Cork Constitution show real character

When Blackrock turned over possession for the umpteenth time, in desperation trying to force passes outside their own 22 as they chased an unlikely victory, coach Kevin West fought the urge to throw his pen and paper to the ground in disgust.

Just two minutes earlier, the second of injury time at the end of the match, right-wing Conor Kilroy had kicked a penalty that brought the home side to within five points, 28-33, and the reward of a bonus point in defeat. But even this was carelessly tossed aside as the turnover culminated with Cork Constitution outhalf Conor Mahony dropping a goal.

It was a cruel twist but the home side's misfortune was largely self-inflicted. Blackrock's set-piece play was a shambles. Under severe pressure in the scrum, their lineout was more productive for Con than the home side and lack of control at outhalf and poor decision-making compounded the travails of the forwards.

Only pacy scrumhalf Ben Willis, the promising Gary Browne and the odd cameo from Nathan Turner at full back met the requisite standard. Up front the Blackrock pack worked hard but were too error prone.

Con deserved to win this game and but for adopting a relaxed attitude to the closing 10 minutes of the match could have done so by more.

Scoring sequence: 2 mins: Kilroy penalty, 3-0; 5 mins: Kilroy penalty, 6-0; 8 mins: Browne try, Kilroy conversion, 13-0; 14 mins: Conor Mahony penalty, 13-3; 18 mins: Walsh try, 13-8; 22 mins: Conor Mahony penalty 13-11; 28 mins: Turner try, Kilroy conversion, 20-11; 39 mins: Conor Mahony penalty, 20-14. Half-time: 20-14. 43 mins: D O'Callaghan try, 20-19; 56 mins: Dillon try, Conor Mahony conversion, 20-26; 70 mins: D O'Callaghan try, Conor Mahony conversion, 20-33; 76 mins: Willis try, 25-33; 82 mins: Kilroy penalty, 28-33; 84 mins: Conor Mahony drop goal, 28-36.

BLACKROCK: N Turner (capt); A O'Neill, G Browne, A Greally, C Kilroy; J Corry, B Willis; A McSweeney, G McEvoy, N Treston; T Hogan, J Fitzgerald; D McGettigan, M Carroll, R Woods. Replacements: D O'Brien for McGettigan 58 mins; G McCarthy for Carroll 58 mins; M Price for O'Neill 71 mins.

CORK CONSTITUTION: B Walsh; R Kenneally, D Dillon, Cian Mahony, D Johnson; Conor Mahony, A O'Sullivan; I Murray, J Fogarty, J O'Driscoll; K Murphy, D O'Callaghan; B Cahill, U O'Callaghan (capt), J Murray. Replacements: A Sherrard for Johnson 77 mins; S O 'Connor for Murphy 77 mins.

Referee: D Napier (Ulster).