Statement of intent by St Michael’s
St Michael’s College 52
Kilkenny College 10
Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Daire Walsh
Energia Park
St Michael’s College underlined their Leinster Schools Senior Cup title credentials with a 42-point demolition of Kilkenny College at Energia Park yesterday.
Semi-finalists last year, Michael’s are aiming to secure their third title at this grade.
They received an early let-off in this opening-round contest when Kilkenny fly-half Charlie Tector firing a 30-metre penalty wide, but St Michael’s swiftly showed their intent when Jack Boyle crashed over for a seventh-minute try, which was quickly matched by winger Edward Kelly’s impressive individual effort.
Kilkenny finally responded through a routine Tector place-kick, but this only offered temporary respite.
Robert Gilsenan broke free of an attacking set-piece to touch down, while the reliable boot of Cosgrave gave Michael’s an unassailable 24-3 interval cushion.
The gulf between the teams was further emphasised after the break, when Boyle and Andrew Smith added tries in the 41st and 47th minutes respectively.
This scoring cycle was finally interrupted by a Success Edogun five-pointer for Kilkenny, but it was inevitable that Michael’s would have the final say.
Outstanding finishes by Smith and replacement James Power saw the Ailesbury Road outfit advance to the quarter-finals in style.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: J Boyle, A Smith 2 tries each, E Kelly, R Gilsenan, J Power try each, C Cosgrave pen, 7 cons.
Scorers for Kilkenny College: S Edogun try, C Tector pen, con.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: R Van Dan Akker; E Kelly, A Smith, S O’Kelly, M O’Brien; C Cosgrave, R Gilsenan; J Boyle, L Barron, F Finlay; S Woods, J Fish; J Guinane, M Hernan, W Hickey.
Replacements: B Victory for Barron (12), J Power for Finlay (46), Z Harrison for Kelly (52), L Dunne for Fish (61), J Boland for Boyle, C Booth for Hernan, J Woods for Gilsenan, H McWade for O’Kelly (all 63).
KILKENNY COLLEGE: M Hodgins; S Edogun, A Ross, R Strong, A Strong; C Tector, L Kerr; C Chamney, D O’Reilly, S O’Sullivan; J Caldbeck, N Pim; J Rogers, H Steacy, D Thompson.
Replacements: G Culbert for Steacy (42), K Bradley for O’Sullivan (56), G Power for Kerr (58), R Jacob for Pim (60), J Crossley for A Strong, C Cantwell for Hodgins, S Neale for Chamney, JA Murphy for O’Sullivan (all 66).
Referee: C Roche (LRR).