SCHOOLS RUGBY: ANNE MCINERNEY CUP FINAL (SENIOR DEVELOPMENT)
Patrician just come up short in Donnybrook
ST MEL’S COLLEGE 20
PATRICIAN NEWBRIDGE 12
By Daire Walsh
DESPITE giving it their all at Donnybrook Stadium last Thursday afternoon (March 8), Patrician Newbridge were defeated by a classy St Mel’s College outfit in the Anne McInerney Cup decider.
This Senior Development competition offered Patricians an opportunity to complete a unique double, after the school previously secured the Pat Rossiter Cup (Junior Development) back in January.
Michael Somers crossed at the end of two enterprising team moves to offer glimmers of hope to Patricians in the second half. Yet, Mel’s half-backs Liam Harte and Jack Mahon generally dictated the flow of the game, and the Longford side eventually prevailed with eight points to spare.
Like Patricians, Mel’s are traditionally known as a GAA stronghold within their county. Indeed, both teams faced each other in this year’s Leinster Schools Senior Football ‘A’ Championship, when Patricians were on the receiving end of a three-point defeat – 1-12 to 0-12 – at Pearse Park.
They defeated Colaiste Lorcain, St Kevin’s, Dunlavin and Colaiste Cois Life (in a semi-final) on the road to this contest, whereas Mel’s edged out south Dubliners St Benildus College in the penultimate round.
There was little to separate the sides on paper, but in a lively opening to the action, it was Mel’s who ultimately drew first blood. Mahon spread the ball out of a ruck towards the waiting Harte, who touched down in comprehensive fashion.
Mahon’s subsequent conversion drifted past the target, much to the relief of the Patricians faithful. A ferocious tackle by skipper Kevin Commane on Mel’s centre Paddy Duggan raised the roof of the Donnybrook, before second-row Callum Reynolds-Sourke superbly claimed a subsequent line-out.
The Mel’s attack was relentless, however, and a strong carry by winger Gerard Flynn brought back into the Patricians ’22’. He was hauled down just shy of the line, but this was only a temporary reprieve. After charging down Oisin Sherlock’s attempted clearance, Mahon dotted down for his side’s second try of the half. The scrum-half was once again off-target from the kicking tee, but with a 10-0 interval lead at their disposal, Mel’s were in a powerful position
Patricians needed to issue a serious statement of their own when the action re-commenced, and they quickly worked their way back into contention. Jamie Smith almost crashed over on the right, before Patrick Corrigan and Cameron English combined effectively for Somers to secure a five-pointer on the far flank.
Sherlock’s bonus strike reduced the Patricians deficit to three points (10-7), with momentum now very much on their side. Mel’s produced an immediate response, though, as Flynn registered their third try after chasing down his own kick up the left-wing.
Prop Ronan McCormack was the latest Mel’s player to eye up the posts. However, like Mahon before him, he was wide of the mark. Patricians were left with another mountain to climb, which wasn’t helped by the forced withdrawal of hooker Oisin Michel through injury.
Mel’s were on top of possession heading into the final-quarter and effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt on the stroke of 60 minutes. A turnover deep inside the Patricians half created an opening for Flynn to grab another unconverted score.
As expected, Patricians continued to persevere with their challenge in the closing stages. Somers offered a strong attacking outlet in the wide areas throughout the course of the tie, and he added to his earlier effort at the end of a sweeping move.
This providing an extra degree of solace for the Naas Road boys, who can look back on the season with a great deal of satisfaction.
ST MEL’S COLLEGE: Jack Finnegan; Daire McManus, Ben Victory, Paddy Duggan, Gerard Flynn; Liam Harte, Jack Mahon; Ronan McCormack, Brian Hanley, Dylan Smith, Ivor Bevin, Peadar Kenny, Craig Gorman, David Connolly, Daire O’Brien.
Replacements: John Corcoran for Gorman (61), Simon Moorehead for Mahon (70).
PATRICIAN NEWBRIDGE: Adam Meehan; Michael Somers, Kevin Commane, Jamie Smith, Cian Buckley; Oisin Sherlock, Griffen Kennedy; Oisin Michel, Alfie Thompson, Cameron English, Callum Reynolds-Sourke, Scott McMullan, Oliver Barry, Brendan O’Driscoll, Patrick Corrigan.
Replacements: Killian O’Brien for Barry (half-time), Mark Hughes for Thompson (36), Ryan Jenkins for Sherlock (53), Stephen Mulpeter for Kennedy (61), Eamonn Kiernan for Buckley (62).
Referee: Paul Haycock (Leinster Rugby Referees).