LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Naas efforts fall short
GONZAGA COLLEGE…………………..34
NAAS CBS………………………………..13
By Daire Walsh
DESPITE a gallant effort at Donnybrook last Thursday afternoon, Naas CBS fell short to Gonzaga College in the Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final.
Following an opening round success over Gorey Community School in Forenaughts on February 12, Naas were hoping to upset the odds against their much-fancied Ranelagh counterparts.
There was early signs of encouragement from the Corban’s Lane outfit, with Adel Mahmoud and skipper Odhran Kelly carrying powerfully into the Gonzaga half. The south Dubliners soon weathered this storm, however, and a superb line-out steal by Paul Wilson set them on their way to a deadlock-breaking score.
After the ball was transferred into a central channel, tighthead George Morris touched down for an eighth-minute try. To Naas’ credit, their initial response to this set-back was impressive. They re-aligned effectively in attack and eventually opened their account through an Andrew Osborne penalty.
CBS also looked set to cross the whitewash on the first-quarter mark, only to have the tables turned on them in the cruellest fashion imaginable. When fly-half Jack McKevitt looked to release Osborne on the left-flank, Gonzaga winger Stephen Higgins intercepted and raced the length of field to dot down for a second try.
Though Naas continued to offer a potent threat, their final pass inside the opposition ’22’ wasn’t quite on the money. In stark contrast, Gonzaga displayed a ruthlessness throughout the course of the hour.
With just six minutes remaining in the opening period, Hugo Neville executed a brilliant one-two with full-back Hugo McLaughlin to score in the right-corner. McLaughlin failed to find the target off a tricky conversion, but a brace of preceding bonus strikes ensured his side were 19-3 in front at the break.
All hope wasn’t yet lost for Naas and the 39th-minute sin-binning of Gonzaga’s Luka Hassett was precisely the kind of boost they required. The underdogs made immediate use of their spare man – recycling the ball towards the left-hand side for Osborne to ground in clinical style.
Unfortunately, it only proved to be a temporary respite. Before Hassett’s re-introduction, David Colbert got on the end of a delicate McLaughlin kick for Gonzaga’s fourth try. This ultimately placed the outcome beyond doubt at 24-8, but the Metropolitans weren’t prepared to rest on their laurels.
Even though Naas persevered with their own challenge, Hassett completed a multi-faceted move to add his own name to the scoresheet. Gonzaga already have a Senior Cup semi-final against Clongowes on the horizon and Neville bagged a second try on 59 minutes to extend the gap.
While Naas were unfortunate to be this far adrift after a commendable display overall, they did manage to have the final say in the contest. Outside centre Charlie Sheridan was on hand to reach over on the right-wing for their second try of the day – and they will look to bring the positive aspects of their performance into the forthcoming Fr Godfrey showpiece with Gorey.
GONZAGA COLLEGE: Hugo McLaughlin; Stephen Higgins, Luka Hassett, Hugh Goddard, Hugo Neville; David Colbert, Charlie Breslin; Toby Hammond, Tim Cotter, George Morris; James McCarthy, Luke O’Callaghan; Paul Wilson, Tomas Noone, Noah Maguire.
Replacements: Darragh Geraghty for Hammond (23), Conor Hughes for Noone (53), Rory Colgan for Breslin, Stephen McMahon for Hassett (both 57), Gavin Murphy for Morris, Cillian McHale for O’Callaghan, Thomas Murphy for Wilson, Liam O’Flanagan for Colbert (all 59).
NAAS CBS: Andrew Osborne; Sam Dunne, Charlie Sheridan, Oscar Cawley, Eoin Clarke; Jack McKevitt, Ethan Travers; Calum Stout, Simon Hughes, Adel Mahmoud; Paddy McMahon, Brian Doonan; Robert Shaw, Mark Alexander, Odhran Kelly.
Replacements: Jamie Carroll for Doonan (35), Jack Sheridan for Clarke (45), Rob Hartnett for Travers (47), Darragh McDonnell for Hughes, Conor Phelan for Stout (both 53), Fionn Monaghan for Mahmoud, Niall O Geallachoir for McMahon, James Forde for Cawley (all 57).
Referee: Paul O’Connor (Leinster Rugby Referees).