LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL
Newbridge College’s Leinster dream dies in Donnybrook
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE………………………………. 10
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE…………………………….. 38
By Daire Walsh
THERE was heartbreak for Newbridge College at Donnybrook yesterday afternoon, when a powerful second-half display from St Michael’s College brought their Leinster Schools Junior Cup campaign to an end at the semi-final stage.
Victories over St Mary’s College and Wesley College had helped Newbridge to book their place in the last-four, but they were facing a Michael’s side that recorded an outstanding 75-7 success over Kilkenny College in the quarter-finals.
Outside centre Chris Cosgrave contributed 38 points in their demolition of Kilkenny, and he broke the deadlock from a 35-metre penalty.
Newbridge found themselves on the back-foot for the majority of the first-quarter, and following a lengthy spell inside the opposition ’22’, Michael’s number eight Jack Boyle drove over for the opening try of the contest.
A successful Cosgrave bonus strike meant that Newbridge were facing into a ten-point deficit, but as the half progressed, they started to cause problems for Michael’s. The Ailesbury Road outfit initially held firm under initial pressure from the Newbridge attack, until further persistence produced an unconverted try from flanker Conor McGroary.
With just five points (10-5) separating the teams at the break, Dave Brew’s charges remained in contention at the midway point. The passionate Newbridge supporters breathed a sigh of relief when a tricky Cosgrave place-kick drifted past the target after the break, but Sam Cahill subsequently missed out on an opportunity to reduced the deficit with a similar effort.
Another wayward Cosgrave penalty kept the game on a knife edge, before Boyle claimed his second try via a neat pass by scrum-half Jeffrey Woods. A Cosgrave two-pointer created further daylight, but Newbridge immediately responded with a superb touchdown from Cahill.
This meant the outcome was still in doubt heading into the final-quarter, as Michael’s were receiving their first sustained challenge of this year’s competition. However, Newbridge suffered a hammer blow when Niall Carroll crossed over for a third Michael’s try on 49 minutes, which effectively left them with too much of a mountain to climb.
Carroll’s score was supplemented by further tries from Eddie Kelly and Cosgrave in the 55th and 59th minutes respectively, but although the margin of victory was 28 points in the end, Newbridge can take plenty of positives from the way they performed throughout the year.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Donal Conroy; James Gaire, Marcus Kiely, John Shanahan, Daniel Silke Fetherston; Sam Cahill, Cormac King; Christopher Hart, Conor Ennis, Peter Leavy; Mark Dennis, Patrick O’Flaherty; Conor McGroary, Donough Lawlor, Jack O’Connell.
Replacements: Jack Sargent for Hart (38), Harry Jago Byrne for Dennis, Tom Browne for Silke Fetherston (55).
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: Eddie Kelly, Simon O’Kelly, Chris Cosgrave, Tim Gilsenan, Zach Harrison; Niall Carroll, Jeffrey Woods; Lee Barron, Conor Booth, James Power; Stephen Woods, Jack Guinane; Oscar Hurley, William Hickey, Jack Boyle.
Replacements: Cameron Baird for Barron (55).
Referee: Andrew Cole (Leinster Rugby Referees).