Keenan and Power keep ‘Rock on track
RUGBY: Tries from Hugo Keenan and Jack Power made all the difference at Donnybrook as Blackrock College kept their hopes of securing back-to-back Leinster Senior Cup titles very much alive with a dogged quarter-final triumph over St Michael’s College.
Michael’s centre Matthew Gilsenan and ‘Rock out-half Sean Kearns had swapped scores from the boot during the first-quarter, but although the reliable Gilsenan added a further three-pointer in first-half stoppage-time, Peter Smyth’s champions brought an 8-6 cushion into the second period courtesy of a fantastic try by left-wing Keenan.
Michael’s did their level best to try and gain revenge for their defeat to the same opposition in last year’s decider, but thanks to a second successful penalty by Kearns two minutes after the restart, as well as a terrific Power’s score 15 minutes from time, Blackrock were able to ensure their passage to the last-four.
Daire Walsh
Scorers for Blackrock College: H Keenan, J Power try each, S Kearns 2 pens.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: M Gilsenan 2 pens.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: J Carberry; Z O’Hagan, J Power, I Kinsley, H Keenan; S Kearns, T Brady; D Fitzpatrick, H Kean, J Loughman; C O’Dwyer, D O’Connor; C Doris, C Oliver, N Timoney.
Replacements: E Fanning for C O’Dwyer (45).
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: G Duffy; T Molony, A Leavy, M Gilsenan, O O’Meara; R Cosgrave, D Duggan; R Mulvihill, R Kelleher, H Redmond; O Dowling, J Ryan; C Cregan, A Penny, M Deegan.
Replacements: E O’Neill for Mulvihill (36), I McGrath for Dowling, J O’Connell for Duggan (both 42), K Victory for Cosgrave, J Bollard for Redmond, P O’Connor for Molony (all 60).