All Ireland Final Preview - Con v 'Nure

Cork Constitution v Terenure. 28 April 2024 @ 4pm. Live on TG4. 

All-Ireland Final day is almost upon us. The real All-Ireland Final day that is.  

Cork Constitution takes on reigning champions Terenure on Sunday, 28 April 2024 in the Aviva Stadium, to become the first non-Dublin side to compete for the title since 2019, when they last won it themselves. Con hope to add to their tally of six AIL 1A titles while Terenure are hunting for the two in a row. The reigning champions will go into the game confident, after Caolan Dooley’s masterful performance from the tee in last year's final, kicking 30 of their 50 points.  

Last year’s final was an incredible showcase for what amateur rugby has to offer in this country. In a replay of the 2022 final, in which Clontarf pipped Terenure 29-23, they got revenge, besting Clontarf 50-24. If Clontarf were 'Nure’s monkey on the back, they did not just shed this proverbial ape, they flung it off their backs and proceeded to gut punch the poor creature into submission. This was the first AIL 1A title in the club's storied history but they did not rest on their laurels. They are back again this season after topping the league table, hoping to be the first team to go back-to-back since Shannon in 2005/06. 

Cork Con’s finals record makes for grim viewing, entering their 16th final with a 6-9 record won't inspire confidence in their fans. However, this year has been good for the southern squad, they finished second in the league, one point behind Terenure. Con could come out of this weekend as double champs if they can claim the title in both the AIL and the Munster Junior Cup. The Cork outfit won’t fear the defending champions, having beaten them, 20-0, earlier in the season, on 'Nure’s home patch no less. 

Players to Watch. 

Having lost last year's MotM Caolan Dooley to the Chicago Hounds, Terenure will have to look elsewhere for their points. Up steps Conor Phillips. A scintillating talent for the Dublin based team, his goof form will be essential if Terenure are to come out the other side as back-to-back victors. The winger has been a revelation this season, joining after being let loose by Munster. He’s found his form once again and will be hoping some professional outfits tune in on Sunday to see his display. 

Con will look to James Taylor to lead them when the whistle blows on Sunday. The outhalf has stepped seamlessly into 1A rugby this season, finishing as the second top points scorer at 158. Involved in the Munster underage setups growing up, things didn't quite work out for the young flyhalf. He will look to change that by besting former Munster u18s teammate Conor Phillips when they face off on All-Ireland Finals day. 

TERENURE COLLEGE: A La Grue; C Phillips, S Berman, P Sylvester, C Adams; A Egan, A Bennie; C Classon, L Vaughan, A Tuite; H Brewer (c), M Caffrey; A Melia, L Clohessy, J Coghlan. 

Replacements: M Russell, B Howard, C O’Donnell, M O’Reilly, J White, C McKeon, Y Fernandez Vilar, B Galvin. 

CORK CONSTITUTION: R Hedderman; D Hurley, H O’Riordan, N Kenneally, M Bowen; J Taylor, A Maher; A Heaney, B Scannell, L Masters; S Duffy, J Forde; J Kelleher, R O’Sullivan, D Hyland (c). 

Replacements: D Sheahan, B Quinlan, C Connolly, E Quilter, M Lamarque D’Arrouzat, L Khan, R Jermyn, B Crowley.