CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE……………………………… 34
CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE……………………………………… 08
Daire Walsh
LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL
A late first-half scoring blitz proved decisive in Donnybrook last Tuesday afternoon, as Clongowes Wood College comfortably dispatched a very game Castleknock College side to book their place in the last-four of the 2012 Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
Though the game in quality between the sides was not as evident as in Clongowes’ previous game against Belvedere College, there was still much about the Clongowes performance to admire on the day, as their dream of winning a third Senior Cup crown on the trot becomes even more of a possibility.
They didn’t have everything their own way, though, and Noel McNamara’s charges were on the back-foot in the opening moments, as Castleknock No. 8 Paul Nalty led a powerful push towards the Clongowes line. Indeed, it looked for a fleeting moment like the north-west Dublin school would break through the Clane side’s defence for the opening try of the contest with just four minutes gone on the clock, but an infringement by the holders meant that it was instead a penalty, which was kicked over expertly from an angle on the right by out-half Robert Troy.
Though the lead could have been seven points rather than three, it was nevertheless an extremely bright start by Castleknock, who had been rather impressive in their opening round fixture against St Mary’s College. Clongowes did have a chance to restore parity just five minutes later, but right-wing Conor Mahony’s penalty from just outside the ’22’ drifted just past the left-hand upright.
Mahony did have another opportunity after 12 minutes from a 35-metre penalty, but he came up short once again with this effort, and when he was once again off target with a kick at goal from close-range ten minutes later, there was a sense that this might be a tougher assignment for Clongowes than many anticipated.
However, when the game reached the 25 minute mark, Clongowes finally clicked into life, and it was thanks to influential prop Bryan Byrne that they got through for their first try, when he grounded to the right of the posts after a strong drive towards the line.
Mahony was successful with his subsequent conversion on this occasion, and he was also on target four minutes later after full-back Max McFarland was put through for a routine try after a massive run by centre Sebastien Fromm.
Fromm had to go off injured immediately after this score having shifted a heavy knock, but there was to be no dampening of the Clongowes spirit, as a Mahony penalty deep into first-half stoppage time gave his side a 17-3 mid-way advantage.
Suddenly, having been put to the test for a significant portion of the opening 35 minutes, Clongowes were now firmly in control of the tie and, after a long spell of patient build-up, they increased their advantage 15 minutes into the second period when flanker Stephen Kealan reached over after a telling lay-off by the excellent Bryan Byrne. With his kicking radar now at its optimum level, Mahony was once again on target with the conversion, which put an insurmountable 21 points between the two teams.
This bout of scoring put the end result beyond any doubt, but Clongowes were showing no signs of resting on their laurels as the game entered into the final quarter. Capping off a fine team move, Mahony got through in the right-corner for a fourth Clongowes try after 61 minutes, and even though he was narrowly off target with the conversion on this occasion, another five-pointer would soon follow for the Clane school when Mahony’s fellow winger, Niall Rhatigan, was put through to the left of the posts.
This brought the Clongowes scoring on the day to an end, and though Castleknock did secure a late try from full-back Eoghan Quinn (who is a member of the Dublin minor football panel), it proved to be just a mere consolation, as the north Kildare men’s lofty ambitions of securing three in-a-row at this level remain very much intact.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Max McFarland; Conor Mahony, Ciaran O’Hanrahan, Sebastien Fromm, Niall Rhatigan; Mark Nicholson, Conor McQuaid; Edward Byrne, Bryan Byrne, Daniel O’Byrne, Jack Paul, Robert Daly, John Wallace, Stephen Kealan, Peadar Timmons.
Replacements: Garvan McVerry for Fromm (32), Sean Mullholland for Timmons (41), James Sullivan for Nicholson (62), Dylan Donnellan for B Byrne (66), David Garty for E Byrne (69), Kevin Cowhey for Kealan (70), Cian O’Donohue for Rhatigan (70).
CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE: Eoghan Quinn; Michael Mellett, Thomas Farrell, David Sweeney, Sean McEntaggart; Robert Troy, Darragh Henry; Mark Bennett, Dylan Perry, Oliver McKevitt, Eoin Murphy, Ahmas Mu’Azzam, Shane Carroll, Jack O’Neill, Paul Nalty.
Replacements: James McCormack for McEntaggart (h-t), Eoin Hanlon for Troy (58), Sam Condon for Perry (60), Keith Scanlon for Carroll (60), Jack Burke for Henry (66), Zaran Butt for Bennett (73).
REFEREE: Paul Haycock (Leinster Rugby).