Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final: Blackrock College V Cistercian College Roscrea – The42.ie – March 6 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025 by admin

Blackrock through to another final after seeing off Roscrea challenge

The 71-times champions will face Terenure in Tallaght on St Patrick’s Day.

Blackrock College 38

Cistercian College Roscrea 17

 

BLACKROCK COLLEGE WILL face Terenure College in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final after seeing off the challenge of Cistercian College Roscrea at Energia Park this afternoon.

Thanks in no small part to a brace of tries from Brian Walsh and James Browne, the 71-time champions progressed to their fourth consecutive decider at this grade – which will be held at Tallaght Stadium on St Patrick’s Day this year due to the ongoing redevelopment of the RDS Arena.

Champions at this grade 10 years ago – thanks to an 18-11 final victory over Belvedere College – Roscrea came into this contest on the back of an impressive quarter-final win at the expense of Gonzaga College. The side from the Offaly-Tipperary border initially controlled possession, only for some handling errors to prevent them from gaining sustained attacking momentum.

A knock-on from winger Aiden Vetjens also halted ‘Rock’s first meaningful entry into the opposition ‘22’, but the south Dublin powerhouses ultimately broke the deadlock on the stroke of 10 minutes when outside centre Johnny O’Sullivan crossed the whitewash at the end of a sweeping attack.

Fly-half Patrick Clancy expertly supplied the extras to this five-pointer and after No 8 Walsh was released through a gap for their second try in the 14th minute, he contributed another successful conversion to leave ‘Rock in a strong position at the Donnybrook venue.

While the concession of these scores was undoubtedly a set-back, Roscrea got themselves into contention after hooker Eoin Naughton applied the finishing touches to a line-out maul for a much-needed converted try.

Yet although superb defensive work from their opponents stopped them from claiming almost certain scores on either flank, ‘Rock crossed for a third try at the end of the opening period – Walsh doubling his personal account after breaking free from a set-piece move.

Another Clancy conversion offered Blackrock a 21-7 interval advantage, but this lead was reduced to 11 points when Deegan convincingly slotted over a close-range penalty less than three minutes after the resumption.

This only provided Roscrea with a temporary respite as another patient attack inside their ‘22’ was rounded off by Browne’s diving finish in the right-corner. Despite Clancy firing off-target for the first time from the kicking tee, ‘Rock appeared to have one foot in the 17 March final.

However, Roscrea weren’t prepared to go down without a fight and after finding himself in space on the stroke of 50 minutes, Deegan burst over the Blackrock line for an outstanding individual try. The dynamic number 12 also added a conversion to cut the gap to nine points moving into the final-quarter and it took some diligent defence from ‘Rock to force a turnover when Roscrea threatened to break over for another try just shy of the hour mark.

Blackrock continued to pose a potent attacking threat, however, and additional tries from tighthead Sami Bishti and Browne (his second) ultimately sealed their spot in the upcoming showpiece against Terenure with 21 points to spare.

Blackrock College scorers:

Tries – Brian Walsh 2, James Brown 2, Johnny O’Sullivan, Sami Bishti

Conversions – Patrick Clancy [4/5], Luke Coffey [0/1]

Cistercian College scorers:

Tries – Eoin Naughton, Jack Deegan

Conversions – Jack Deegan [2/2]

Penalties – Jack Deegan [1/1]

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: Joe Reddan; James Browne, Johnny O’Sullivan, Bernard White, Aiden Vetjens (Rhys Keogh ‘70); Patrick Clancy (Declan Cadden ’70), Albert Lindner (Luke Coffey ’70); Ben Guerin (Lorcan Golden ’69), Harry O’Neill (George Eggers ’70), Sami Bishti (Marcus Cullen ’70); Geoffrey Wall (Conall Power ’70), Artur Smykovskiy; Michael Walsh, Michael O’Sullivan, Brian Walsh (Ronan Savage ’69).

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: Sam Cusack; Keelan Dunne, Robert Carney, Jack Deegan, Harry Finlay (Fionn Higgins ’48); Aaron Moloney (Ronan O’Sullivan ’54), Fionn Carney (Ruben Flynn ’70); Oscar Doody, Eoin Naughton (Rónán O’Neill ‘70), Henry Maher (William Powell ’70); Jamie Walsh (Alejandro Kinsella Garcia ’70), Joe Finn; Sean Killeen (Patrick Deegan ’70), Evan Brophy (James Miller half-time), William Hayes.

Ref: Paul Haycock (Leinster Rugby Referees).

