Cork Con show their mettle to reel in deficit and stretch run to 11 victories

Patterson’s 79th-minute score from a quick tap gave the students late hope. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Dave Mervyn

Cork Constitution produced a barnstorming finish at Belfield to beat UCD 29-25 and extend their Energia All-Ireland League winning streak to 11 games.

Brian Hickey's men were staring down the barrel after UCD broke into a 20-5 lead, with Leinster Academy scrum-half Paddy Patterson on song and Wexford teenager Josh O'Connor scoring two of their four tries.

But Con showed their mettle yet again, seizing control on the hour mark and reeling off four tries - locks Brian Hayes and Cathal O'Flaherty both got in on the act - in little over 12 minutes.

Patterson's 79th-minute score from a quick tap gave the students late hope, but James Tarrant was wide with the difficult conversion, and a closing penalty from influential half-back Gerry Hurley clinched it for Con.

Elsewhere, full-back Jack Power's skilful flick-up and run-in sealed Clontarf's five-try 41-23 triumph over Trinity, while Terenure College were stung by Leinster Academy hooker Dan Sheehan's late touchdown in a 17-16 loss to Lansdowne.

With their starting back-three of Cian O'Shea, Colm Quilligan and Jamie Heuston sharing out the tries, second-placed Garryowen prevailed 15-7 at UCC, and former Ireland U-18 Clubs captain Evan O'Gorman crossed twice during Young Munster's well-judged 35-21 bonus-point win over Ballynahinch.

Memorable

It was a memorable weekend for the Heuston family as Jamie's brother, scrum-half Gavin, helped Kilfeacle & District to lift the Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup for the first time.

The Tipperary club defeated Dromore 28-24 in Coolmine, with player-coach Willie Staunton's 13 points including two drop goals.

Meanwhile, Tim Ryan's Highfield have reopened their lead at the top of Division 1B to six points.

Winger Ben Murphy bagged two tries in their impressive 26-13 dismissal of nearest challengers Old Wesley.

Banbridge and Shannon have climbed into the top four, a John Porter brace steering Banbridge to a 27-17 bonus-point success against Navan. Shannon centre Pa Ryan took his handsome season's haul to nine tries in a gripping 28-25 victory at St Mary's.

City of Armagh won 22-7 at Ulster rivals Malone to climb three places up to fifth - winger Andrew Willis weighed in with a try double - and centre Craig Adams also crossed twice as resurgent Naas comfortably accounted for Old Belvedere on a 39-12 scoreline.