Clongowes book Senior Cup Final spot
Clongowes Wood College 13
Terenure College 10
Daire Walsh
They got through by the skin of their teeth in the end, but ultimately a try from second-half replacement Cian O’Donohue with two minutes of normal time remaining was the different between Clongowes Wood College and Terenure College in a tension-filled Leinster Senior Cup semi-final at Donnybrook on Sunday afternoon.
Eddie Geraghty’s side rode the early Clongowes storm successfully, though, and took a surprise lead with just seven minutes gone when Tom O’Brien crossed the line following a sweeping cross-field move involving Billy Dardis and Colin Jones. Out-half Stephen O’Neill was off target with a tricky conversion on the left-wing.
Clongowes would go on to enjoy the majority of the possession during the opening quarter, but they were finding it difficult to break down a physically imposing Terenure outfit, who added to their advantage on 25 minutes, when an excellent break by centre Harrison Brewer paved the way for full-back Dardis to get through for his side’s second unconverted try of the contest.
Clongowes were under severe pressure at this point, but they finished the half impressively, as scrum-half Conor McQuaid capitalised on excellent play in the line-out to open their account with a five-pointer 33 minutes in. Conor Mahony’s conversion drifted just past the post, but he was on target with a close-range penalty in injury-time, which meant that the margin was down to two (10-8) heading into the second period.
Inevitably, Clongowes would get on top in the possession stakes moving into the final 20 minutes of play, but they were finding it difficult to create the chances that would swing the tie back in their direction. Mahony did have a couple of opportunities from penalties in the 60th and 62nd minutes respectively, but he came up short on both occasions, as it began to look like it mightn’t be Clongowes’ day.
Cian O’Donohue was introduced instead of winger Niall Rhatigan, and he produced the game’s all-important score on 68 minutes, when he broke free on the left after excellent build-up play by McVerry, before grounding the ball at the tightest of angles. Mahony was narrowly off with his conversion, but Clongowes were now in front for the very first time, which put them in pole position for victory.
There was to be some late drama, however, as Terenure were awarded a penalty inside the Clongowes ’22’ five minutes into time added on but, despite it being well within his range, Dardis was unable to take advantage of this kicking opportunity.
Clongowes managed to hold firm, and they will go on to face either St Michael’s College or Kilkenny College in the showpiece decider at the RDS on March 18th.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Cillian Burke; Conor Mahony, Ciaran O’Hanrahan, Garvan McVerry, Niall Rhatigan; Mark Nicholson, Conor McQuaid; Edward Byrne, Bryan Byrne, Daniel O’Byrne, Jack Paul, Robert Daly, John Wallace, Stephen Kealan, Peadar Timmons.
Replacements: James Sullivan for McQuaid (53), Cian O’Donohue for Rhatigan (60), Kevin Cowhey for Wallace (72).
TERENURE COLLEGE: Billy Dardis; Fiachra Bagnall, Harrison Brewer, Colin Jones, Tom O’Brien; Stephen O’Neill, Conor Weakliam; Silvio Borza, Daniel Hynes, Tiernan Creagh; Robert Somerville, Mike Murphy; Niall O’Sullivan, Patrick Thornton, Niall Lalor.
Replacements: Craig Trenier for Creagh (49), Andrew Somerville for Murphy (49), David Doyle for O’Sullivan (49).
REFEREE: Eanna O’Dowd (Leinster Branch).