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Ireland U20s Build-Up To France Home In Six Nations Championship: Neil Doak – The Irish Examiner – March 6 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025 by admin

Doak demands his U20s find a ruthless streak in Cork duel with French

“We’re actually doing some really good stuff. We just need to be a little bit more ruthless and be clinical in that area of the field.”
DAIRE WALSH

Ireland U20s head coach Neil Doak has called on his side to be more clinical on their return to Virgin Media Park against France in the Six Nations Championship tomorrow night (kick-off 8pm).

Despite having a number of attacking opportunities when facing England at the Leeside venue in the opening round of the tournament on January 30, a first-half penalty from Sam Wisniewski was the only score that Ireland recorded in a 19-3 defeat to the defending champions. A second-round trip to Scotland did see them register five tries in an eventual 33-15 victory, while Henry Walker and Eoghan Smyth both crossed the whitewash over the course of their clash with Wales in Cardiff on February 21.

Yet Ireland couldn’t finish off a series of additional attacks in the latter game and ultimately fell to a 20-12 reversal. This latest result leaves them fourth in the standings and Doak acknowledged his troops will need to possess a ruthless streak if they are to overcome the challenge of France.

“What I explained to them is, we have to be a little more clinical. We’ve had 40 entries into the opposition ‘22’. France have had 26, England have had 34. We’re actually doing some really good stuff. We just need to be a little bit more ruthless and be clinical in that area of the field,” Doak remarked yesterday in a video call.

“We’ve unfortunately dropped the ball three times going over the line and been held up six times. A few other times we’ve tried to explain to them, if we made one more pass or if we had just been a little bit more patient in those pick and goes, that we score tries and the three games could have a different dynamic so far.”

 In the wake of that eight-point loss to Wales, Doak has opted to make five changes to his starting line-up for the visit of second place France to Cork.

UCC’s Gene O’Leary Kareem comes in at outside centre in place of Connor Fahy, while Leinster duo Mikey Yarr and Alex Mullan are added to the front-row instead of Henry Walker and Tom McAllister.

Of even greater interest is the inclusion of a brand-new half-back pairing in the shape of Tom Wood and Will Wootton. Whereas Wootton is the younger brother of former Munster and Connacht back Alex, Wood is the son of Ireland, Munster and British & Irish Lions legend Keith Wood.

Although he stressed that the aforementioned Wisniewski and Clark Logan will have a part to play off the bench, Doak is happy to give Wood and Wootton an opportunity to showcase their talents from the word go on the Leeside.

“It’s giving the other half-backs this week a chance to start. Because it is a slightly different dynamic starting a game than coming off the bench. Trying to steer the team in the right direction for the first three-quarters of the game. Then hopefully we’ll see how the game progresses and then make the changes accordingly,” Doak added.

Posted in International Rugby, U20 Six Nations Rugby | Comments Off on Ireland U20s Build-Up To France Home In Six Nations Championship: Neil Doak – The Irish Examiner – March 6 2025

Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final: Terenure College V St Fintan’s High School, Sutton – The Irish Examiner – March 5 2025

Posted on March 4, 2025 by admin

Terenure College bridge 16-year gap to reach Leinster Schools Cup final after emphatic win 

Terenure College will face either Blackrock College or Cistercian College Roscrea in the final on St Patrick’s Day.
DAIRE WALSH, ENERGIA PARK

Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final: Terenure College 51 St Fintan’s High School, Sutton 7

Michael Smyth grabbed a hat-trick of tries at Energia Park on Tuesday afternoon as Terenure College reached their first Leinster Schools Senior Cup final since 2009 with an emphatic triumph over St Fintan’s High School, Sutton.

Frank Maher, Josh Mooney, Benedict Dohnal, Michael Kennedy and Ethan Balamash (two) also made their way over the whitewash to ensure Terenure comfortably booked their spot in an upcoming showpiece against either title holders Blackrock College or Cistercian College Roscrea at Tallaght Stadium on St Patrick’s Day.

Playing at this stage of the competition for the very first time, Fintan’s found themselves in arrears with a little over 60 seconds on the clock as a quick ‘tap and go’ penalty from Terenure was passed into the hands of second row Maher for a simple finish over the whitewash.

While Gareth Morgan’s resulting conversion was fired marginally wide of the target, Sean Skehan’s side had seemingly issued a serious statement of intent at the Donnybrook venue. Yet Fintan’s were equally determined to show what they were made of and a kick to touch from fly-half Ben Barnes brought them inside the Terenure ‘22’ for an extended spell.

