Senior Cup quarter-final
Clongowes still on track for Cup final
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE…………………………………… 19
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE……………………………………………… 13
By Daire Walsh
Clongowes Wood College produced an outstanding defensive play to get the better of a hotly-fancied St Michael’s College in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook.
Boosted by a confidence-building performance against Castleknock College, Clongowes started the game with great intent. Michael’s had coped effectively with their initial surges into attack, but persistence eventually paid off for the eight-time champions 11 minutes in.
An eye-catching incision by flanker Donal Mongey placed Clongowes on the front-foot, and even though Conor Murray was denied on the left-wing, Mulcahy broke the deadlock by diving down underneath the posts.
Out-half Jonny Glynn also added two points from the routine conversion. This was an ideal scenario for Noel McNamara’s charges, but the highly-rated Michael’s started to showcase their ability.
A massive break from number eight Max Deegan placed them in the Clongowes ‘22’ for the first time, and following a sustained spell of pressure, prop Rory Mulvihill finished off a powerful maul on the right-flank.
Barry Fitzpatrick was off-target from the tricky touchline bonus kick, but he made amends by securing his side’s second try on 22 minutes. The power of the Michael’s pack had been crucial to their opening five-pointer, and they once again played their part when Fitzpatrick touched down to the left of the posts.
However, his second kick at goal was also wide of the mark, and this meant that Clongowes were firmly in contention as the half progressed. In fact, just when Michael’s looked set to take control, Clongowes issued them with a hammer blow. Fine build-up play from Michael McDermott allowed scrum-half Rowan Osborne to run through in the left-corner with seven first-half minutes remaining.
Glynn’s follow-up strike drifted past the posts, but Clongowes still held a marginal 12-10 advantage at the interval. The loss of Mulcahy to injury was a set-back for Clongowes, however, and owing to the introduction of Harry Byrne (brother of Leinster Academy star Ross), Michael’s breathed fresh life into their challenge.
Indeed, courtesy of a successful 35-metre penalty from the replacement fly-half, the Ailesbury Road outfit moved back into the ascendancy after 47 minutes. Clongowes had defended courageously after the restart, but they needed to force pressure inside the Michael’s ‘22’.
Clongowes instigated a series of attacks through their impressive back-row just beyond the third-quarter mark. Michael’s didn’t concede much ground during this spell of dominance by Clongowes, but when he received an off-load from Osborne, Lappin broke over the line.
Glynn also contributed two points in spectacular fashion, but thanks to exceptional leadership from the superb Deegan, Michael’s continued to make life uneasy for the Clongowes rearguard.
Indeed, a penalty on the hour mark offered Michael’s the chance to put just three points between the teams. Yet, Byrne opted to go for touch this time – a move that backfired badly when the Michael’s substitute kicked the ball too far and conceded a scrum to Clongowes.
There was still a belief in Michael’s that they could the turn the tie in their favour, and a game-changing try did seem inevitable at the death. Clongowes Wood survived a multi-phase assault in stoppage-time, though, and will now embark on the upcoming semi-finals with momentum on their side.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Michael Sylvester; James Lappin, Colm Mulcahy, Michael McDermott, Conor Murray; Jonny Glynn, Rowan Osborne; Nicholas Rinklin, John Molony, Charlie Carroll; Tim Burke, Daniel O’Mahony; Will Connors, Donal Mongey, Sean McCrohan. Replacements: Patrick Nulty for McCrohan (30-34), Fionnan Madden for Mulcahy (32), Jack Moore for Burke (56-66), Edward Carroll for C Carroll (66).
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: Max O’Shea; Jack Kelly, Oisin O’Meara, James Hickey, Tom Molony; Robin Cosgrave, David Duggan; Rory Mulvihill, Gavin Barrett, Samuel Griffin; Oisin Dowling, James Ryan; Barry Fitzpatrick, Gavin Croke, Max Deegan. Replacements: Jack Dunne for Fitzpatrick (6-7), Harry Byrne for Cosgrave (h-t), Tomas Killeen for Kelly (62), Robert Duffy for Mulvihill (66).
REFEREE: Brian Montayne (Leinster Rugby Referees).