Clongowes come through stern test
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE…………………………. 15
CBC MONKSTOWN…………………………………………….. 07
Daire Walsh
Leinster Junior Cup, Round One
Try in either half from James Lappin and William Grealy proved to be the difference in Donnybrook yesterday, as Clongowes College came through a tough battle with CBC Monkstown in the opening round of the Leinster Junior Cup.
The Clane school were put to the pin of their collar by the south Dublin outfit, who drew level courtesy of an outstanding Sean O’Donnell try on 36 minutes, but Clongowes held firm to secure their passage into the next round of the competition.
Playing into the Old Wesley end of Leinster HQ, CBC started the game brightly, and manufactured a penalty for themselves from a distance of 30 metres three minutes in after good early pressure in the Clongowes ’22’.
Out-half Ben Mahon stepped confidently to strike the place kick, but his effort on goal came up short on this occasion.
This missed opportunity served as something of a wake-up call for Clongowes, who settled into the contest soon after by utilising the running ability of Conor Murray, Lappin and Colm Mulcahy (a survivor from last year’s Junior Cup campaign), as well as the considerable strength of No. 8 Grealy.
Indeed, such was the pressure that they were putting on Monkstown, that it seemed like only a matter of time before they finally opened the scoring.
This was exactly what happened nine minutes in, as centre Lappin drove over in front of the posts at the end of a long maul towards the CBC line. Jonathan Glynn was on hand to convert this score, which gave Clongowes an excellent early platform on which to build.
CBC showed great resilience for the rest of the half, though, and Adam Proctor and captain Joey Hallwax very nearly got through for tries in the 13th and 26th minutes respectively. They ended up being forced back out the pitch on both occasions, though, and despite much persistence from Monkstown, they couldn’t break down a stern Clongowes back line, meaning that last year’s beaten semi-finalists held a 7-0 lead heading into the second period.
Monkstown had grown into the game as the opening half progrssed, however, and there was every chance that they could force their way back into the reckoning if they kept up their work-rate and industry.
Clongowes were making life difficult for the CBC attack, but they were powerless to prevent full-back O’Donnell from getting through for his side’s opening score six minutes after the re-start, following a mazy run through the heart of the Clongowes defence.
O’Donnell’s try was followed swiftly by a simple conversion from Mahon, meaning that the sides were on level terms heading into the final 20 minutes.
Once again, though, Clongowes started to gain control, and despite some admirable defensive work from CBC, they were powerless to stop the inspirational Grealy from getting in for the decisive score of the game with ten minutes remaining.
While Glynn was off target with his conversion this time, he more than made up for it five minutes later, when he expertly converted a close-range penalty, which ensured that Clongowes will now progress to the second round of the competition, in spite of some late pressure from CBC.
This was certainly a performance that will please the Clongowes management team, but they are nonetheless fully aware that they will need to be at their very best as they move on to the last-eight of the Junior Cup.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Conor Murray; Donal Mongey, James Lappin, Colm Mulcahy, Michael McDermott; Jonathan Glynn, Rowan Osbourne; Daniel O’Leary, John Molony, Charles Carroll, Tim Burke, Daniel O’Mahony, William Connors, Hugo McDermott, William Grealy.
Replacements: Shane O’Carroll for O’Mahony (h-t), Jonathan Sullivan for H McDermott (43).
MONKSTOWN CBC: Sean O’Donnell; Adam Proctor, Dan Casey, Shane Sweeney, Joey Hallwax; Ben Mahon, Rob Jordan; Conor Byrden, Victor Law, Edward O’Mahony, Alec Byrne, Jack McAteer (D Keenan 49), Mark Hallam, Thomas O’Callaghan, Mathew McGrath.
Replacements: Mark Scally for Byrden (49), Dara Keenan for McAteer (49), Eoin McCabe for Jordan (49), Killian Barry for Proctor (59), Conor Dowd for O’Callaghan (62).
Referee: Ciaran McGowan (Leinster Branch).