2018 FINALISTS BELVEDERE GET OFF THE MARK IN SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP
Belvedere College 34 Cistercian College Roscrea 19
By Daire Walsh
Belvedere College sent out a statement of intent at Energia Park this afternoon with a 15-point triumph over Cistercian College Roscrea in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round.
Beaten finalists in last year’s competition, the 12-time champions appear hell-bent on going one better in 2019.
After they claimed a third penalty in the space of five minutes, Belvo fly-half Justin Leonard finally opted for a kick at goal.
He comfortably split the uprights to give the north Dublin side an early advantage – which was quickly enhanced by a brace of magnificent tries. Outside centre Cailean Mulvaney discovered space down the right-flank and powered past a series of covering tackles to dot down.
Roscrea subsequently lost Dylan Keane to injury, before suffering an additional set-back on 10 minutes. A Rory Dwyer clearance was superbly gathered by left-wing Matthew Grogan, who raced free for a sublime five-pointer.
Roscrea fired back with an unconverted try of their own from Kilgallen, but this only provided their under pressure defence with a temporary release. Following another relentless attacking spell inside the opposition ’22’, Belvo full-back Rory Dwyer touched down underneath the posts.
Justin Leonard supplemented this score with his maiden bonus strike of the tie and also converted a clinical Alekseiy Soroka finish on the stroke of half-time.
Roscrea were much-improved after the resumption and were richly-rewarded on 53 minutes. Out-half Darragh Tynan released the impressive Kilgallen for his second try of the proceedings.
His midfield partner Billy Foley was on hand to convert, giving his side a glimmer of hope in the process. While Aaron Coleman rounded off a breakaway move to eliminate any prospect of a final-quarter fightback, Roscrea did have the final say at the rain-soaked south Dublin venue.
Deep into second-half stoppage-time, number eight Aaron Coleman added to the final score by squeezing over the whitewash on the right-hand side.
Scorers – Belvedere College: C Mulvaney, M Grogan, R Dwyer, A Soroka, A Coleman try each, J Leonard pen, 3 cons. Cistercian College Roscrea: D Kilgallon 2 tries, B Burns try, B Foley 2 cons.
Belvedere College: Rory Dwyer; Dylan O’Grady, Cailean Mulvaney (Cian Rogers 36’), John Meagher, Matthew Grogan (Daniel Hawkshaw 61’); Justin Leonard, Patrick Lysaght (Jack MacNiece 55’); Hugh Flood (Mateusz Galinski 55’), Andrew Synnott (Jonathan Sargent 62’), Conor Cagney; Alekseiy Soroka, Jed Jones (Cormac Yalloway 55’); Conor Kelly (Jonathan Ross 65’), Eoghan Rutledge (Bill Jennings 48’), Aaron Coleman.
Cistercian College Roscrea: Dylan Keane (Adam Dunne 8’); Shane Mallon (Zach Whelehan 58’), Diarmuid Kilgallen, Billy Foley, Ben Murphy; Darragh Tynan, Jack Matthews (Conall Bird 58’); Jerry Cahir (Shane Connolly 65’), Ronan Loughnane (Conor Power 65’), Jack Egan (John McKeon 40’); Lucas Culliton, Darragh Loughnane (Martin Fallon 44’); Oisin McCloskey (Bill Burns 58’), Gavin Meagher, Joe Cronin.
Referee: Dermot Blake, Leinster Branch.