Scrum-half Oisin Kelly was agonisingly close to breaking over for a five-pointer of his own, before Michael Bolger ultimately pounced for a seventh-minute try. A successful bonus strike from Barnes edged Fintan’s into a 7-5 lead, but it wasn’t long before 10-time champions Terenure reinforced their authority in this contest.

After being fed through a gap at the tail end of an elongated move, back-row Mooney clinically dotted down for a converted try on 16 minutes.

This helped to restore the confidence within their ranks and with Mooney’s fellow flanker Smyth rounding off additional attacks with tries in the 22nd and 26th minutes, Terenure were creating significant between themselves and Fintan’s.

There was enough time left in the first half to secure their fifth try of the action – winger Dohnal capitalising on excellent approach work from Maher and Jamie Coleman before diving over in the right-corner.

This five-pointer ensured Terenure brought a 29-7 buffer into the interval and any prospect of a dramatic Fintan’s fightback was effectively ended when Smyth completed his hat-trick off a line-out maul seven minutes after the resumption.

Outside centre Kennedy also touched down moving towards the final-quarter and even though Fintan’s did their utmost to keep their opponents at bay, Terenure finished this game with a flourish.

Having gotten on the end of a long delivery from Morgan on 59 minutes to dive over on the right-hand side, Balamash added a second try on the opposite wing in the closing moments to leave all of 44 points between the teams in the end.

Scorers for Terenure College: Tries: M Smyth 3, E Balamash 2, F Maher, J Mooney, B Dohnal, M Kennedy Cons: G Morgan 3

Scorers for St Fintan’s High School, Sutton: Tries: M Bolger Cons: B Barnes

TERENURE COLLEGE: G O’Sullivan (W O’Leary 60); E Balamash, M Kennedy, A Swords, B Dohnal (N Fallon 49); G Morgan, J Coleman (A Boehm 60); P Kelly (E McMonagle 32), L Zelman (D McKenna 60), A Cooper (R O’Brien 60); L McNiff, F Maher (M Candon 60); J Mooney (S Gavin 54), M Smyth, B Blaney.

ST FINTAN’S HIGH SCHOOL, SUTTON: R O’Shea (R Curley 66); T Young, M Haas (E Curley 66), G Nostro, S O’Leary; B Barnes (J Burke 43), O Kelly (N Sheridan 66); T O’Connor Hehir, L Macari-Kelly (M Burke 68), P Palazzetti (F Cullen 60); R Harvey, M Bolger; L Sanfey (H Curley 60), B Dillon (Y Lin 28), R O’Connor Hehir.

Referee: P Reidy (LRR).

Posted in Schools Rugby | Comments Off on Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final: Terenure College V St Fintan’s High School, Sutton – The Irish Examiner – March 5 2025

Updated National Hurling League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – March 4 2025

Posted on March 4, 2025 by admin

GAA Betting: Limerick Still The Team To Beat In National Hurling League

By Daire Walsh

Another round of action has now passed and with several teams still in contention, the best betting sites for GAA are once again offering their considered takes on who is most likely to win this year’s National Hurling League.

With pace-setters Tipperary receiving a bye, last weekend’s fare presented a number of counties with an opportunity to turn up the heat on the Premier men.

Galway, Cork And Clare Come Out On Top In Latest NHL Round

After losing to Tipp in the opening round of Division 1A, Galway subsequently got up and running with back-to-back wins over Kilkenny and Clare.

They had to withstand a late rally from their opponents on the day, but goals from Conor Cooney and Anthony Burns ultimately helped the Tribesmen to earn a 2-19 to 1-20 victory away to Wexford on Saturday.

At Pairc Ui Chaoimh on the same day, Cork were eager to issue the perfect response to their recent reversal at the hands of Tipperary when facing Kilkenny on the Leeside.

Courtesy of excellent scoring hauls from Patrick Horgan (0-10) and Diarmuid Healy (1-5), the Rebels did just that as they finished the game with three points to spare (1-22 to 2-16) over the Cats.

Moving onto Sunday and Limerick played just the third game of their disruptive NHL Division 1 campaign against neighbours Clare at the Gaelic Grounds.

There was little to separate the teams throughout, but a David Reidy goal was pivotal in earning Clare their first win of 2025 on a score of 1-21 to 0-21.

Due to suffering three successive defeats prior to last Sunday, 2025 champions Clare remain towards the foot of the Division 1A table and there are no odds available on them to win the competition for a second successive year as a result.

On two points with just one game left to play, the best that Wexford can hope for is a fourth-place finish in the NHL top-tier and even a win in their final game against Limerick on March 22 might not be enough to save them from relegation.

