SCHOOLS RUGBY: PAT ROSSITER CUP FINAL (LEINSTER JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT)
Martin’s try seals historic and dramatic win in Donnybrook
PATRICIAN COLLEGE, NEWBRIDGE………………………………36
BALLYMAKENNY COLLEGE…………………………………………31
By Daire Walsh
PATRICIAN Newbridge made history at Donnybrook last Thursday, when a last-gasp try from centre Conor Martin helped them to edge out Ballymakenny College in a thrilling Pat Rossiter Cup decider.
Hot on the heels of their outstanding 48-0 penultimate round success over Tallaght Community School at Forenaughts on 10 January, Patricians were participating in the final of this Junior Development competition for the very first time. Indeed, they enjoyed a dream start to this pulsating contest, as full-back Senan Braddock off-loaded for the waiting Martin to break over from a left-hand angle.
A simple conversion by Dylan O’Keeffe supplemented this eye-catching five-pointer for the Piercetown outfit, whose path to this showpiece event also included victories against DLS Bagenalstown, Colaiste Lorcain and Oatlands College.
However, their Drogheda counterparts were showing plenty of fight, and Ben Smyth’s seven-point salvo eventually got them back on level terms. Their pacy backline were creating a host of problems for Patricians, particularly when they spread the play into the wide channels.
Indeed, after he forced his way into the Patricians half on 26 minutes, Kingsley Akinbode cut inside from the right-flank for a magnificent try. As the interval loomed on the horizon, Ballymakenny now had serious momentum behind.
Straight from the latest Patricians restart, excellent Akinbode approach play allowed Bradley Abbedeen to break over on the left-flank. This devastating purple patch had given the Co Louth boys a firm stranglehold on the proceedings, and there was enough time for the impressive Abbedeen to claim his second touchdown at the very end of the half.
As a result, Patricians were facing into a sizeable 26-7 interval deficit, and minus the services of team captain Sean Maher. He was forced off with an injury in the opening period, but in his absence, Brannock crossed over after the restart for a morale-boosting score.
This breathed fresh life into the Patricians challenge, and when O’Keeffe added the bonuses to a superb Ronan Cooney try on the stroke of 40 minutes, Patricians were back in contention.
Ballymakenny’s lead was becoming less emphatic with each passing minute, and following another period of attacking pressure at the end of the third-quarter, just two points separated the sides. Brannock and Liam Hayes almost broke over with strong carries, before replacement Aodan Dempsey finally manufactured a fourth try for Neil Taylor’s charges.
Conn Kehoe’s wayward bonus kick briefly halted the Patricians charge but, with just eight minutes of normal time remaining, they sensationally regained the lead. Bustling number eight Kyle Cullen dotted down in clinical fashion on the left-wing, and with Brannock superbly converting from the touchline, they had registered 24 points without reply.
Patricians now had one hand on the trophy, but just when Ballymakenny appeared to be out on their feet, they re-discovered the scoring threat that had been missing for much of the half.
The vision of Smyth created opportunities for both Abbedeen and Dayle Eyres in wide areas, and while the former was halted by Kyle O’Brien’s high-tackle, the industrious Eyres made no mistake from close-range. However, Smyth couldn’t supply the bonuses that would have edged Ballymakenny back in front, and this meant that the next score was potentially going to be a winning one.
When you consider how this fast-paced encounter had begun, it was perhaps fitting that Martin provided his side’s clutch moment. He raced over the line after Ballymakenny had been penalised close to their own posts, and this unconverted effort sealed a groundbreaking triumph for the jubilant Patrician College.
PATRICIAN COLLEGE, NEWBRIDGE: Senan Brannock; Conn Kehoe, Cameron Treacy, Conor Martin, Kyle O’Brien; Harry O’Donnell, Dylan O’Keeffe; Max McLoughlin, Dylan McHugh, James Choiseul; Jake Delmer, Sean Maher; Ronan Cooney, Aidan O’Brien, Kyle Cullen.
Replacements: Fergal O’Grady for Maher (23), Liam Hayes for Cullen (29), Aodan Dempsey for Treacy (33), Cullen for Dempsey (50).
BALLYMAKENNY COLLEGE: Adam Flynn; Nathan Parris, Kingsley Akinbode, Dylan Lynch, Bradley Abbedeen; Ben Smyth, Liam MacEneaney; Sam Cooley, Josh Murtagh, Gerard Kierans; Oisin Lynch, Jonathan Clear; Cian Talbot Gaynor, Colm Lynch, Dayle Eyres.
Replacements: Richard Wilcox for Cooley (30+1).
Referee: Sam Holt (Leinster Rugby Referees).