Rock roll into Leinster Senior Cup last-four with win over St Michael’s
Blackrock College will face Cistercian College Roscrea at the semi-final stage of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after they recorded a 16-point win over St Michael’s College at Energia Park on Friday afternoon.
This game was a repeat of last year’s final, but even though a ‘Rock side containing six players who featured in that decider enjoyed the lion’s share of possession early on, it was Michael’s who broke the deadlock in their latest meeting.
After withstanding attacking pressure from their opponents, Andy Skehan’s side edged in front when Ethan Black (who was a key member of their 2024 squad) knocked over a penalty from distance in the 17th minute. Although this was an early boost for the Ailesbury Road outfit, ‘Rock never panicked and ultimately found themselves in the ascendancy moments after falling behind.
Released through a gap by fly-half Patrick Clancy, Aiden Vetjens – who had replaced Rhys Keogh on the left-wing in the opening quarter – passed out to the right for Johnny O’Sullivan to touch down in the corner. The resulting bonus strike from Clancy was wide of the mark, but with scoring opportunities largely being at a premium, O’Sullivan’s try was enough to give ‘Rock a 5-3 interval lead.
This was a far from unassailable cushion and Michael’s squeezed back ahead four minutes after the resumption when Black knocked over a close-range place kick with minimal fuss. However, an expertly-struck 43rd minute penalty from Clancy ensured this slender Michael’s cushion was short-lived and ‘Rock were very much in the driving seat when Vetjens got on the end of a delicate kick towards the left-flank on the third-quarter mark for a superb converted try.
Despite losing lock Artur Smykovskiy to a yellow card inside the final-quarter, additional tries from Bernard White and O’Sullivan had already assured a last-four spot for ‘Rock before replacement prop Cian Walsh bagged a late consolation five-pointer for Michael’s.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the competition, Terenure College and St Fintan’s High School, Sutton will also face off for a spot in the Senior Cup final at Tallaght Stadium on March 17.
Tries: J O’Sullivan 2, A Vetjens, B White Cons: P Clancy 3. Pens: P Clancy
: Tries: C Walsh Cons: E Black Pens: E Black 2
: J Reddan; J Brown, J O’Sullivan, B White, R Keogh (A Vetjens 12); P Clancy (D Cadden 66), A Lindner (L Coffey 55); B Guerin (M Cullen 68), H O’Neill (G Eggers 68), S Bishti (L Golden 68); G Wall, A Smykovskiy; M Walsh (C Power 66), M O’Sullivan, B Walsh (R Savage 66).
: D Ryan; C Kenny, C McConnell, E Black, M McCarthy (D Hassett 56-59 & O Richardson 61); C Lydon, L Kilmurray; C Canniffe (C Walsh 66), J Kennedy, D Maguire; C O’Neill, J Elliot (P O’Gorman 51); B Gorman, O Twomey, M Berman.
: A Cole (LRR).