RUGBY – LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP FINAL: BLACKROCK COLLEGE 7 ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 7
HONOURS EVEN IN DECIDER
‘Rock and Michael’s will have to do it all again as the two sides finish in low-scoring affair
Daire Walsh
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 Donnybrook yesterday.
In a low-scoring affair, Michael’s had taken the lead with a first-half try from Jack Boyle. However, thanks to a 35th-minute five-pointer by Michael Lowey, a replay will now be required to determine the winner of this year’s competition.
Just five days on from their school’s Senior Cup defeat to Belvedere College, ‘Rock were eager to end the rugby season on a high. They were on top of possession during the early stages in the south Dublin venue, but once Michael’s gained a foothold on the play, they broke the deadlock in emphatic style.
From a ninth-minute attack, influential number eight Boyle received the ball in a central position, and powered over the whitewash under severe pressure. This was followed by a routine Chris Cosgrave conversion, which offered Michael’s a strong platform to build on for the remainder of the half.
Yet, they found themselves on the back-foot for large spells, as ‘Rock attempted to cancel out their seven-point advantage. It looked like the Williamstown school were ready to levelled matters from an extended 19th-minute attack, but Michael’s scrum-half Jeffrey Woods eventually cleared to safety.
Strong defensive play from ‘Rock winger John Campbell prevented Michael’s from extending their lead at the end of the half, though, and this ensured that the holders remained within touching distance at the midway point.
RESTORED
Indeed, ‘Rock played with greater purpose when the action resumed, and they ultimately restored parity five minutes into the second period. They came up short from a series of drives towards the Michael’s post before a neat interchange, between Ben Brownlee and Shane Murray, allowed Lowey to touch down in the left-corner.
With Adam Dixon superbly splitting the posts from a touchline conversion, the momentum appeared to be with ‘Rock – but instead it was Michael’s who posed the greater danger heading into the final-quarter.
They applied serious pressure inside the ‘Rock half, and an attempted drop-goal by Cosgrave was blocked down on 50 minutes. 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 re-match with the 50-time winners.
SCORERS – ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: J Boyle try, C Cosgrave con. Blackrock College: M Lowey try, A Dixon con.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: E Kelly; S O’Kelly, C Cosgrave, T Gilsenan, Z Harrison; N Carroll, J Woods; L Barron, C Booth, J Power; S Woods, J Guinane; O Hurley, Wi Hickey, J Boyle.
Reps: S O’Shea for O’Kelly (55), Hugo 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.
Reps: 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).