Blackrock can give old boy early lift
By Daire Walsh
Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup final
While the primary focus for the Irish rugby fraternity this weekend will be concentrated on Brian O’Driscoll’s final appearance in a Test, tomorrow afternoon may well represent a bright new dawn for the latest crop of young stars to emerge from his old alma mater, Blackrock College, who take on Clongowes Wood in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup final at the RDS (2pm).
As a recipient of a Senior Cup medal with the school back in 1996, the Clontarf native will be hoping the Williamstown school can retain the title that they secured last year against St Michael’s College. Thanks to determined victories over CBC Monkstown, the aforementioned Michael’s and Newbridge College to date, there are high expectations of Peter Smyth’s charges.
However, Clongowes – who count current Irish stars Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Kearney and Dave Kearney amongst their past pupils – have been equally impressive en route to the showpiece encounter, and their outstanding haul of 11 tries from three games makes them a formidable prospect.
With 57 points between them in the current campaign, much is expected of Clongowes’ defensive duo Cian O’Donoghue and Alan Hughes, while Rock will look to the dependable place-kicking of Sean Kearns and the predatory instincts of full-back Jack Power, as key aspects of their approach.
With so much attacking talent on show, defensive stability may well be the key to either side’s hopes of success.