Beaten finalists in 2019, the Ranelagh men overcame a shaky start against their neighbours and will face the winners of tomorrow’s last-four clash between Blackrock College and Newbridge College in the forthcoming showpiece.

Buoyed by their gutsy quarter-final victory against Kilkenny College, the Rathmines-based Mary’s stormed in front with a converted try from flanker Luca Manselli in the fifth-minute.

This tested the mettle of Gonzaga, but Declan Fassbender’s charges responded in devastating fashion. Supplementing Hugo McLaughlin’s 21st-minute penalty, centre Jody Browne crossed the whitewash after loosehead prop Toby Hammond had made an initial burst into the ’22’.

McLaughlin followed up with a seven-point salvo of his own, before No 8 Paul Wilson – an All-Ireland minor football champion with Meath in 2021 – jinked his way over in first-half stoppage-time.

This left ‘Zaga with a seemingly insurmountable 24-7 interval cushion, but Mary’s breathed fresh life into the contest when Evan Moynihan squeezed over in the 47th-minute.

However, the inside centre soon found himself in the sin-bin for a high tackle that prevented ‘Zaga fly-half Stephen McMahon from claiming a breakaway score on the third-quarter mark.

A penalty try was awarded by referee Paul Haycock and even though Mary’s responded with a close-range finish by Aaron O’Brien, a routine McLaughlin place-kick (bringing his final tally to 17 points) eased Gonzaga over the line and they will now have another shot at securing a maiden crown at this grade.

Scorers for Gonzaga College: Tries – J Browne, H McLaughlin, P Wilson, Penalty Try; Pens – H McLaughlin (2); Cons – H McLaughlin (3).

Scorers for St Mary’s College: Tries – L Manselli, E Moynihan, A O’Brien; Cons – C Tracey (3).

GONZAGA COLLEGE: H McLaughlin; H Neville, H Goddard, J Browne, O O’Neill; S McMahon, M Sullivan; T Hammond, T Cotter, G Morris; T Murphy, L O’Callaghan; N Maguire, G O’Donnell, P Wilson.

Replacements: A McVerry for Hammond (24-28), O Murray for Sullivan (59), T Noone for O’Donnell (67), A O’Flanagan for Neville (70).

ST MARY’S COLLEGE: J Brennan; P O’Beirne, R Moore, E Moynihan, S Kennedy; D Gilbourne, C Tracey; F King, M McHugh, A Sparrow; T McEniff, L Policky; A O’Brien, L Manselli, L McGauran.

Replacements: T O’Shea for King, L Jennings for Manselli (both h-t), Z Hopkins for Moore (59), S O’Leary for McHugh, R Smyth for O’Brien, D Leane for Policky, G Mulvihill for Tracey, M Blake for Moynihan (all 70).

Referee: P Haycock (Leinster Rugby Referees).