Mighty Michael’s book final spot
Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup semi-final
St Michael’s College 22
Gonzaga College 10
Daire Walsh
St Michael’s College yesterday booked their place in next week’s Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup decider.
Michael’s broke the deadlock through captain Zach Baird’s maul try. This was supplemented by Tiernan Hurley’s superb touchdown and the impressive Daniel Wheelman extended their cushion on 17 minutes.
Gonzaga responded with a Hugh Goddard five-pointer, before a Fintan Gunne penalty gave Michael’s a 22-5 interval buffer. To their credit, the Ranelagh school in the face of adversity on the restart.
They mounted sustained pressure on the opposition posts and received their reward in the form of Luka Hassett’s final-minute try. Nevertheless, St Michael’s comfortably progressed to face Blackrock College on March 20.
Scorers for St Michael’s College: Z Baird, T Hurley, D Whelehan try each, F Gunne pen, 2 cons.
Scorers for Gonzaga College: H Goddard, L Hassett try each.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: H McErlean; D Whelehan, M Victory, S Berman, T Hurley; K McMahon, F Gunne; D Barron, M Sherwin, S Egan; M Sadlier, D Woods; D Carroll, J Brown, Z Baird.
Replacements: C Porter-McEvoy for Barron, JP Tiernan for Hurley (both 46), T Stewart for Egan, D Fegan for Carroll (both 57).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: H McLaughlin; S Higgins, H Goddard, H Neville, L Hassett; D Colbert, C Breslin; D Geraghty, T Cotter, G Morris; J McCarthy, L O’Callaghan; P Wilson, T Noone, N Maguire.
Referee: T Treacy (LRR).