Lowey to the rescue as Rock earn second chance
St Michael’s College 7
Blackrock College 7
Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final
Daire Walsh, Donnybrook
St Michael’s College and Blackrock College will have to do it all again after they couldn’t be separated at the end of an engrossing Leinster Schools Junior Cup final at a wet and windy Donnybrook yesterday.
Michael’s (who lost to ‘Rock in last year’s decider) broke the deadlock from a ninth-minute attack – which ended with influential number eight Jack Boyle powering over the whitewash. This was followed by a routine Chris Cosgrave conversion and Michael’s finished the half with a 7-0 cushion.
However, ‘Rock restored parity five minutes into the second period when a neat interchange from Ben Brownlee and Shane Murray allowed Michael Lowey to touch down in the left-corner.
With fly-half Adam Dixon superbly splitting the posts from a touchline conversion, the momentum appeared to be with ‘Rock – but instead it was a determined Michael’s who posed the greater danger heading into the final quarter.
Yet, as the final whistle approached, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between for Michael’s, and they ultimately had to settle for a replay with the 50-time winners.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: J Power try, C Cosgrave con.
Scorers for Blackrock College: M Lowey try, A Dixon con.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: E Kelly; S O’Kelly, C Cosgrove, T Gilsenan, Z Harrison; N Carroll, J Woods; L Barron, C Booth, J Power; S Woods, J Guinane; O Hurley, W Hickey, J Boyle.
Replacements: S O’Shea for O’Kelly (55), H McWade for Harrison (60).
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: S Murray; J Campbell, S Small, B Brownlee, M Lowey; A Dixon, M Cullen; BM Murphy, C O’Carroll, S Barron; M Morrissey, H O’Malley; A Simpson, J Culante, L Heylin.
Replacements: M Wood for Simpson (11), P McGowan for Brownlee (48), J Byrne for Morrissey (51), H Cullen for Barron (57), D Molony for O’Malley (60).
Referee: B MacNiece (LRR).