cronan
Healy on
the wing
whose
work
rate was
tireless,
with
Anthony
Horgan
also
being
hugely
influential
for the
Cork
side.
Aaron
Carroll
on the
wing
stood
out for
Crescent,
with his
second
half
kicks
for
touches
showing
plenty
of
class.
As Cup
finals
go, it
certainly
didn't
disappoint,
with
both
sides
showing
tremendous
grit and
determination
right
down to
the
final
whistle.
Munster
Branch
President
Nicholas
Comyn
presented
the
Munster
Senior
Cup to
Constitution
Captain
Brendan
Cuttriss,
with
Niall
O'Driscoll
of ODM
Accountants
in
Bandon
presenting
the
medals.
Old
Crescent
15.
Ray
Moloney,
14.
Aaron
Carroll,
13.
Billy
Leahy
(Captain),
12.
Danny
Grace,
11.
Emmet
Dalton,
10. Mark
Woods,
9. Alan
Purcell,
1. PJ
McLoughlin,
2. Pat
Humphries,
3.
Eugene
McGovern,
4.
Levita
Toia
Tiola,
5. Mark
Ryan, 6.
Lemiki
Viapula,
7. James
O'Neill,
8. Juan
Pablo
Ruiz
Replacements:
Trevor
Bowles
for
McLoughlin
(40),
Donal
Sheehan
for
O'Neill
(56),
Keith
Ellis
for
Dalton
(62),
McLoughlin
for
Bowles
(66)
Cork
Constitution
15.
Darragh
Lyons,
14.
Richard
Lane,
13. Tom
Gleeson,
12. Evan
Ryan,
11.
Cronan
Healy,
10.
Jeremy
Manning,
9.
Duncan
Williams,
1. Gar
Murray,
2. Lloyd
Gabriel,
3. Tim
Ryan, 4.
Merle
O'Connell,
5. David
Kelly,
6. Ed
Leamy,
7.
Brendan
Cuttriss
(Captain),
8. Billy
Holland
Replacements:
Anthony
Horgan
for
Manning
(14),
Ryan
Hassan
for
Murray
(54),
Frank
Cogan
for
O'Connell
(54)
Referee:
Darragh
McCormack
(MAR)
TJ 1:
Jude
Quinn
(MAR)
TJ 2:
David
O'Shea
(MAR)
Fourth
Official:
James
Hayes
(MAR)
Fifth
Official:
John
Purcell
(MAR)
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IAN JONES CALLS ON OLD CRESCENT |
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U16 CUP WIN |
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U15's Young Munster 7's Win |
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U12 Belfast & Midleton Tours - April 2008 |
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Belfast
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We travelled north to compete in
the Malone RFC International Festival of Rugby last weekend.
It was the fifth running of the event and 20 teams from 5
nations travelled to Belfast to participate in one of the
premier mini rugby competitions in the British Isles. The
format for the competition was 4 groups of 5 with the Top 2
in each group qualifying for the cup competition and the
remainder qualifying for the shield.
We opened the competition with a
game against the hosts Malone and ran out winners by 2 tries
to nil. That was high point of the day as our next three
games were narrow defeats leaving us in 4th place in the
pool.
The following day brought us the
new challenge of the shield competition and after some words
of wisdom from the coaching team of O'Malley and Rickard, we
were quietly confident of a good performance.
Two wins over Ravens and
Boroughmuir set us up for a pool decider with Hollywood in
which the points were shared with a 1-1 draw. Hollywood had
to score 6 tries in their final game versus Boroughmuir to
win the pool and guarantee a semi final place. They fell one
try short so the teams were tied at the top of the pool with
tries scored and try differential still leaving the teams
deadlocked. Both teams however qualified for the semi final,
Hollywood as group winner after a coin toss and Old Crescent
as best 2nd place finishers. The draw decreed that
both sides met each other in the
semi final. Playing with the elements, we took the lead and
thanks to some determined defence for our side we held our
lead to the interval. Using the elements in the second
period Hollywood again took the game to our side but some
determined defence by all our players, in particular one
crushing tackle from Sean Fitzgerald who had just come off
the bench ensured that our line held and we scored a second
try to give us a further cushion. Hollywood scored in the
dying minutes and it was a relieved set of Old Crescent
players, coaches & supporters that heard the final whistle.
Our opponents in the final were
Bishop Stortford the competition specialists with 2 cup and
one shield win in the previous 4 runnings of the tournament.
Again in the final we started the brighter and were unlucky
on two occasions not to take the lead. Our defence held firm
and it remained scoreless at the interval. In the second
half we continued to soak up the pressure put on us by
Bishop Stortford and thanks to an intercept try from Steven
Hackett, we took the lead.
There was still some rugby to be
played but we closed out the game thanks to our determined
defence. It was
the first time that an Old Crescent
side had won a trophy in the history of the competition and
it was a delighted set of players who received their medals
from Irish international Paddy Wallace.
Old Crescent Squad:
Cormac Blake (capt)
Joe Doyle
Sean Fitzgerald
Gerry Fitzpatrick
Steven Hackett
Jack Harrington
Sean Hensey
Jack Hogan
Gavin Hogan
Daniel O'Keefe
David O'Malley
Cathal Mc Hugh
Paul Mc Namara
Mark Rickard
Luke Rohan
Eoin Ryan
David Wixted
Coaches - David O'Malley & Pat Rickard. |
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Midleton |
The under 12 trip to Midleton last weekend proved to be a
great success.
Congratulations to team captain Jason O'Sullivan and all his
squad who were joint winners of the competition with
Waterpark and
went through the competition undefeated.
There was great heart & commitment shown throughout the
squad & they each and every one of them did everything that
was asked of them in all their matches.
They also played some great open rugby and scored
some great tries.
Well done to all concerned. A fantastic achievement.
You did everyone proud.
Results:
1. Old Crescent (2) V Midleton A (2)
2. Old Crescent (2) v Waterpark (2)
3. Old Crescent (5) v Youghal (1)
4. Old Crescent (3) v Midleton B (1)
5. Old Crescent (2) v Cobh (1)
6. Old Crescent (0) v Waterpark (0) - Final |
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