Cork Con crush depleted Buccs

CORK CONSTITUTION outclassed Buccaneers 47-7 in their AIB League Division One match at Temple Hill, Cork, on Saturday when their nine-try haul put the champions on top of the league table for the first time this season. Con fielded an immensely strong side including a surprising seven Munster contracted players Denis Hurley, Tom Gleeson, Duncan Williams, Tim Ryan, Daragh Hurley, Billy Holland and Denis Fogarty plus Academy player Evan Ryan. Meanwhile, development player John O"Brien was the only Connacht player featuring for a much-depleted Buccs squad as, apart from the injured Conor O"Loughlin, the other provincial players were on leave. Consequently, the midlanders were really stretched to field for this acid test and fears of supporters were, unfortunately, fully realised as Cork Con, bigger and stronger in virtually every position, were different class. They were slicker, smarter and far more fluid and were full value for their comprehensive victory that elevates them back to pole position. Buccs were simply out-gunned and out-thought. Yet they battled gamely right to the bitter end and had decent spells of possession and territory but lacked the vision and support play of their opponents. They did have chances including three try opportunities but players were left isolated and the necessary awareness was not up to requirements against an outfit like Con. Handling disintegrated under the near-constant pressure while tackling was below par on far too many occasions, and the champions ruthlessly punished Buccs shortfalls. With no Connacht front-liners involved and Niall O"Hara and Paul Bruce added to already lengthy list of absentees, this was always going to be an uphill battle, especially when the home teamsheet was unveiled. Buccs fielded the same pack as at UCD while O"Brien started at full-back and Mark Bruce returned at scrum-half. Conditions, following the previous day and night"s downpours, were unexpectedly good on a fine afternoon and the pitch held up very well. Cork Con began in sprightly fashion but Buccs got a tonic start when Sean Carey read scrum-half Williams" intentions to intercept on his own ten-metre line and the wing displayed composure that was lacking later on when he out-manoeuvred the home defence to score a really well-taken try after just 3 minutes, Alan Gaughan tacking on the conversion. But, within five minutes, Cork Con nabbed their first try, Cronan Healy adding to his try-haul in a fine flowing movement. Six minutes later, Fogarty made a telling break in the build-up to Gareth Murray"s try which Richard Lane converted for a 12-7 lead. Buccs lost Kevin Moran to a back injury at this stage, Benny Gilligan replacing the prop. Bruce, who put in a decent performance, allowed a ball to hop over him on 22 minutes and Healy almost grabbed his second try but Carey and O"Brien combined to avert the danger while Lane tapped over a 25th minute penalty for offside. From the restart, Michael Diffley put in a huge tackle to earn a penalty but Gaughan"s kick tailed the wrong side of the upright. Then Carey made a typical smashing break that, with swifter support, would surely have realised a try. Con promptly made their visitors pay for not taking their chances, Holland finishing off some smart linking play for a try on the half-hour mark. A rib injury then enforced Gaughan"s withdrawal with versatile Gavin Kelly coming in at centre for Buccs who now trailed 20-7. Any hope of salvaging something from this game evaporated deep in added time when Con made the most of a weak Simon Rolleston clearance to touch. Lineout possession was tapped down to Dara Lyons and he wrong-footed the defence with a beautifully judged pass to Ryan and the promising centre dotted down for a try which earned Cork Con a bonus point and a half-time lead of 25-7. Soon after the restart, O"Brien was injured with Ian Kilbride coming on for his senior debut on the wing and Carey moving to full-back. Shortly afterwards, indecision forced Buccs to kick the ball dead and, from the resultant five-metre scrum, Cork Con powered over for a pushover Holland try. Colin Watters was introduced for the ineffectual Louie Tonkin before Rolleston made a splendid break for Buccs soon afterwards but Denis Hurley got to him to snuff out another real chance. Cork Con didn"t squander their next opportunity, with referee Paul Haycock awarding a 65th minute penalty try after the ball had been kicked from the grasp of the grounded Ed Leamy. Sub Kelly soon joined Buccs injury list with Karl Turley coming on before Leamy did grab a try after 72 minutes. Alex Hayman was soon in the wars too but, following treatment, was fit to resume but Marcus Madden was not so fortunate and so Buccs played out the remaining minutes one player short. Still they battled on commendably and seemed to have secured a try that their endeavours at the very least merited, but a knock-on in the lead-up ruled out Carey"s second touchdown. Then, as in the first half, Cork Con tacked on a try in added time. They made ground down the left with two penalties to touch before Lloyd Gabriel barrelled over for try number nine to complete Buccs" worst result in some time at 47-7. That could have been even worse for Lane converted just two tries! Cork Con are hitting a rich vein of form and were strong in all departments with ex-Bucc David Kelly growing in stature in the second row. Fogarty and Tim Ryan were top-class and Holland was excellent in a topnotch back row trio. Healy again tormented Buccs on occasion in a well-balanced and physically strong backline. Kieran O"Gorman was outstanding for Buccaneers and Gaughan was showing up excellently until injured early on. Madden, Bruce and James Tormey were best of the rest. BUCCANEERS: J.O"Brien; C.Lavelle, A.Gaughan, A.Hayman, S.Carey; S.Rolleston, M.Bruce; M.Diffley, M.Madden, K.Moran; L.Tonkin, J.Tormey; K.Kiripati, K.O"Gorman and A.Hanley. Replacements: B.Gilligan (for Moran, inj.17 mins), G.Kelly (for Gaughan, inj. 30 mins), I.Kilbride (for O"Brien, inj. 48 mins), C.Watters (for Tonkin, 50 mins) and K.Turley (for Kelly, inj. 66 mins). CORK CONSTITUTION: Denis Hurley; R.Lane, T.Gleeson, E.Ryan, C.Healy; D.Lyons, D.Williams; G.Murray, D.Fogarty, T.Ryan; M.O"Connell, D.Kelly; F.Cogan (captain), E.Leamy and B.Holland. Replacements:- A.O"Brien (for Gleeson, inj. 43 mins), Daragh Hurley (for Murray, 46 mins), B.Cuttriss (for Holland, 59 mins), J.Maloney (for Denis Hurley, 64 mins) and L.Gabriel (66 mins). REFEREE: P. Haycock (Leinster).