’Rock make it a double double as Belvo crash again
Monday, March 24, 2014
Blackrock College 14 Belvedere College 10
Leinster Schools Junior cup final
By Daire WalshTries in either half by Patrick Patterson and Tom Roche were crucial at the Tallaght Stadium yesterday as Blackrock College held off a late charge from Belvedere College to secure a second consecutive Leinster Schools’ Junior and Senior Cup double.
Playing in the ground that Shamrock Rovers call home, Belvedere were eager to avenge their final defeat to the same opposition last year, but it was ’Rock who broke the deadlock on 14 minutes with a well-worked try from scrum-half Patrick Patterson.
Out-half Peter O’Reilly’s successful bonus kick opened further daylight between the teams, but following an extended spell of pressure towards the end of the half, Belvo left-wing Dylan Corrigan Forbes’ three-pointer reduced his side’s deficit to four (7-3).
Blackrock received a blow four minutes into the second period when full-back James Moriarty was forced off through injury, but in his place, the lively Roche crossed over for a defining second converted score.
Belvo did set-up an exciting finale with a late David Hawkshaw try, but the instant impact of Roche effectively steered Blackrock towards their 48th Junior Cup success.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: J Moriarty; J Gallagher, L Turner, R Plumtree, R Deegan; P O’Reilly, P Patterson; A Francis, S McLoughlin, A Savage; C Ryan, C Delaney; C Reilly, J Fairley, A Murphy.
Replacements: T Roche for Moriarty (34), M Carroll for Delaney (47), A Noble for Reilly (55), J McShane for Noble (61), M Campbell for Ryan (61).
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: R Clarke; M Donnelly, C Walsh, P Smith, D Corrigan Forbes; D Hawkshaw, H O’Sullivan; S Osborne, G Murray, J Robinson; D Ring, D McKenna; R Byron, C Byrne, M Kearney.
Replacements: J Doorly for McKenna (47), A Grennel for Murray (52), D Lacey for Corrigan Forbes (53), P Maher for Walsh (58), O O’Brien for Doorly (64).
Referee: D Blake (LRR).