Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final: Newbridge College crowned champions

Blackrock College miss out on victory by four points at Energia Park

Newbridge College 19 Blackrock College 15

Paddy Taylor amassed a personal tally of 14 points at Energia Park on Friday as Newbridge College were crowned Leinster Schools Junior Cup champions at the expense of Blackrock College.

After both of these schools had shared the junior title in 2020 – following the cancellation of their final meeting due to the Covid-19 pandemic – this decider offered one of them an opportunity to win the competition outright.

Thanks to eight points from the boot of Taylor – and a well-worked try from Todd Lawlor – the Kildare school found themselves 13-0 in front at the break. ‘Rock fought back on the resumption with five-pointers by Jack Angulo and Brian O’Flaherty, but it wasn’t enough to deny Newbridge a superb victory.

Scorers – Newbridge College: T Lawlor try, P Taylor 4 pens, con. Blackrock College: J Angulo, B O’Flaherty try each, C O’Shaughnessy pen, con

Newbridge College: T Lawlor; D Cosgrave, C Mangan, C Murphy; A Magee; P Taylor, D Connolly; T Kelly, JR Walsh, B Bohan; J Dennis, C Hanly; J Montgomery, R Munnelly, P Forde

Replacements: M Wilson for Walsh (52)

Blackrock College: B O’Flaherty; C Dennehy-Vazquez, D Moloney, C Woodcock, C Molony; C O’Shaughnessy, S Shortt; D Grehan, J Pollard, N Smyth; T Butler, D McGuire; H McCarthy, M Walsh, J Angulo.

Leinster Schools Junior Cup: Paddy Taylor kicks Newbridge College to glory

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE ARE THE 2021 JUNIOR CUP CHAMPIONS

Newbridge College 19 Blackrock College 15

By Daire Walsh

Paddy Taylor amassed a personal tally of 14 points at Energia Park as Newbridge College were crowned Bank Of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup champions at the expense of Blackrock College.

Thanks to eight points from the boot of Taylor – and a well-worked try from Todd Lawlor – the Kildare school found themselves 13-0 in front at the break. ‘Rock fought back on the resumption with five-pointers by Jack Angulo and Brian O’Flaherty, but it wasn’t enough to deny Newbridge a superb victory.

Having shared the title at this grade in 2020 – after their final meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic – it was quite apt that Newbridge and Blackrock were the teams that advanced to this year’s decider.

While both teams played a free-flowing, attacking style in their respective victories at the penultimate stage (Newbridge overcame Castleknock College, while ‘Rock saw off the challenge of fellow Dubliners Terenure College), this was expected to be a much tighter affair.

Courtesy of powerful carries from Niall Smyth, Thomas Butler and full-back O’Flaherty, ‘Rock were establishing an early foothold in the game. Their Kildare counterparts were digging deep in defence, but found themselves under the cosh when Conor O’Shaughnessy kicked a ‘Rock penalty to the corner on the stroke of 10 minutes.

However, Newbridge secured possession off the ensuing line-out and consequently broke the deadlock three minutes later.

Team captain Taylor came into the contest on the back of superb form in their previous successes over Belvedere College and Castleknock College. The out-half contributed 24 in his side’s quarter-final win at the expense of Belvo, before amassing a personal tally of 18 points in the latter fixture.

His dead-ball prowess was in full display during these convincing triumphs and he made no mistake by slotting a penalty from a left-hand angle between the posts. Newbridge grew in confidence as a result of this deadlock-breaker and were increasingly forcing the ‘Rock defence on the back-foot.

Additional pressure from the Newbridge pack led to another penalty just outside the ‘Rock ’22’ with just under 21 minutes gone on the clock. Taylor once again stepped up to the kicking tee and proceeded to double the ‘Bridge lead with minimal fuss.

As a result of these scores, Dave Brew’s charges visibly grew in confidence. Although ‘Rock did their utmost to respond, they were increasingly forced on the back-foot as the interval quickly approached.

Newbridge were moving through their attacking phases with patience and composure, and were given their just reward when full-back Lawlor touched down from a kick in behind on the half-hour mark.

This try was supplemented by a Taylor bonus strike to offer Newbridge a 13-0 cushion as they headed into the dressing rooms at the break.

While this put ‘Bridge in a strong position, there was still time for ‘Rock to edge back into contention. A strong start to the second period was required if the Williamstown school had designs on coming away with the silverware and that is precisely what they managed.

Gathering the ball at the back of a line-out deep inside enemy territory, ‘Rock skipper Angulo showed great acceleration to break over the whitewash in devastating fashion. O’Shaughnessy’s conversion added fresh impetus for the Metropolitan outfit and the same player cut their deficit to three points by dissecting the uprights off a 42nd-minute penalty.

Momentum appeared to be with ‘Rock at this juncture, but Taylor and Newbridge had other ideas. Having featured in their memorable 2020 campaign, the dynamic number 10 was determined to add another medal to his list of personal accolades.

He maintained his 100 per cent record off the kicking tee with a fourth successful effort on 44 minutes. This presented Newbridge with some much-needed breathing space and there was to be further joy for the Lilywhites inside the final-quarter.

After Calum Murphy had initiated an attack with a superb interception on the halfway line, Taylor added three more points to his already-impressive haul to leave Newbridge within touching distance of the crown.

This latest place-kick coincided with the sin-binning of ‘Rock out-half O’Shaughnessy. While he struck a penalty off-target upon his return, he was instrumental in his team’s second try five minutes from the end.

Following an excellent spell inside the Newbridge ’22’, O’Shaughnessy and Cian Dennehy-Vazquez combined for O’Flaherty to dot down on the right-flank. O’Shaughnessy couldn’t supply the extras from a tight-angle, but a tantalising conclusion lay in store nonetheless.

