Clongowes Wood College withstood a spirited display from The King’s Hospital at Castle Avenue to advance from the opening round of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

With Joe Carroll in fine form, Clongowes were in the driving seat at the midway point in the contest. King’s Hospital persevered with their challenge after the restart, but it was the Clane school who ultimately progressed to the last-eight.

Clongowes were overwhelming favourites in the build-up to this encounter, and they opened the scoring with a well-worked try from Anthony Ryan. A Bobby Sheehan five-pointer created further daylight, but King’s Hospital finally opened their account with a converted Craig Adams score.

This only offered them a temporary respite, though, as Carroll subsequently touched down to give Clongowes a commanding 19-7 interval lead. The eight-time champions looked set for a comfortable victory when Rossa O’Kane added his name to the scoresheet at the start of the second half.

Yet, King’s Hospital were determined to leave their mark on the contest, and a Tim Perry try kept them in contention. However, Clongowes full-back Charles Gallen crossed the whitewash to effectively place the outcome beyond doubt – before Matthew Mahood claimed a late consolation score for King’s Hospital.

Scorers – Clongowes Wood: A Ryan, B Sheehan, J Carroll, R O’Kane, C Gallen try each, B O’Shea 2 cons. The King’s Hospital: C Adams, T Perry, M Mahood try each, I West 2 cons, E Mahood con.

Clongowes Wood – C Gallen; J Maher, J Carroll, B O’Shea, C Kennelly; D Wilkinson, C Daly; R O’Kane, B Sheehan, C Duff; D Beggs, T Coghlan; A Ryan, J Durkan, B Dooley. Reps: C Dowling, L McMahon, R McMahon, P Dowling, T Gilheany, M Dowling, C Grimes, D Hanly.

The King’s Hospital – P Hickey; I West, C Adams, P O’Boy, C Howley; F O’Loughlin, J Courtney; F Davis, T Perry, L O’Neill; O Evbodaghe, K Smith; C Moore, F Campbell, Z Bursey. Reps: M Mahood, T Raban, D Gray, A Carroll, E Mahood, R Joyce, S Boland, L Gilmartin.

Ref – D Blake (LRR).