Leinster Senior Schools Cup: Gonzaga hold off fighting Clongowes
Gonzaga College held off a spirited fightback from Clongowes Wood College at Energia Park in Donnybrook yesterday to book their place in the Leinster Senior Schools Cup quarter-finals.
After opening the scoring with a routine Stephen McMahon penalty, 2019 finalists Gonzaga stretched further in front through a converted Jody Browne try in the 10th minute.
Thomas Murphy and Hugo McLaughlin contributed additional five-pointers for the Ranelagh side, before flanker Blayze Molloy touched down in the 34th minute to finally open their opponents’ account.
Trailing 22-7 at the interval, nine-time champions Clongowes – who shared the Senior Cup with Newbridge College in 2020 – registered tries from Oscar O’Brien and Shane MacNulty within five minutes of the restart to leave just a single point between the teams.
Yet Gonzaga never panicked and with Rory Finlay and Oscar O’Neill both crossing over – in advance of Dan Daly’s consolation effort for Clongowes – they ultimately advanced into the last-eight.
Tries – J Browne, T Murphy, H McLaughlin, R Finlay, O O’Neill; Pens – S McMahon; Cons – S McMahon (3).
Tries – B Molloy, O O’Brien, S MacNulty, D Daly; Cons – S MacNulty (3).
H McLaughlin; H Neville, H Goddard, J Browne, R Finlay; S McMahon, M Sullivan; T Hammond, T Cotter, G Morris; T Murphy, L O’Callaghan; N Maguire, G O’ Donnell, P Wilson.
A McVerry, L McLaughlin, T Noone, T Wyley, M Tyrell, O Murray, O O’Neill, A O’Flanagan.
P Spillane; S Noone, S MacNulty, H Roche Nagle, O O’Brien; T Murtagh, H MacGoey; F Macari, L Dowling, J Wyse; J Ruddy, A Kelly; B Molloy, D O’Brien, L Burke.
T Cullen, K Ugwueru, C Caso, M Roche Nagle, D Daly, T Hennebry, H Coveney, H Mallon.
J Carvill (LRR).