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Cork Con bullish approaching AIL final with revamped style and 'Stockdale 2.0' in Sean French

Entering their fourth consecutive final, the Cork club look in rude attacking health.

CORK CON ARE not usually in the business of talking their chances down.

So having stormed into their fourth consecutive All-Ireland League final on the back of a campaign in which they ended 11 points clear of the chasing pack, they have every reason to be confident in the hunt for a sixth title this Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

Even a cursory look at the AIL tables shows an increase in attacking intent around Temple Hill, with 12 try-scoring bonus points to their name this season after racking up a grand total of 10 from the 36 games across the previous two years.

As he looks ahead to the AIL’s marquee match on a hard track of the Aviva Stadium, second row Brian Hayes pays a large portion of the credit for the final league position to the coaching of Paul Barr.

Con also have a wealth of back-line talent well worth going wide for, not least Ireland Sevens veteran Shane Daly and U20 Grand Slam-winner Sean French. 

“To take Sean French as an example, you see Jacob Stockdale 2.0, really,” offers Hayes of the powerful back, who made crucial contributions from the centre for Ireland during the Six Nations.

Sean French with Conor Lowndes French making a break during the semi-final win over Dublin University last weekend. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“He’s the same. You give him the ball and you expect a try. That can be on our own 22 or it could be in their 22. Both feet, he has deft kicking. He can kick it along the touchline, he can kick it over people.”

Indeed, Cork Con’s fine form has meant another Grand Slam-winner in Jonathan Wren has struggled to nail down a place in the back three, but in Daly and Alex McHenry they are well-stocked for centre options alongside captain Niall Keneally.

“Alex, a fella who has had Sevens experience, you can see how that’s helped him. Give him a bit of space and he’s able to go. Then defensively, Shane as well, the impact the Sevens programme has had on their defence is unbelievable. The 13 channel when either of them are there is a lot safer and Niall inside. It really helps.”

“I think there’s been a big change in emphasis. We’re kind of getting old up front, not moving as well as we used to be,” jokes the lock.

Brian Hayes with Michael Sylvester Brian Hayes moves to tackle Trinity's Michael Sylvester. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“I suppose that’s a lot of it, but I think Aidan Moynihan has come in at 10 and pulled the strings very well. He’s moving us around the pitch a lot better than we had been and we’ve young fellas on the wing that are finishing tries that they really shouldn’t be finishing. Which helps a lot as well.”

Hayes is acutely aware of the brilliant form Clontarf will carry into the final after their back-to-back wins over reigning champions Lansdowne. However, having done the hard work all season to finish top of the pile, he can’t abide the thought of falling short.

“We’ve been on the other side of it, finishing fourth and won the league, finishing second, third… in the last four years we finished the top-four in four different positions every year.

“It would be a waste of 18 good games to turn around and go back down the road without the cup.”

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:37 PM

    You liat the KO at 14:30…. isn’t it 15:00? I’m booked in for a full head of highlights at 1 and won’t make a half 2 kick off……

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    Mute Boo Radley
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    May 9th 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Bungee Aky: no it’s been changed to 2:30! You’d wanna tell the hairdresser to get a move on

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:46 PM

    @Boo Radley: you can’t rush perfection

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 1:36 PM

    Anybody got an update on the Bill Johnston move to Ulster? Asking for a friend.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 1:37 PM

    @Jim Demps: is your friend Rochelle?

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 1:40 PM

    @Bungee Aky: don’t be silly Rochelle has no friends

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Jim Demps: is it a case of use it or lose it.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 1:44 PM

    @Chris Mc: I’m all for it, hope it’s happening. It’d be a great move for him, Ulster and for munster.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 3:51 PM

    @Jim Demps: I’m not sure how it’s good for munster but he does need rugby at this stage.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 5:12 PM

    @Chris Mc: no point in having a 28, 26, 23 and 22 year old all vying for the same position. If Johnston moves on we’ve got a good balance there. At the moment with carbery the same age as him Johnston isn’t going to be given a fair chance so a move will suit him. For munster they can break in Ben Healy and give him the exposure as a young talent. It’s too easy for people to look at Johnston and say he was never given a chance but you can’t ignore his injuries. Two dislocated shoulders and a broken leg for a 22 year old is an awful lot of injuries and it’s bound to slow down his progression. Van Graan has shown that he will give young talent the chance it needs and I’d expect that to continue.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 9th 2019, 7:25 PM

    @Jim Demps: fair enough.

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    Mute Andrew H
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    May 9th 2019, 7:54 PM

    @Jim Demps: ‘exposure as a young talent’

    When are you going to see what happens at Munster??

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 9th 2019, 8:39 PM

    @Andrew H: I see it every game I go to Andrew. I’ve seen wycherley, loughman, Shane Daly, Gavin Coombes, o Connor and more all excel. You’re just using Bill Johnston as a tired old excuse to beat munster with. Too easy to compare young lads to Ryan and larmour, once in a generation talents who have as much international as club games under their belt. Try comparing them to their peers, Conor o brien to goggin, josh Murphy to wycherley, abdaladze to loughman and the picture might be a bit clearer for you.

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 1:47 PM

    2:30pm? My ticket says 3pm

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 2:00 PM

    @Thomyk: game will be over by then and Munsters season finished.

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 2:05 PM

    @Bungee Aky: could be right there lad , win r lose it’s supporting them that matters

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 2:26 PM

    @Thomyk: naw, nothing beats winning, you just forgot that it’s been so long

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    Mute Thomyk
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    May 9th 2019, 2:31 PM

    @Bungee Aky: won last Saturday pal , and I’m fairly sure we won a few games this season to, so maybe your talking through your anus now ?

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 3:19 PM

    Are you two done? Now up to your rooms and do your homework and leave your phones down.

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    Mute Bungee Aky
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    May 9th 2019, 3:22 PM

    @Thomyk: winning wars not battles

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    Mute Rory D
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    May 10th 2019, 2:30 AM

    @Bungee Aky: grow a brain

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 3:01 PM

    Should be a belter and intimacy of the RDS for such a big game is again great as opposed to 3/4 full Aviva. Re KO info came out earlier for 2.30 KO on PRO14 Twitter

    “Semi-Final KO Update: @leinsterrugby v @Munsterrugby to kick off at 14:30 on Saturday May 18 – live on @eirSport & @PremierSportsTV
    #GuinnessPRO14”

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    May 9th 2019, 3:59 PM

    @mrbryanrussell: if lowe plays it could be a rout

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    Mute mrbryanrussell
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    May 9th 2019, 4:59 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: don’t think so, one thing is for certain let’s hope they don’t get sucked in like last time and focus on getting the job done. Should be a great match hopefully JVdF is back in the squad too as well as Joey

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    Mute sup
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    May 9th 2019, 9:02 PM

    Will be tough for Leinster. Either they’ll all be hungover after winning the European cup, or in a sad shitty mood with no desire to play.

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    Mute Richard James
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    May 9th 2019, 10:42 PM

    @sup: They’re highly motivated to do the double and if they lose to Saracens their determination will be even greater to win a trophy this season.

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