However, Newbridge kept their composure and – instead of kicking to touch with the hope of securing a line-out – they opted for a scrum off a 59th-minute penalty. This allowed them to retain possession until the very end of the game.

When the ball was eventually lofted into the stands, the passionate Newbridge supporters were sent into raptures.

Scorers – Newbridge College: Todd Lawlor try, Paddy Taylor 4 penalties, 1 conversion. Blackrock College: Jack Angulo, Brian O’Flaherty try each, Conor O’Shaughnessy 1 penalty, 1 conversion.

Newbridge College: Todd Lawlor; Dara Cosgrave, Ciarán Mangan, Calum Murphy, Ardin Magee; Paddy Taylor, Daniel Connolly; Tadhg Kelly, John R Walsh (Max Wilson 52), Billy Bohan; Jack Dennis, Conor Hanly; Josh Montgomery, Ruairí Munnelly, Patrick Forde.

Blackrock College: Brian O’Flaherty; Cian Dennehy-Vazquez, Derry Moloney, Charlie Woodcock, Charlie Molony; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Seb Shortt; Donie Grehan, Jack Pollard, Niall Smyth; Thomas Butler, Donnacha McGuire; Hubie McCarthy, Michael Walsh, Jack Angulo.

RUGBY: LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL

Cosgrave And Taylor Send Newbridge Into Final

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE 53

CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE 14

By Daire Walsh

PATRICK Taylor and Dara Cosgrave combined for 33 points at Energia Park last Thursday to propel Newbridge College towards an emphatic triumph over Castleknock College in the Leinster Schools Junior Cup semi-final.

A hat-trick hero in Newbridge’s quarter-final success over Belvedere College, the outstanding Taylor contributed a brace of tries and four conversions in another clinical individual display. The elusive Cosgrave matched his team-mate’s previous exploits, crossing the whitewash on three occasions over the course of the hour.

Ciarán Mangan, Ruairí Munnelly and Paddy Martin were also amongst the tries as Dave Brew’s charges comfortably advanced to face Blackrock College in this Friday’s decider at the same venue. Having seen their proposed final meeting in March 2020 cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these two sides are expected to serve up a mouthwatering encounter.

Newbridge initially found themselves under pressure from Castleknock, who had defeated CBS Monkstown in the last-eight. The southern county outfit subsequently discovered their groove, however, and broke the deadlock on seven minutes.

Following a superb link-up with half-back partner Daniel Connolly, Taylor sprinted over the line for a clinical deadlock-breaking try. This was an ideal confidence booster for Newbridge and their chances of success increased significantly either side of the first-quarter mark.

After Mangan released Cosgrave for his maiden five-pointer of the contest, Taylor grabbed his second in typically assured fashion. He also added the bonuses to this score, propelling his team into a 17-point lead with as many minutes played.

It was inevitable that Castleknock would come up with some sort of response and it eventually arrived in the form of Max Lavelle’s try off a line-out move. Yet with flanker Munnelly dotting down in similar style, Newbridge brought a commanding 24-7 cushion into the interval.

Already well on the way towards reaching a 10th final at this grade, Newbridge inflicted further damage on their Dublin counterparts after the resumption. At the end of a lung-bursting run, full-back Todd Lawlor passed out wide for Cosgrave to race through for a 33rd-minute finish over the line.

Castleknock tighthead prop John Cadogan did power over the whitewash at the opposite end, but this only provided the eight-time champions with a brief respite. Despite the presence of MU Barnhall head coach Adrian Flavin on the sidelines – he is the school’s Director of Rugby – the pace and power of Newbridge ensured they were chasing the game throughout.

It was Mangan’s turn to get in on the scoring act and his try on 38 minutes increased the gap to 20 points (34-14). Although the outcome was well beyond doubt inside the final-quarter, Newbridge were determined to finish the action in style.

Replacement Martin capped a fine cameo role by rounding off an incisive attack on the left-wing and Mangan doubled his own personal tally moments later. There was just enough time on the clock for Cosgrave to complete his hat-trick, which brought the curtain down on another devastating performance in the Donnybrook venue for a rampant ‘Bridge.

Scorers – Newbridge College: Patrick Taylor 2 tries, 4 conversions, Dara Cosgrave 3 tries, Ciarán Mangan 2 tries, Ruairí Munnelly, Paddy Martin try each. Castleknock College: Max Lavelle, John Cadogan try each, Ben Egenton 2 conversions.

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Todd Lawlor; Dara Cosgrave, Ciarán Mangan, Calum Murphy, Ardin Magee; Patrick Taylor, Daniel Connolly; Tadhg Kelly, John R Walsh, Billy Bohan; Conor Hanly, Jack Dennis; Josh Montgomery, Ruairí Munnelly, Patrick Forde.

Replacements: Paddy Martin for C Murphy (37), Max Wilson for Walsh, Sam O’Loughlin for Kelly, Ross Kenny for Magee (all 49), James Redmond for Hanly, Riain Murphy for Dennis, Jack O’Neill for Montgomery, Christian Barry for Connolly (all 53).

CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE: Cian Dowd; Harry Mathews, Ben Egenton, Paraic Gildea, Daire McCarthy; Liam Dillon, Charlie Ward; Robert Niland, Max Lavelle, John Cadogan; Conor Duffy, Ben M Foley; Max Kennedy, Adam Malone, Conan Lennon.

Replacements: Sean Bridson for Malone (30), Tom Powderly for Egenton (42), Colm Barrett for Niland (44), Sean Fitzpatrick for Cadogan (51), Eamon Shanahan for Lavelle, Shane Donohue for Kennedy, Patrick O’Donnell for Mathews, Callum Keane for Dillon (all 53).