Blackrock College Safely Through to the Last Eight

Blackrock College 85 The High School 7

Blackrock College sent out a strong signal of intent at Ollie Campbell Park on Friday afternoon with an emphatic opening round success over The High School in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

Supplementing a 24-point haul by fly-half Conor O’Shaughnessy – who impressed both from open play and off the kicking tee – openside flanker Jack O’Neill bagged an outstanding haul of four tries over the course of the proceedings. An additional seven ‘Rock players got their names on the scoresheet and following their defeat to Gonzaga College in a thrilling Senior Cup showpiece at the RDS last March, the Williamstown school will be determined to secure a 71st title at this grade in 2024.

From a High School perspective, outside centre Elliot Walsh shone brightly and there could certainly be no faulting their endeavours throughout the contest.

Of the starting 15 that fell short to south Dublin rivals Gonzaga by four points in that 2023 decider, Charlie Molony, Mark Walsh, O’Shaughnessy and Jack Angulo are all back on board for the new campaign. Having appeared off the bench at the nearby Ballsbridge venue last year, Donnacha McGuire was selected in the second-row at the home of Energia All-Ireland League club Old Belvedere.

Eager to lay down an early marker in this game, ‘Rock edged ahead with just under four minutes gone on the clock. Moments after winger Brian O’Flaherty had been squeezed out on the left-flank, O’Shaughnessy found space on the far side to ultimately weave his way over the line.

He comfortably added the extras to his own score and did likewise in the wake of subsequent tries from Molony and O’Neill in the 8th and 11th minutes respectively. The latter added a second in fine style on the first-quarter mark, before High School finally opened their account on 26 minutes.

Intercepting a ‘Rock pass deep inside his own half, the aforementioned Elliot Walsh displayed electrifying pace to sprint clear of the chasing opposition rearguard and touch down underneath the posts.

Leo Kilroy’s routine conversion provided the Rathgar men with further solace, but Blackrock reinforced their authority in the closing stages of the opening period. Centre Mark Walsh grabbed a five-pointer in between a brace of tries from hooker Jack Pollard to leave ‘Rock 47-7 to the good during the break.

The trusty boot of O’Shaughnessy had amassed 12 points prior to the interval and he also supplied a bonus strike to a breakaway finish from O’Neill straight after the resumption. Not content with completing a hat-trick, the outstanding O’Neill bagged his fourth try of the contest after being released by Derry Moloney in the 46th minute.

High School had lost winger Charlie O’Neill to the sin-bin during this juncture and before he returned to the field, scrum-half Albert Lindner became the latest player ‘Rock try-scorer with a clinical effort underneath the posts.

While High School did occasionally establish territory inside the opposition half, the Blackrock defence was proving to be just as formidable as their attack.

The Williamstown school were temporarily reduced to 14 men when lock McGuire was yellow-carded in the closing-quarter, but additional tries from O’Shaughnessy, Moloney (a magnificent solo score) and replacement Geoff Wall ensured that they still managed to end with a flourish and convincingly booked their spot in the Senior Cup quarter-finals.

Scorers:

Blackrock College: Conor O’Shaughnessy 2 tries, 7 cons; Jack O’Neill 4 tries; Jack Pollard 2 tries; Charlie Molony, Mark Walsh, Albert Lindner, Derry Moloney, Geoff Wall try each; Paddy Clancy 3 cons.

The High School: Elliot Walsh try; Leo Kilroy con.

Blackrock College: Charlie Molony; Derry Moloney, Charlie Woodcock, Mark Walsh, Brian O’Flaherty; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Albert Lindner; Paddy Moore, Jack Pollard, Niall Smyth; Tommy Butler, Donnacha McGuire; Michael Walsh, Jack O’Neill, Jack Angulo.

Replacements: Paddy Clancy for O’Flaherty, Johnny O’Sullivan for Molony both 47 mins; Michael O’Sullivan for Michael Walsh, Geoff Wall for O’Neill, Brian Walsh for Angulo, Seb Shortt for Lindner, all 53 mins; Louis Magee for Moore, Ben Guerin for Smyth both 57 mins.

The High School: Leo Kilroy; Lucas D’Arcy, Elliot Walsh, James Cox, Charlie O’Neill; Alex Bowden, Evan Kelleher; Jamie Morton Bailey, Adam Jordan, Finn McLean; Brendan Kelly, Oisin Burgess; Elliot Tuite, Milo Lavelle, Samuel McNamara.

Replacements: Tomas Taylor for Kilroy 43 mins; Ury Spain for Kelly 64 mins; Freddie Robinson for Lavelle 65 mins; Ivar Hay-McGrath for Jordan, Edmund Quigley for Morton Bailey, Michael Dreyer for McLean, Elliott du Lacy for Kelleher, Ted Duke for O’Neill all 70 mins.

Referee: R Jenkinson, Leinster Branch.