LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL
BELVEDERE COLLEGE…………………………31
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE………………………….7
By Daire Walsh
For the second season in succession Newbridge College suffered defeat at the hands of Belvedere College in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final.
23-7 victors at the same stage of last year’s competition, the north Dublin side finished with 24 points to spare on this occasion. Despite some early promise in Donnybrook, Newbridge were second best to the 12-time champions – who appear hell-bent on making amends for a 2018 final defeat to Blackrock College.
Following a gutsy opening round success against St Gerard’s, Bray, Newbridge entered the southside arena in fine spirits. They returned with of the team that faced Belvo 12 months ago, while their opponents had three of the starting line-up from that aforementioned showpiece reversal to ‘Rock.
Despite being significant outsiders heading into the contest, Newbridge enjoyed the best possible start. Winger Donal Conroy intercepted a loose Belvo pass and proceeded to race free on the right flank for a second-minute try.
Scrum-half Jack Doyle was on hand to supply the extras, helping the Kildare outfit to establish a seven-point cushion. This proved to be a short-lived buffer as Belvo immediately got themselves in the Newbridge ’22’.
Rather than opt for a settling score off the tee, they opted to find touch on the left-hand side. This worked out perfectly for the Great Denmark Street school with hooker Andrew Synnott finishing off an incisive line-out maul.
Fly-half Justin Leonard restored parity by providing the extras to this five-pointer, though Newbridge were presented with an ideal opportunity to reclaim the lead on 14 minutes.
Yet, after Doyle’s penalty drifted past the target, it was the signal for Belvo to assert their authority on the proceedings. Following a series of five-metre drives, Alekseiy Soroka grounded against the base of the posts.
The dynamic number eight was a powerful presence throughout and was instrumental in the build-up to Patrick Lysaght’s converted effort on the stroke of half-time. 14 points adrift on the resumption (7-21), Newbridge needed a big third-quarter if they were to somehow turn the screw on their Metropolitan rivals.
To their credit, Niall Smullen’s charges largely controlled possession during this period. A Conroy knock forward off a Jack Hannon lay-off halted their march towards the line, albeit they were subsequently awarded an attacking scrum.
Flanker Conor McGroary was also turned over just shy of the whitewash, but the initial signs were encouraging for Newbridge. Ultimately, they couldn’t breakdown a stubborn Belvedere defence – which was marshalled superbly by Grogan and John Meagher.
Leonard’s tactical kicking was exemplary and he had an impeccable strike rate at goal. Having converted all three of Belvo’s opening half tries, he stretched them further in front through a 56th-minute penalty.
Although this moved them into a seemingly unassailable buffer, there weren’t finished there. With seven minutes remaining on the clock, replacement lock Conor Kelly powered over beneath a slew of Newbridge bodies.
Leonard increased his personal tally to 11 points with a routine bonus point strike – further compounding Newbridge’s woes in the process. They kept battling until the bitter end and a youthful squad will hopefully be all the better for this experience in the long-term.
Prior to his enforced absence, Conroy took the game to Belvo at every available avenue – and he was ably-assisted on the day by Marcus Kiely and Doyle. Luke Rigney and Muiris Cleary also worked tirelessly in the face of relentless pressure.
Belvedere College proved to be formidable foes and will fancy their chances of securing a third Senior Cup crown in four seasons.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: Rory Dwyer; Dylan O’Grady, Matthew Grogan, John Meagher, Cian Rogers; Justin Leonard, Patrick Lysaght; Hugh Flood, Andrew Synnott, Conor Cagney; Jed Jones, Cormac Yalloway; Eoghan Rutledge, Aaron Coleman, Alekseiy Soroka.
Replacements: Conor Kelly for Jones, Jack MacNiece for Lysaght (both 47), Daniel Hawkshaw for MacNiece (49), Mateusz Galinski for Synnott, Jonathan Sargent for Flood (both 53), James O’Sullivan for Cagney, Gavin Murray for Yalloway (both 61), Harry Murray for Grogan (64).
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Sam Cahill; Donal Conroy, Marcus Kiely, Thomas Sheedy, David Higgins; Jack Hannon, Jack Doyle; Robert Scully, Geoff McNelis, Luke Rigney; Diarmuid Mangan, Oisin Halpin; Jordan Nolan, Conor McGroary, Muiris Cleary.
Replacements: John Shanahan for Cahill (21-26), Donough Lawlor for McGroary (44), Cormac Stopes for McNelis (49), Shanahan for Cahill, David O’Sullivan for Sheedy (both 53), Cahill for Conroy (56), Peter Leavy for Scully, Patrick O’Flaherty for Nolan (both 59), Cormac King for Doyle, Mark Moynihan for Halpin (both 64).
Referee: Colm Roche (LRR).