This means that just five teams are realistically in the hunt for a showpiece spot and a shot at winning a hurling league crown in 2025.

Limerick Remain Favourites For League Honours

Despite currently being fifth in the table and just one point above the relegation zone, Limerick are still the favourites for a Division 1A success heading into their meeting with Galway in the Gaelic Grounds.

Odds of 13/8 are available on Limerick securing their fourth NHL crown under the management of John Kiely.

There are some key players to come back into their starting line-up, but there is enough quality available to Kiely at the moment to be confident of them climbing up the table in the next couple of rounds.

There is still a refixed encounter to come against Kilkenny and with the four teams ahead of them in the standings having played one game more to date, it is arguable that the current table is misleading.

Leaders Tipperary Very Much In The Hunt

It is their provincial rivals Tipperary who are out in front at the moment, but their defeat to Limerick leaves some doubt over their ability to beat the Treaty County if they met again in a top-tier final.

Still, Liam Cahill’s charges have registered excellent wins over Galway, Wexford and Cork thus far, and with 2-32 to his name, Darragh McCarthy is Division 1A’s top-scorer to date.

It is 17 years since Tipperary last won the National Hurling League and the odds on them ending this barren spell are currently 10/3 on GAA betting sites.

Cork And Galway Also In The Reckoning

You have to go back to 1998 for the last time that Cork lifted the NHL trophy, when their current manager Pat Ryan was amongst the starting 15.

Last weekend’s game against Kilkenny was a tough one for Ryan as his young brother Ray – a former Cork hurler in his own right – sadly passed away just a few days before it took place.

Yet the Leesiders (5/1) delivered a performance that their coach could be proud of and they remain viable contenders for top league honours heading into their showdown with Clare on Sunday.

Although they currently occupy second in the Division 1A table, Galway are only fourth favourites at 8/1 on betting apps for an NHL success in 2025.

Things were looking bleak for the Tribesmen following their 12-point defeat at the hands of Tipperary on the first weekend of this season’s competition, but three wins on the bounce has dispelled any notion of them getting caught up in a relegation battle.

As well as winning Leinster and All-Ireland championship crowns in the same year, Michael Donoghue guided Galway to a National Hurling League title in 2017 – the second season of his first tenure as Tribes boss.

He has used a host of players at the start of his second spell, and while they are very much in the reckoning for a league final berth, it is in the summertime that Donoghue and his Galway side will be judged.

Kilkenny Seen As Outsiders For League Glory

NHL finalists in the past two seasons, Kilkenny will be hoping to boost their chances of reaching another decider when facing Tipperary at Nowlan Park on Sunday.

It has been a mixed campaign for Cats supremo Derek Lyng to date with two wins and two losses from four games currently leaving them fourth in the overall standings.

The return of his former team-mate TJ Reid to the fray as a substitute last weekend will have come as a bonus to the Kilkenny chief, but at 14/1, the Noresiders are viewed as outsiders for a record 20th league success in 2025.

 

Posted in Gaelic Games, Hurling | Comments Off on Updated National Hurling League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – March 4 2025

Updated National Football League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – March 4 2025

Posted on March 4, 2025 by admin

GAA Betting: Donegal Are National Football League Favourites Again

By Daire Walsh

Following another gripping weekend of action, the odds for the National Football League are tight at the top with betting sites.

Beginning at MacHale Park in Castlebar last Saturday afternoon, Mayo took on Kerry in a compelling NFL Division One clash that went right down to the wire.

The Kingdom had recovered from a heavy deficit to eventually lead deep into the second half before Mayo ultimately prevailed on a score of 0-21 to 1-16 thanks to late points from Ryan O’Donoghue and Matthew Ruane.

Later that day, Armagh responded to their recent draw with Mayo by earning a 1-20 to 1-12 victory against Dublin on their home patch of the Athletic Grounds.

Their Sky Blue counterparts did recover from a 14-point deficit to trail by just five inside the final quarter, but with Conor Turbitt registering 0-6 to supplement a goal from his Clann Eireann club-mate Barry McCambridge, the Orchard County secured the two points on offer.

Galway And Donegal Fight Back To Earn Positive Results

Having come into the game as the only remaining unbeaten side in Division One, Galway looked set to finally suffer their first reversal of 2025 when trailing Tyrone by two points on Sunday.

Yet, this was the cue for Shane Walsh to kick a two-point free to add to his personal tally of 1-5 to ensure the Tribesmen were level with the Red Hand at 1-18 apiece at the final whistle.

