Timoney toast of Blackrock
Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup final:
Blackrock College 22 Clongowes Wood College 17
By Daire Walsh
Captain Nick Timoney cemented his place in Blackrock College folklore at the RDS yesterday, when his 63rd minute try proved decisive in a gripping Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup final.
Despite facing into a 14-3 interval deficit, Clongowes Wood College turned the tie on its head with a brace of second-half tries, but with the game delicately poised, powerful No 8 Timoney produced the score that guided the Williamstown school towards their 68th crown.
The south Dubliners had dominated the early exchanges in an electrically-charged Ballsbridge venue, but even though Zach O’Hagan grounded on the right-wing at the end of a sweeping 12th minute move, TMO Brian McNiece determined that the final pass was forward.
Yet, in spite of heroic defensive work by Clongowes, ‘Rock flanker Conor Oliver eventually opened the scoring with a converted score on the half-hour mark, and just three minutes later, the holders moved even further into the ascendancy.
A magnificent break from outside centre Jack Power enabled left-wing Hugo Keenan to break through unopposed, but after fly-half Sean Kearns comfortably supplied the bonuses, Clongowes finally gained some respite courtesy of an Alan Hughes three-pointer.
Noel McNamara’s charges were back in the reckoning three minutes after the restart, as skipper Fergal Cleary bravely drove through a number of challenges for an excellent individual try.
The intervention of the TMO benefitted the challengers on this occasion, but there was no doubting the legitimacy of their next score midway through the half, when an outstanding gallop into enemy territory by Cillian Burke provided the platform for O’Donoghue’s fifth try of the tournament.
All the momentum was with the Kildare school at this stage, but ‘Rock displayed a mental resolve befitting true champions, and seven minutes after Kearns had restored parity with a routine kick at goal, Timoney broke Clongowes hearts with a decisive pushover score.
Scorers for Blackrock College: C Oliver, H Keenan, N Timoney try each, S Kearns pen, 2 cons.
Scorers for Clongowes Wood College: F Cleary, C O’Donoghue try each, A Hughes pen, 2 cons.
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 Dorris, C Oliver, N Timoney.
Replacements: C O’Dwyer for Dorris (25-31, blood sub).
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: A Hughes; J Lappin, C Mulcahy, C Burke, C O’Donoghue; F Cleary, R Osborne; N Rinklin, J Molony, J Inglis; C Gleeson, J Kennedy; W Connors, J Pim, S McVeigh.
Replacements: D Kiely for Lappin (53), D O’Leary for Inglis (58), J Glynn for Osborne (69).
Referee: G Conway (LRR).