Kilgallon kick-starts Roscrea drive
CC Roscrea 22 Wesley College 19
Cistercian College Roscrea advanced to the last-eight of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after overcoming a stern challenge from Wesley College at Castle Avenue yesterday.
With three final appearances in this decade alone, Roscrea were always expected to progress from this opening round clash. They were facing into a two-point deficit (12-10) at the start of the second half, but they ultimately recovered to set-up an intriguing quarter-final meeting with St Mary’s College.
The 2015 champions had enjoyed a dream start at the home of Clontarf FC, as centre Diarmuid Kilgallon crossed over for a converted try in the opening minute of the action. However, Wesley’s challenge finally came to life in the shape of a Gary Hawe five-pointer at the end of an outstanding individual run.
Roscrea had struggled to build on their early promise, but thanks to a routine Foley penalty, they were 10-5 in front at the break. Yet, within six minutes of the restart, their south Dublin counterparts had moved into the ascendancy.
Luke Fitzpatrick got on the end of Hawe’s brilliant chipped kick to touch down beyond the whitewash, and this was followed by a successful Jack Atkinson conversion. Roscrea quickly re-asserted their authority with a try from James Corcoran, before an impressive close-range finish by Liam Crowley effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt.
Peter Costello dotted down for a determined Wesley deep into second-half stoppage-time, but it wasn’t enough to stop Roscrea advancing to the last eight of the competition.
CC ROSCREA – D Tynan; J Culleton, C Izuchukwu, D Kilgallon (T Bird 58), E Browne; B Foley, J Matthews (L Crowley 52); J Wycherley, J Cahir (C Bradshaw 66), M Milne; L Culliton, D Maher (D Power 48-65); J Corcoran (R Lomas 58), G Meagher, N Moylett.
WESLEY – I Sheridan (J Vard h-t); S Doyle, L Fitzpatrick, J McElroy, K O’Connor (H Fanning 19); G Hawe, J Atkinson; R Whitehead, J Kavanagh, C Skerrit (P Costello 63); J Brownwell, F Noonan; D Dooley (R Johnson 63), R Chandler, S Illo.
Ref – G Conway (Leinster Branch).