LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Rampant Newbridge book semi-final place
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE……………………. 26
WESLEY COLLEGE………………………….. 5
By Daire Walsh
NEWBRIDGE College will contest the Leinster Schools Junior Cup semi-final, following their emphatic victory over Wesley College at Donnybrook last Wednesday afternoon (March 1).
A similarly comprehensive opening round triumph against St Mary’s College meant that Newbridge were firm favourites heading into this contest, and with Sam Cahill, Daniel Silke Fetherston, James Gaire and Marcus Kiely all crossing over throughout the course of the proceedings, they booked their place in the last-four with considerable style.
Wesley (who qualified for this competition through the Fr Godfrey Cup) defeated St Andrew’s College prior to this game, but after they knocked on from their own kick-off, Newbridge immediately got themselves on the front-foot.
They quickly established a presence in the Wesley ’22’, and when he picked the ball from a ruck with just over two minutes on the clock, scrum-half Cahill touched down in clinical fashion. A subsequent conversion by skipper John Shanahan was wide of the mark, but a confident Newbridge subsequently increased their advantage in the eighth-minute.
Fetherston received a neat off-load on the right-wing, and he evaded a number of challenges before grounding beyond the Wesley whitewash. Shanahan applied the bonuses on this occasion, which meant that Newbridge had already established a 12-point cushion.
Yet, it wasn’t all plain sailing during the opening period, as Wesley forced their way back into the reckoning. Centre Luke Fitzpatrick was well short of the target from an early penalty opportunity, but after opting for touch on 18 minutes, a powerful line-out maul was finished off by lock Tadgh O’Neill.
This unconverted effort was a stark reminder for Newbridge that the outcome wasn’t yet decided, but they enjoyed a productive end to the half. Wesley were being caused numerous problems on their left-flank, and after selling a dummy to the retreating opposition rearguard, full-back Gaire raced over for Newbridge’s third try.
Another Shanahan two-pointer provided the south Kildare boys with a 19-5 interval platform, but although this was a healthy lead for Dave Brew’s side, it was important for Newbridge to maintain their momentum when the action resumed.
Indeed, rather than having to worry about a potential backlash from Wesley, Newbridge once again dominated possession during the early stages of the third-quarter. Flanker Conor McGroary was twice held up before the try-line eight minutes after the restart, but when Cahill picked out Kiely from the resulting scrum, the outside centre sprinted through for a magnificent five-pointer.
Cahill (who featured in the out-half position against Mary’s) was on kicking duties for this latest conversion attempt, and he comfortably split the posts for the Junior League champions. This left Wesley with a mountain to climb, and in spite of their best efforts to create opportunities from a succession of set-pieces, they were finding it difficult to break down the determined Newbridge defence.
In a similar vein to the Mary’s game, the final-quarter of this tie presented the Newbridge replacements with a chance to stake their claim for a future place in the starting line-up. After impressive cameo roles the last day, Kiely and Conor Ennis were handed starts in this final-eight outing, while Jack Sargent was an effective alternative to hooker Geoff McNelis – who was forced out of the action through injury in the 19th-minute.
Wesley did apply some pressure towards the opposing posts in the closing moments, but Newbridge maintained their 21-point advantage for the remainder of the action – and they will now embark on a daunting semi-final clash with St Michael’s College in a buoyant mood.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: James Gaire; David Marshall, Marcus Kiely, John Shanahan, Daniel Silke Fetherston; Donal Conroy, Sam Cahill; Christopher Hart, Geoff McNelis, Peter Leavy; Conor Ennis, Patrick O’Flaherty; Conor McGroary, Donough Lawlor, Jack O’Connell.
Replacements: Jack Sargent for McNelis (19), Shane Fata for Marhshall (39), Mark Dennis for Sargent (40), Sargent for Hart (45), Tom Browne for Fetherston (47), Tiarnan McKnight for Leavy, Gavin Nolan Begley for O’Flaherty, Josh Murphy for Shanahan, David O’Sullivan for Gaire (all 56).
WESLEY COLLEGE: Jamie Metchette; James McGoldrick, Luke Fitzpatrick, Timothy Elliott, Nathan Columb; Max Collins, Jack Atkinson; Christopher Gilmer, Jamie Kavanagh, Jack Fish; Tadgh O’Neill, Tadgh Maguire; Daniel Fives, Thomas Dunne, Peter Costello.
Replacements: Adeola Ogunyemi for Maguire (48), Christopher Bailey for McGoldrick (49), Finn Maguire for O’Neill, Fionn Douglas for Columb, Adam Evans for Fives (all 56), Ben McMullin for Dunne (58).
Referee: S Carty (LRR).