St Michael’s savour second bite of cherry
Leinster Schools Junior Cup final replay
St Michael’s College 31
Blackrock College 17
Daire Walsh
Donnybrook
St Michael’s College produced a stunning performance at Donnybrook yesterday afternoon to secure the Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at the expense of Blackrock College in a replayed encounter.
Blackrock were chasing a fifth consecutive final win at this grade, but they fell behind in the ninth-minute. Talismanic centre Chris Cosgrave converted his own try, and while Rock opened their account with an Adam Dixon penalty, Jack Boyle drove over in stoppage-time to give Michael’s a 12-3 interval lead.
The Ailesbury Road outfit increased their advantage with a 43rd-minute try from fly-half Niall Carroll, before an outstanding seven-point salvo by Cosgrave left Blackrock with a mountain to climb. They did secure a hard-earned try through industrious number eight Liam Heylin, but another exceptional Michael’s attack ended with winger Zach Harrison dotting down.
Replacement Seb Lowe claimed a second try for Blackrock deep into time added on, but it wasn’t enough to deny Michael’s their first junior crown since 2012.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: C Cosgrave 2 tries, 3 cons, J Boyle, N Carroll, Z Harrison try each.
Scorers for Blackrock College: L Heylin, S Lowe try each, A Dixon pen, M Moloney 2 cons.
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, W Hickey, J Boyle.
Replacements: C Baird, B Quigley, B Cuddy, C Casey, J Egan, J Gali, H McWade, S O’Shea.
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; D Moloney, J Culhane, L Heylin.
Replacements: D Cosgrave, H Cullen, M Wood, J Byrne, P O’Connor, M Moloney, P McGowan, S Lowe.
Referee: B MacNiece (LRR).