Salesians succumb to Murphy’s law as captain leads Andrew’s to plate glory
VINNIE MURRAY PLATE FINAL
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE 29
SALESIAN COLLEGE 7
Daire Walsh
CAPTAIN Nathan Murphy led the way to Vinnie Murray Plate glory with a try and three conversions for St Andrew’s at Energia Park.
Despite a slow start, his side turned on the style in the second half, hitting 22 points without reply.
At the end of a prolonged attack inside the Salesians’ half, Oliver McGannon jinked over the whitewash for the first converted try.
Salesians fired back with a similar effort from loosehead prop James Geraghty and Evan Burke added the extras.
Nevertheless, Nathan Murphy’s stoppage-time penalty ensured Andrew’s had a 10-7 lead at the break.
Salesians were immediately made to pay for this wayward effort, as Nicholas Owens gathered a cross-field kick by skipper Murphy to touch down on the right flank.
Murphy’s seven-point salvo stretched Andrew’s further in front on the hour mark, before Luke Daly sealed matters with a powerful finish.
Scorers – St Andrew’s College: N Murphy try, pen, 3 cons, O McGannon, N Owens, L Daly try each. Salesian College: J Geraghty try, E Burke con.
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE – S Hamilton (P Guest 69); N Owens, N Murphy, F Ashton (C O’Byrne 69), O McGannon; J McDonnell (A Hoade 45), C Turner; D Molloy, A Deegan (B Walters 69), J Hewson (S Doherty 69); L Daly (D Murray 69), E Sellers; C Walker (O Molloy 25), J McDermott, C Blair.
SALESIAN COLLEGE – C McLoughlin (O Lawlor 45); S Chang (C O’Sullivan 65), S Wall, D Lovely (O Malone 67), C Bowden; E Burke, K Saunders (A Gildea 64); J Geraghty, J Hanley (E Bond 65), O Malone (E Casey 65); F Salu (C Doyle 45), C Purcell (S Ahern 47); R Doyle, C Bond, M O’Neill (W Docherty 39).
REF – T Colton (LRR).