‘College’ retain Senior Schools League title
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A FINAL
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE…………………………………………….. 20
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA………………………………. 19
By DAIRE WALSH
Colm Stapleton was the hero for Newbridge College at Donnybrook Stadium on Friday evening last, when his brace of closing-quarter tries helped his side to retain the Leinster Schools Senior League Division 1A title in a dramatic showpiece decider against Cistercian College Roscrea.
After a lively opening from both teams, Dave Brew’s outfit had to contend with the temporary absence of Number 8 Paddy Ryan owing to a blood injury, but upon his re-introduction to the fray on 16 minutes, he made a telling impact.
After forging another offensive assault deep into enemy territory, Newbridge recycled the ball towards the left-flank. Skipper Jimmy O’Brien (a survivor from last year’s squad) produced a neat off-load into the path of Ryan, who drove over powerfully for a 19th minute five-pointer. Colm Doyle was off-target from the tricky conversion.
Injury brought an end to the contribution of Newbridge full-back Ruairi Cleary two minutes before the interval, but in spite of this loss, the defending champions would have been satisfied with a 5-0 cushion heading into the second period.
Roscrea played with great determination after the restart, and it took them less than three minutes to restore parity to the tie, as outside centre Alan Tynan dotted over the Newbridge line following excellent approach play by Foley and Joe Murphy.
Foley’s wayward bonus kick ensured that the sides remained on level terms, and given the close nature of Newbridge’s previous league encounters, a tension-filled concluding half-hour lay in store. Doyle had a chance to regain the ascendancy from a further place-kick 14 minutes into the half, and although he fell short once again, a knock-on by Foley led to a more routine attempt from close-in. This helped Doyle to finally open his own personal account, and Newbridge suddenly had the victory in their sights.
With such a narrow margin separating the teams, however, Newbridge could never afford to rest on their laurels. The confidence of the off-form Foley was beginning to drain, but Roscrea were still capable of producing a game-changing moment.
They certainly did threaten to swing the pendulum back in their favour, but instead it was Newbridge who took the initiative. After intercepting a pass by Tynan towards full-back Tim Carroll, Stapleton ran the length of the field for an unconverted runaway try.
This looked like being a pivotal moment in a tasty finale, and Newbridge were grateful for Stapleton’s intervention when Roscrea lock Fineen Wycherley powered over via a Keith Kavanagh pass one minute from the end of normal time. Foley’s second conversion strike was successful.
Newbridge responded in a style befitting of champions, though, as Stapleton bravely finished off a wonderful team move underneath the sticks.
Daniel Keane did bag a third try for a dogged Roscrea from the final attack of the action, but it wasn’t enough.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Ruairi Cleary; Daithi Murphy, Jake Howlett, Tim Murphy, Colm Stapleton; Jimmy O’Brien, Colm Doyle; Jordan Duggan, Connor Johnson, David Breen; Brian Larkin, Mike Joyce; Tom O’Neill, Rob Buckley, Paddy Ryan.
Replacements: John Hamilton for Ryan (8-16 & 56), Davy Culliton for Cleary (33), Robbie Culliton for O’Neill (64), Patrick Morrin for Breen (66), Mark Delaney for Stapleton (73).
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: Tim Carroll; Rob Wharton, Alan Tynan, Joe Murphy, Daniel Keane; Tim Foley, Keith Kavanagh; Alvar Ferragut, Eoin Maher, Dylan Murphy; Fineen Wycherley, Simon Meagher; Peter Gavin, Matty Keane, Dan Travers.
Replacements: Michael Jordan for Ferragut (45), Brian Diffily for Meagher (50-55 & 66).