McKeown proves Belvo ace
BELVEDERE COLLEGE………………………………………. 42
CBC MONKSTOWN………………………………………….. 14
By Daire Walsh
Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup
A hat-trick of tries from James McKeown was the highlight yesterday at Donnybrook, where Belvedere College progressed to the semi-final of the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup.
Belvo had opened the scoring on five minutes when Sean Long crossed over at the end of a lengthy move. Conor Jennings converted and he quickly added a seven-point salvo to firmly-establish Belvo’s authority.
A third try arrived through outside centre McKeown on the stroke of 15 minutes, before excellent spadework from Long led to his second try just before the half-hour mark.
Ten additional points from the trusty right-boot of Jennings created even further daylight, as Belvo held an unassailable 32-0 cushion during the interval.
On the restart it was Belvo who, inevitably, registered the next score when McKeown touched down for a third time after 41 minutes.
CBC finally opened their account with converted tries in the final-quarter by Joseph Halwax and Sean Tinney, but Belvedere (who will face Clongowes Wood in the final-four) had the final say with a stoppage-time touch down from replacement Hugh Sexton.
In the other semi-final Newbridge play Roscrea on the same day next month.
Scorers for Belvedere College: J McKeown 3 tries, S Long, H Sexton try, C Jennings try, 2 pens, 3 cons.
Scorers for CBC Monkstown: J Halwax, S Tinney try each, B Mahon 2 cons.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: H O’Sullivan; E Cleere, J McKeown, D Monaghan, S Long; C Jennings, G O’Kelly; M Sweeney, A Hynes, E Molloy; C McCaffrey, B Egan; J Iredale, M Kearney, T De Jongh.
Replacements: O McGrath for O’Kelly (3-11), O McGrath for Long (42), F Dillon-Kelly for Molloy (44), J Kenny for McCaffrey, S McNulty for Kearney (both 50), H Sexton for McKeown (51), C Galvin for Iredale (56), D Boylan for O’Kelly (60), D McCaffrey for Hynes (64).
CBC MONKSTOWN: D Porter; S Sweeney, K Shaw, B Mahon, T O’Callaghan; S Doyle, R Jordan; M McGrath, A Holmes, E Clarke; J McAteer, H O’Neill; R Courtney, M Hallam, J Halwax.
Replacements: T Kelly for Doyle (16), P Lyons for Courtney (h-t), P Rogers for Shaw (38), C Byrden for Holmes (43), S Tinney for McGrath (64).
Referee: K Beggs (Leinster Rugby Referees).