Murphy kicks Belvo into cup semi-finals
Rugby
Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final
Belvedere College 15
Clongowes Wood 14
Daire Walsh
A 53rd minute penalty from Simon Murphy was the difference between the sides yesterday at Donnybrook, where Belvedere College edged past Clongowes Wood College in a Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final.
Clongowes led through a converted try by lock Thomas Mulcair, before a seven-point salvo from full-back Murphy ensured the teams were level (7-7) at the interval.
Belvo moved in front after the restart with a Fergal O’Byrne five-pointer, but following a neat finish in the right-corner by replacement Peter Maher, a David Wilkinson conversion moved Clongowes back into the ascendancy.
However, Belvo raised the tempo in the final-quarter, and Murphy’s close-range place-kick helped the 17-times champions to progress.
Scorers for Belvedere College: S Murphy try, pen, con, F O’Byrne try.
Scorers for Clongowes Wood College: T Mulcair, P Maher try each, D Wilkinson 2 cons.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: S Murphy; E Farquharson, H Murray, F O’Byrne, E MacAdaimh; D Hawkshaw, J MacNiece; E Campbell Foley, A Moran, H Flood; B Bolger, J Ross; E Rutledge, E O’Neill, H McPeake.
Replacements: A Beatty, D McCarthy, S O’Casey, J Gleeson, D O’Driscoll, P O’Farrell, D O’Grady, T Connolly.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: H Radmall; S Reilly, C Grimes, C Martin, G Fitzpatrick; D Wilkinson, S Sexton; M Behån, E O’Boyle, B Keogh; T Mulcair, J Kearney; J Hilliard, C Dowling, B Dooley.
Replacements: K Noone, S Beggs, E Cumbers, K Fitzparick, J Dundon, J Coonan, P Maher, G Donovan.
Referee: R O’Flynn (LRR).