We knew they had a performance like this in them and any doubts about the quality of this group were dispelled on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at HQ with an excellent play of open, flowing and effective rugby.

As usual in these encounters, the opening plays were marked by each side feeling each other out, with the high balls in the sun the weapon of choice. The visitors seemed to have the edge, gathering some of their own kicks and recycling ball to get them into attacking positions. They enjoyed the best of the territory and possession for the first five minutes, their advantage yielding a penalty and an early lead of 0 - 3. They continued to keep us in our own half for another period, with our attack stifled by crunching tackles on the edge of rucks and in the midfield. But on the stroke of ten minutes, a huge clearance kick from full back Hugo McLoughlin turned them on their heels for the first time and as our attacking platform widened to embrace the full width of the pitch, young winger Todd Lawlor punishing them with counter attacks, the advantage shifted to us, and there it would remain for the rest of the half.

We absorbed the best they could throw at us and then took up our own attacking position in their 22 and launched assault after assault on their line. Their defence, so robust earlier, was already showing signs of wear and tear, after conceding repeated penalties, they had a man carded. Now with numerical advantage, it was only a matter of time before our rich and varied attack would convert to points.  

Our scrums were dominant and we were absorbing and dishing out immense hits as the early battle for control was well and truly won by us. A series of scrum penalties to us followed and instead of going for a third reset in a row, scrum half Cormac Foley, tapped the ball quickly, popped it to his outhalf Charlie Tector and over he went for our first score. (Welcome back, lads!) As one anonymous muse on the sideline put it, “Sometimes tries are just that simple!”.  

Charlie converted and it was 7 – 3 on the quarter hour mark. 

Con came back from the restart with a bang and kept us pinned inside our half with more awesome hits. In one of many signs of the home side’s resurgence, we absorbed these hits and never lost possession. Not only were we not giving away penalties, but our handling was also impeccable. An elegant move wide led us over the line for a try, but a foot was deemed to be in touch and it was disallowed. But we didn’t have to wait long before another move, impressive again for its speed and accuracy, led to a touch down near the posts by Captain Jack Cooke, 14 - 3 

Back to 15 again now, the visitors came out for the restart with all guns blazing. Todd Lawlor won another high ball and the possession stayed with us. Even when we lost possession briefly, prop Greg McGrath stole it back with an excellent rip tackle winning a knock on.  This second quarter was all Lansdowne’s with us edging each contest with sparkling and vigorous rugby. It wasn’t without its cost, as Todd took a knock to his arm and Andy Marks went out to the wing as Rory Parata came on at 13. The war of attrition continued and even Cork Con supporters were heard to admit that it was an excellent spectacle of rugby. Special mention for the inside centre, Harry O’Riordan who was holding up valiantly to much special attention from his old club mates. As the half drew to a close, the tempo kept building and at one point, there were six exhausted bodies on the ground. Bruising, breathtaking, but brilliant stuff.  We continued to have the edge, but only just and so we were relieved when we got another penalty and Charlie kicked it, increasing our lead to 17 – 3 when we went into the break.

There was something about restarts which seemed to bring the best out of the visitors, and they started the second half with renewed passion. They pummeled our defences and eventually won a kickable penalty. Hoping to close the gap by more than three points however, they went for the corner, but a lamentable throw gifted us an easy exit and we were back in their half.  But Con weren’t finished and they attacked us with everything they had. For an anxious period in the middle of the second half our control of the game slipped away, but Con kept trying too hard and their unforced errors kept our scoreboard looking healthy. Indeed, slightly against the run of play, we were awarded a penalty and Charlie helped reduce the collective blood pressure of the alickadoos behind the touchline when he slotted a penalty. It was 20 – 3 as we entered the last quarter.

But it was still all Con at this stage.  Inevitably their pressure and dominance paid dividends and they scored an excellent try, the ball passing through each of their 15 players’ hands before being touched down under the posts. 20 – 10.

As concerns of a flashback to previous lapses by this team loomed, your reporter turned to his muse again, hoping for inspiration. It wasn’t forthcoming. His only repeatable comment was, “I don’t think we’re wearing the right socks!”

Whatever about the socks, conceding the try must have been the wake-up call we needed and now it was our turn to restart the game with all guns blazing. Front row Greg McGrath and in particular hooker Jack Treanor showed great mobility and foot work around the pitch. The intensity and variety of our pressure led again to errors of judgement by the visitors, and as we approached the end of ordinary time, they attempted to clear the ball after a 10m lineout and kicked it straight into the grateful arms of openside flanker, Paul Wilson. Paul charged the line and was held up. We got to the breakdown in numbers before they did and the ball came quickly out to that man Charlie Tector again and he powered over for another try.  His own conversion made it 27 – 10 and now, only moments after worrying about holding on to our lead, we were pushing for a fourth bonus try!  It wasn't to be this time. But soon.  

The final whistle ended an epic encounter and a true insight into what this team can do.

Match Report - Brian Whelan

Match photos can be viewed here.