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).