Whittle seals it after Prendergast hat-trick sets up Bray
St Gerard’s, Bray…………………………………………. 18
Gonzaga College………………………………………….. 17
by Daire Walsh
Tommy Whittle’s 68th-minute penalty was the difference at Templeville Road yesterday as St Gerard’s edged out gallant Gonzaga College to claim the Leinster Schools’ Vinnie Murray Cup.
The Wicklow school had come off second best against Wesley College in last year’s decider, and although full-back Mark Prendergast opened the scoring with a 23rd-minute try, Gonzaga were 7-5 ahead at the interval following a superbly-crafted converted score by Nick Peters.
Jayesh Daly crossed eight minutes after the restart, but a further five-pointer by Prendergast offered Gerard’s hope.
Gonzaga steadied the ship with a penalty but Prendergast scored his third try on the hour mark. And after Gonzaga’s Conor Horan was yellow-carded late on, Whittle stepped forward to secure a magnificent victory for Gerard’s.
Scorers for St Gerard’s Bray: Tries: M Prendergast (3). Pen: T Whittle.
Scorers for Gonzaga College: Tries: N Peters, J Daly try. Pen: R McKeever. Cons: R McKeever (2).
ST GERARD’S BRAY: M Prendergast; M Gallagher, C Callan, P Kelly, A Lynch; A Symmonds, K McCarthy; N Byrne, J Ryan, T McKenna; M Loughman, C Doyle; C Kenny, D Smyth, D King.
Replacements: J Dooley for Doyle (30), T Whittle for McCarthy, D Shields for Gallagher (both 44), Doyle for Loughman (50), Loughman for Smyth (52-65), S O’Reilly for Byrne, A Symes for McKenna (both 61).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: B Goulding; J Daly, O O’Cleirigh, A Marks, R Fitzpatrick; R McKeever, N Peters; E Byrne, G Rumley, R Barry; C Horan, T Mays; S Holly, F Ryan, M McVey.
Replacements: D Coyle for Barry (5), F Keane for Coyle, R Layden for Mays (both 61).
Referee: C Dawson (LRR).