Semi-final disappointment for Clongowes Wood
LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 52
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE 14
By Daire Walsh
There was disappointment for Clongowes Wood College at Energia Park on Monday afternoon as the Clane-based side’s Leinster Schools Junior Cup journey for 2025 ended in a comprehensive semi-final reversal at the hands of an impressive St Michael’s College.
Seeking to reach their first final at this grade since 2008 – when they resoundingly defeated Michael’s 36-0 – Clongowes were unchanged from the side that overcame county rivals Newbridge College in the previous round of the competition.
The north Kildare outfit couldn’t have asked for a better start to the action as winger Victor Lamph pounced on a handling error from Michael’s centre Mark McNally to break over for a try on the left-flank with less than three minutes gone on the clock. Lamph dotted down as close as he could to the centre of the posts to offer Tom English the best possible chance of knocking over the resulting conversion and the Clongowes number 13 duly split the posts with the minimal of fuss.
This threw down the gauntlet to Michael’s, but the south Dubliners ultimately responded with a dominant spell of attacking pressure. Despite being forced into touch moments earlier, Michael’s were back on the front in the 10th minute and hooker Joshua Neville was on hand to drive over the whitewash from close-range.
A wayward Sam Dunne bonus strike ensured Clongowes remained in the ascendancy, before Michael’s eventually squeezed in front courtesy of a routine finish by Sebastian Perry off an extended move inside the opposition ‘22’.
While Clongowes won a defensive turnover against a rampant Michael’s moving into the second-quarter, the Ailesbury Road boys extended their cushion when Neville doubled his tally by rounding off an elongated set-piece attack.
Dunne applied the extras for the first time in the wake of this score and did likewise after he claimed a try of his own on 25 minutes. Clongowes were facing into a 24-7 interval deficit as a result and their chances of forging a second half fightback were effectively halted just five minutes into the second half as No 8 Herbie Doyle crashed over after Michael’s broke off a five-metre scrum.
This latest effort coincided with the departure of Clongowes back Daniel Maguire with what looked like a serious-looking injury, but in his absence, the inside centre’s team-mates finally disrupted the momentum of their opponents. After they had attacked at pace down on the left-wing, the ball was worked inside for tighthead prop Eze Nwike to dive over for a 39th minute try.
A superb touchline conversion followed from English, but Clongowes remained adrift by a substantial total of 17 points.
They did their best to stem the Michael’s tide inside the final-quarter, but the six-time champions ultimately cruised into a forthcoming junior showpiece against either Blackrock College or Castleknock College with late tries from Neville (to complete his hat-trick), Perry and Austin Currivan.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: Sebastian Perry; Austin Currivan, Mark McNally, Sam Dunne, Toby O’Leary; Matthew McKenna, Ryan O’Sullivan; Conall Farrell, Joshua Neville, Harry McCafferty; Oliver Maybury, Sam Kennedy; Dara Elliott, David Fingleton, Herbie Boyle. Replacements: Keelan Coogan, Jamie Gilsenan, Conor Synnott, Hugh Draper, Patrick Ryan, Dylan Thomas, Will Hennessy, Hugo Kirkham.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Robert Wyse; Ryan Mahon, Tom English, Daniel Maguire, Victor Lamph; Michael McCormick, Sean Crowe; Daithi Behan, Shaun Priede, Eze Nwike; Luke Ryan, Lucas Aveling; Philip Kenny, Senan Walsh, Harry Lawlor. Replacements: Luca Blessing, Ifeanyi Emmanuel, Igor Mazur, Edmond Cogan, Scott Morrissey, Odhran Doyle, Patrick Hassett, Fionnan Boyle.
Referee: Sam Holt (Leinster Rugby Referees).