Rock roll on to another final date
BLACKROCK COLLEGE…………………………………….. 34
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………….. 14
By Daire Walsh
Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup
Two tries apiece from Jack Power and Zach O’Hagan provided the catalyst for Blackrock College at Donnybrook, where the defending champions held off a strong third-quarter charge by Newbridge College to secure their place in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup decider on March 16.
A bright start by the Kildare school had yielded a successful penalty from Joe D’Arcy, but Rock inevitably settled into their stride thanks to a sixth-minute try by O’Hagan.
That was the platform for their second five-pointer on 15 minutes, set up by dynamic full-back Joey Carberry, whose brilliant approach play gave Power his first score.
Indeed, after Newbridge had narrowed the gap with another D’Arcy kick, Carberry and Power again combined for the latter’s second touchdown three minutes before the interval, which helped Rock into a 19-6 half-time lead.
However, a storming start to the second period by Aaron Dundon’s charges led to a superbly-crafted unconverted five-pointer by full-back Niall Delahunt, and with the pressure on the Rock rearguard proving to be relentless, a second try for the challengers appeared imminent.
A third penalty by D’Arcy was all they could muster, however, and after Rock regained their composure, skipper Nick Timoney was on hand to dive over on the left flank with 13 minutes left.
The outcome was then placed beyond doubt by the outstanding O’Hagan’s second try and with Sean Kearns also splitting the posts from a routine place-kick late on, Rock edged one step closer to another back-to-back Senior Cup success.
Scorers for Blackrock College: Tries: J Power (2) Z O’Hagan (2), N Timoney. Pen: S Kearns. Cons: S Kearns (3).
Scorers for Newbridge College: Try: N Delahunt. Pens: J D’Arcy (3).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: J Carberry; Z O’Hagan, J Power, I Kinsley, H Keenan; S Kearns, T Brady; D Fitzpatrick, H Kean, J Loughman; D O’Connor, J Dwan; C Doris, C Oliver, N Timoney.
Replacements: D Mullane for Dwan (49), J McGowan for Keenan (64), R O’Farrell for O’Hagan (66), J Horan for Kean, M Reidy for Fitzpatrick, R Casey for Loughman, E Fanning for Doris, C Dean for Kinsley (all 71).
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: N Delahunt; M Delaney, J Howlett, J O’Neill, J D’Arcy; J O’Brien, M Sutton; Conor Doyle, C Johnson, J Phelan; Conor Doyle, T Treacy; C Nugent, M O’Connor, T Brady.
Replacements: C Healy for Delaney (35+1), A Shanahan for O’Neill (h-t), R Dromgoole-Maguire for Nugent (57), B Finan for Delahunt (59), T Dunne for Conor Doyle (prop, 69).
Referee: B O’Keeffe (LRR).