Godson inspires shock Gonzaga win
Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final
Gonzaga College 22
Clongowes Wood College 19
Daire Walsh
Energia Park
Gonzaga College upset the odds at Donnybrook yesterday to reach the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final for the first time in their history.
Given the success they have enjoyed in this competition, Clongowes Wood College were expected to advance past the challenge of the Ranelagh school.
However, with loosehead prop Henry Godson grabbing a hat-trick of tries Gonzaga will now face the winners of today’s clash between Belvedere College and St Michael’s College in the March 17 showpiece.
Following an early arm wrestle with Gonzaga, an intricate attacking edged the much-fancied Clongowes in front on 15 minutes. In an attempt to unlock an initially rigid opposition defence, Clongowes switched the play towards the left-flank. After picking up possession in ample space, Mark Galvin released raiding centre Hugo Philips for a superb try.
Nevertheless, Gonzaga produced a blistering second-quarter showing to turn the tables on the Clane school.
Even though Arthur Henry had to step in for the injured Colm Kirby O Briain on 21 minutes, the Gonzaga pack were beginning to dictate the flow of the game. After they got themselves on the front-foot with a series of five-metre drives, Godson dotted down for an unconverted score.
Rather than settle for parity at the break, they inflicted further damage on an increasingly under siege Clongowes. Frank O’Grady created serious momentum with a lung-bursting break into the 22 and Godson was once again on hand to complete a multi-phase move.
The mental resolve of Clongowes was now under the microscope, but they delivered an emphatic rebuttal when the action resumed. Wilkinson kicked an attacking penalty to touch on 44 minutes and hooker Ethan Noone’s clinical finish ensured it was a risk worth taking.
Wilkinson subsequently split the posts to bring Clongowes back on level terms and, on the stroke of 50 minutes, winger Luke McDermott raced over for their third try of the contes.
Just when the tie appeared to have turned, a Jack Connolly penalty kept the Gonzaga hopes alive.
Indeed, their resilience was richly rewarded just past the hour. Capitalising on a miscued Clongowes lineout, the magnificent Godson sensationally broke over for his third of the contest.
A Connolly two-pointer gave them extra breathing space and place Gonzaga on the brink of a sensational victory. Led by tenacious No 8 Jack Barry, they calmly closed out the game to spark wild celebrations in the south Dublin venue.
“If ever a person represented what schoolboy rugby is about, Henry is one of them. Delighted for him. It’s honestly nice for other schools to understand that it’s not just about the bigger schools, as they’re perceived with the tradition behind them,” a Gonzaga coach remarked after the game.
Scorers for Gonzaga College: H Godson 3 tries, J Connolly pen, 2 cons.
Scorers for Clongowes Wood College: H Philips, E Noone, L McDermott try each, D Wilkinson 2 cons.
GONZAGA COLLEGE: C Hennessy; F O hOisin, F O’Grady, K Morgan, B Barron; H Colbert, J Connolly; H Godson, H Fitzgerald, R Shaw; L Tyrell, J Coolican; C Kirby O Briain, T Cullen, J Barry.
Replacements: A Henry for Kirby O Briain (21).
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: J Maher; L McDermott, J Carroll, H Philips, M Galvin; D Wilkinson, R MacGoey; C Duff, E Noone, R McMahon; C Doyle, H Lonergan; D McCormack, T Gilheany, T Coghlan.
Replacements: B Dooley for Duff (18), T O’Brien for McDermott (58), C Dowling for Noone, P Dowling for Lonergan (both 62), F Kiernan for Philips (63).
Referee: D Blake (LRR).