Clongowes keep their concentration to finish
Clongowes Wood 30 St Gerard’s 6: Clongowes’ quest to reclaim the Senior Cup began in comprehensive fashion yesterday at Templeville Road, Templeogue, where two first-half tries from right-wing Cian O’Donoghue saw off the challenge of St Gerard’s of Bray.
With a strong wind, St Gerard’s edged into a 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties by scrumhalf David Baker, but Clongowes settled into the proceedings, as fullback Ben Osborne burst over for their opening try on 18 minutes. Outhalf Fergal Cleary was wide of the mark with the conversion, but a second try followed three minutes later from O’Donoghue.
The same player ensured the Clane side took a 17-6 cushion into the break when he crossed the line on the right-hand side 27 minutes in, following an excellent offload by centre William Lappin.
The scrappy nature of play made it difficult for St Gerard’s to carve open the Clongowes defence, and a 54th-minute penalty from Cleary gave Clongowes extra breathing space.
Clongowes continued to press in the final quarter, and their fourth try arrived with 12 minutes left when German under-18 international Sebastian Fromm finished off a sweeping move in the left corner. This gave coach Noel McNamara the chance to test resources, and one of their replacements, Cillian Burke, reached over on 68 minutes to complete the scoring for the eight-time winners.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: B Osborne; C O’Donoghue, W Lappin, S Fromm, A Jeffares; F Cleary, P Maher; A Dudeney, D Donnellan, D Garty, C Gleeson, R Collins, W Connors, S Kealan, S McVeigh.
Replacements: C Burke for Osborne (60), C Ganley for Dudeney (63), J Kennedy for Collins (65), C Mulcahy for Jeffares (67), J Pim for
Kealan (70).
ST GERARD’S, BRAY: M Prendergast; S Kingston, C Callan, C Jordan, A
Simmonds; T Whittle, D Baker; N Buckley, J Ryan, T Kenna, H Conan, C Kenny, B Fitzpatrick, D King, F Smith.
Replacements: S Tyrrell for Smith (52), M Gallagher for Simmonds (65), R O’Caoimh for Whittle (70).
Referee: G Conway (Leinster Branch).