By LEINSTER SCHOOLS’ SENIOR CUP Q/f

Monday February 27 2012

KILKENNY COLLEGE 22 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY SCH 17

Simon Williams was the hero for Kilkenny College in Donnybrook yesterday afternoon, as his controversial try deep into stoppage-time booked the south-east school’s place in the last four.

Kilkenny had been the dominant side during the opening exchanges and took the lead after 15 minutes thanks to a penalty from left-wing Simon Williams to the left of the posts.

CUS soon settled into the contest, however, and they found themselves in the lead with 24 minutes gone courtesy of a brace of penalties from Marc Hiney. Kilkenny responded just three minutes later, when Williams took advantage of a fumble by CUS right-wing Killian Lynsky to secure the first try of the afternoon. Williams converted and Kilkenny held a 10-6 cushion at the midway stage.

CUS pared back the deficit with a 51st-minute penalty from Hiney, but Kilkenny regained control of proceedings almost immediately, as flanker Michael Triggs drove over the line at the end of a long maul, with Williams converting again.

CUS simply wouldn’t give up, though, and the Dubliners forced their way back into the reckoning with a brilliantly worked try from full-back Ciaran Divney with 11 minutes of normal time left, before Hiney drew the sides level with a 30-metre penalty two minutes into time added on, his fourth of the contest.

The tie seemed destined for a replay, but the outstanding Williams latched on to a loose ball to ground the ball to the left of the posts.

There were initial doubts about whether or not the try would be allowed, as match referee Danny Wallace had initially deemed Kilkenny to be offside, but the try was awarded.

KILKENNY COLLEGE — J Duncan; T Bulfin, S Sterling, R Baily-Kearney, S Williams; B Ridgeway, D Leybourne; G Condell (J Baker 68), R Foot, S Delahunt, J Moynan, J Holland-Brennan, H Crowley (H Rhys Thomas 57-68), M Triggs, R Deacon.

CUS — C Divney; K Lynsky, R Magee, A Neary, J Fallon-Doran; M Hiney, M O’Driscoll; J Fisher (J Bodkin 39)(Fisher 54)), B Keelan, M McCann, D Gahan, J Gavin (N Gilson 39), K Beakey (D Feenan 75), A Quinlan, M Beakey.

REF — D Wallace (Leinster Rugby).

– LEINSTER SCHOOLS’ SENIOR CUP Q/f

Irish Independent