Maloney stars as Newbridge cruise
Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Newbridge College 36
Presentation College, Bray 0
Daire Walsh
Donnybrook
Newbridge College advanced to the quarter-finals of the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup with a convincing win against Presentation College, Bray, at Donnybrook yesterday.
Eager to make amends for their first-round exits in the past two campaigns, Newbridge hit the ground running, with an early try from out-half Luke Maloney.
Pres Bray found themselves on the back foot for much of the opening period, and Newbridge centre Karmon Fitzgerald sprinted over the line on 20 minutes, following a precise Oisin Halpin pass.
Captain Cian Prendergast also touched down at the end of an outstanding run. With Maloney adding a brace of conversions, the south Kildare school were 19-0 in front at the break.
A Maloney penalty stretched their advantage on the resumption, before Fitzgerald broke free for his second try in the 46th minute, to remove any doubt about the outcome.
Inside-centre Mick O’Gara (cousin of Johnny Sexton and Dublin footballer Eoghan O’Gara) helped Pres to persevere with their challenge, but a late try from replacement Robert Scully capped Newbridge’s progress.
Scorers for Newbridge College: L Maloney try, pen, 4 cons, K Fitzgerald 2 tries, C Prendergast, R Scully try.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: D Conroy; C Creedon, K Fitzgerald, E Conroy, D O’Connor; L Maloney, J Doyle; T Grant, L Kelly, L Rigney; D Morrissey, C Prendergast; O Halpin, H O’Neill, M Cleary.
Replacements: G McNelis, R Scully, M Moynihan, C McGroary, R Finan, S Cahill, T Sheedy, J Shanahan.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, BRAY: D Maloney; A Walsh, S O’Dowd, M O’Gara, J Pyper; E Ryan, B Murphy; K Sredojevic, T Harbison, B Brady, J McGrath, L Lupton-Smith; S Graham, C McNulty, J McLaughlin.
Replacements: D Magee, N Groves, C Williams, R McDonald, S Roche, J Gallagher, N Cummins, J Mortell.
Referee: G Sheridan (LRR).