Dungannon take rugby league

By Mark Jones

Dungannon 46, Cork Constitution 12

DUBLIN — Rugby’s All-Ireland League final mightn’t have packed them in at Lansdowne Road, but at least Dungannon won their first-ever title playing in a freewheeling manner that did the occasion justice. In becoming the first Ulster club to lift the main domestic trophy, they simply destroyed Cork Constitution scoring four tries to none.

And if coach Willie Anderson paid tribute to a collective effort, David Humphreys’s display was a vintage one as the former international out-half helped himself to 26 points landing nine kicks out of 10. Only a pity that Ronan O’Gara — preparing for the Lions tour of Australia — was not available to for a head-to-head with Humphreys.

Constitution also missed wing Anthony Horgan, while captain Ultan O’Callaghan was only fit enough to play for 20 minutes of the second-half by which stage Dungannon had sealed their victory. Apart from Humphreys’s superb individual contribution, Stephen Bell, Jonathan Bell, Alastair Boyd and Tyrone Howe all scored a try each.

"I captained Dungannon and I’ve coached them for 10 years," said Anderson, "and I’ve captained Ireland, but this is right up there. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work with a good group of players. We wanted to show the whole of Ireland that this is the style of rugby Dungannon play."

While Cork Con coach Brian Hickey readily admitted that Dungannon deserved their win it was a bitterly disappointing day for the Munster club who slumped to their heaviest ever defeat in the league’s 11-year history.