Secrets of a strong Constitution

Three defeats in the first four matches and a shroud of despondency that threatened to linger: Cork Constitution out-half Ronan O'Gara stood outside the dressingrooms at Dooradoyle in January struggling to comprehend a season that seemed to have disintegrated.

Constitution had comprehensively outplayed Garryowen yet tossed away victory to a late try from Jeremy Staunton, a third defeat in four outings. Remarkably, from those ashes the Cork club engineered a climb to second place in the table and a coveted place in the AIB All-Ireland League semi-finals.

The coup de grace was last weekend's dethroning of the four-times champions Shannon. On Sunday Cork Constitution host Buccaneers at Temple Hill standing two matches away from an amazing recovery. The early-season disappointments still counsel caution.

O'Gara reflects on the highs and lows. "I remember walking off the pitch after the previous match against Young Munster which was basically a shambles and noticing that the collective confidence levels were at a low ebb. The team was a mess. At least in the Garryowen match we could console ourselves with the fact that we played well and were unlucky, although at the time it hurt terribly.

"There could be no blame attached to the coaches or the players because we had progressed from playing rubbish to playing well but at the same time we had to ensure that improvement brought victories. We decided that there would be a fresh slate and people would just work harder for each other.

"There is an unbelievable friendship within the squad, something I haven't seen before. People look after each other. I think we also benefited from the improvement in underfoot conditions. We are a top-of-the-ground team.

"Con have been underachievers for eight years since winning the inaugural league but now there is a crop of young professionals who can concentrate purely on rugby. It's a way of life and our priority is to ensure that the club is competitive. A few of us missed out on Munster (the provincial team) this season which meant that we were fresher than some of our rivals."

It should have been a pivotal year for the 22-year-old O'Gara in terms of his provincial career. Having secured a contract he played in Munster's early-season games, and survived an abysmal team performance against Ulster to play in the opening European Cup match against Padova.

Selected for the game against Neath, his season imploded when he "ripped a hamstring" in training. "It was a huge disappointment to miss out on the rest of the provincial season but in one sense it made me more determined." His rehabilitation culminated in a two-minute appearance as a substitute for Ireland A against Italy two weeks ago.

O'Gara's progression has been measured, Munsters Schools, under-20s and senior caps, 13 so far, and despite missing out on Irish schools representation he played for two seasons on the national under-21 team, including helping Ireland to a Triple Crown.

It was in his first season at under-21 level that he was introduced to the coaching of Eddie O'Sullivan, the man who, as Buccaneers' coach, will be plotting Constitution's downfall on Sunday. "Eddie is a great coach, I have nothing but the utmost respect for his ability."

O'Gara says O'Sullivan's coaching has been very beneficial for his career. "He brought me up a few levels, encouraged me to make decisions for myself on the pitch."

O'Gara recalls the league game against Buccaneers in which Constitution narrowly prevailed. "It was a dirty enough day. I was very impressed with their half backs, both intelligent players.

"Their pack was impossible to stop from 10 yards; they're very tough up front. I think they will have more to offer in the backs than Shannon because of the injuries that Shannon suffered. We were very much up for the Shannon game but we realise that we have won nothing. If we don't perform on Sunday then the Shannon game will mean nothing."

Despite two fluffed early penalty opportunities the last day O'Gara enjoys the place-kicking responsibilities. "Funnily I never kicked at school, I only took it up when I went to UCC (he graduated with a BA and is currently studying for a Masters in Business Economics).

"I try to keep the kicking and running the back line as two separate entities so that one doesn't interfere with the other. I'm no Mason (Simon) but I have no problem about being a front-line kicker. I think my strike ratio is good enough."

O'Gara's long-term ambition would be to further his representative career. "I think I am playing reasonably well. I prefer to let my performances argue the case for selection at other levels. All I want is to make it hard for anyone to leave me out. My strong points? I think I read the game intelligently and I have always subscribed to the brains beats brawn theory."

For now his preoccupation is with Sunday's game and a season he hopes will extend into May.