RUGBY: LEINSTER SCHOOLS’ SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL REPLAY
Newbridge College fall agonisingly short in replay
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE……………………………………………. 19
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA……………………………… 20
By Daire Walsh
THERE was heartbreak for Newbridge College at Donnybrook yesterday (9 March), when they were agonisingly denied a place in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup decider at the end of a tension-filled semi-final replay with the Tipperary-based Cistercian College Roscrea.
Newbridge suffered a major set-back inside the opening minute when injury forced right-wing David Murphy into an early withdrawal. With Ruairi Cleary making an unexpectedly early appearance in the back-three, it took the league champions time to adjust.
Roscrea subsequently took the lead courtesy of Tim Foley’s seventh-minute penalty, before Newbridge settled with their opening try of the contest just three minutes later. Following a quick break from defence, hooker Conor Johnson was on hand to break through under pressure to the right of the posts.
Colm Doyle’s bonus kick was off-target, though, and a well-drilled Roscrea replied on 19 minutes, as Mattie Keane combined brilliantly with back-row partner Simon Meagher for a magnificent score.
Further touch downs followed through Dan Trayers and Daniel Keane, and with Roscrea extending their lead to all of 15 points, there was a real danger that this game was turning into a one-sided affair. However, excellent Newbridge captain Jimmy O’Brien had other ideas, and thanks to his seven-point salvo three minutes before the interval, the south Kildare school had reduced the deficit to a manageable 20-12.
After an absorbing and fast-paced opening period, the play on the resumption was quite cagey, with both sides aware of the importance that the game’s next score carried. However, it was Newbridge who eventually made the next contribution to the scoreboard.
At the end of a prolonged move inside the opposition ‘22’, Jake Howlett sniped through underneath the posts, and courtesy of a routine conversion by his midfield partner O’Brien, a nail-biting finale lay in store.
Unfortunately for Newbridge, it was Roscrea who dominated possession during the closing stages, and they held out for victory by the slenderest of margins.
Scorers for Newbridge College: C Johnson, J Howlett try each, J O’Brien try, 2 cons.
Scorers for Cistercian College Roscrea: M Keane, D Trayers, D Keane try each, T Foley pen, con.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Mark Delaney; David Murphy, Jake Howlett, Jimmy O’Brien, Colm Stapleton; Tim Murphy, Colm Doyle; Jordan Duggan, Conor Johnson, David Breen; Austin Mahony, Brian Larkin; Tom O’Neill, Robert Buckley, Patrick Ryan. Replacements: Ruairi Cleary for D Murphy (1), Mike Joyce for Mahony (44), Robert Culliton for Buckley (67).
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: Tim Carroll; Daniel Keane, Rob Wharton, Tim Foley, Joe Murphy; Alan Tynan, Keith Kavanagh; Liam Walsh, Eoghan Maher, Dylan Murphy; Fineen Wycherley, Aaron Browne; Simon Meagher, Mattie Keane, Dan Trayers. Replacements: Kyle Cahir for Browne (half-time), Brian Diffley for M Keane (55), Peter Gavin for Meagher (63), Sean Kilgallen for Wharton (65), Philip O’Shea for J Murphy (69).
REFEREE: Gary Conway.