Galway had gotten the better of Donegal a week earlier and the O’Donnell County trailed Derry for large stages of their top-tier showdown.

Jim McGuinness’ charges posted 1-6 without reply in the closing stages (the goal coming from Shane O’Donnell) to give them an impressive 1-22 to 1-19 triumph in the end.

Heading into the sixth round of fixtures on St Patrick’s weekend (March 15-16), 2024 champions Derry and Tyrone are currently the only teams officially out of contention for an NFL Division One title.

From the remaining sextet of contenders, some are seen as having a greater chance of success, and we will explore below exactly what odds are being offered on each side for the 2025 league crown.

Donegal Favourites For NFL Crown

After previously being installed as NFL favourites in advance of their fourth-round visit to Galway, Donegal found themselves slipping down the pecking order.

Results in a given weekend can affect how betting apps view things, however, and the Ulster county are once again seen as the most likely victors in this year’s league.

With eight points to their name ahead of Tyrone’s trip to O’Donnell Park, Donegal are presently second place behind Galway in the NFL Division One table on both score difference and head-to-head record.

McGuinness’ men have impressed aside from that one blip against the Tribesmen, and are rated as 13/8 favourites for a football league final success by Boylesports.

Galway Still Very Much In The Mix

The same bookmaker aren’t as strong on Galway for a first NFL title since 1981 but are nevertheless taking them very seriously as a contender for the crown.

Although the Westerners let a significant cushion slip from their grasp in a round three draw with Derry, they showed plenty of character to claim a share of the spoils against Tyrone.

Shane Walsh appears to be playing with real confidence under the new rules for Gaelic football and has an outstanding scoring haul of 1-37 to date in 2025.

At 15/8, Galway are still one of the more enticing bets for NFL glory.

Given both teams are at least two points clear of everyone else in the division with just two games remaining, it is easy to see why Galway and Donegal are the current front-runners to make the top-tier final at the end of the month.

Dublin In Contention Despite Recent Set-Back

That said, Dublin are just two adrift of the top two in third place and are due to face Galway at Croke Park on Saturday week (March 15).

They will need to bounce back from their eight-point defeat against Armagh, but the return of Cormac Costello last weekend was a welcome sign for Dublin boss Dessie Farrell.

With the likes of Con O’Callaghan, Ciaran Kilkenny and Niall Scully also around, there are still plenty of forwards within the Metropolitan outfit’s ranks who have earned multiple All-Ireland titles.

Coming into the penultimate round of the regular phase of the competition, Dublin are rated at 3/1with GAA betting sites to win this year’s National Football League.

Going by how it all stands at the moment, it seems likely that the two finalists for 2025 will come from the three teams mentioned above – even if stranger things have happened.

Mayo And Armagh Are An Outside Bet

After falling to consecutive losses at the hands of Dublin and Galway, Mayo seemed to be heading for a relegation scrap.

While they are still only as high as fifth, Kevin McStay’s green and red have picked up their form in recent weeks – recording two wins and one draw from their last three games.

The gradual return of some key players has significantly bolstered their prospects, and a victory against basement side Derry on Sunday could see them move even further up the table.

It would be remarkable if they made it to a league final in the coming weeks, but at 33/1, it seems unlikely.

Despite being in front of them on score difference, Armagh are level with Mayo in the National Football League odds.

It is perhaps unsurprising that the form of the Orchard County has been somewhat mixed, coming off the back of their successful All-Ireland campaign of 2025.

Nonetheless, their performance against Dublin in the Athletic Grounds last weekend was excellent for the most part and – if other results also go their way – they could move up from their current position of fourth with a victory over Kerry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee on March 15.

Kerry Not Seen As Major Contenders

They might be the most successful county in this competition with 23 titles, but Kerry will go into their final round games with Armagh and Galway potentially needing at least one win to retain their Division One status for 2025.

Additionally, both Galway and Donegal require just one point from their final two games to be guaranteed of finishing above the Kingdom in the top-tier standings.

This explains why Jack O’Connor’s side are seen as rank outsiders for an NFL crown at 50/1.

Posted in Gaelic Football, Gaelic Games | Comments Off on Updated National Football League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – March 4 2025

Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final: Terenure College V St Fintan’s High School, Sutton – The42.ie – March 4 2025

Posted on March 4, 2025 by admin

Terenure earn emphatic win over St Fintan’s to reach Senior Cup final

Michael Smyth grabbed a hat-trick of tries at Energia Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Terenure College 51

St Fintan’s High School, Sutton 7

MICHAEL SMYTH grabbed a hat-trick of tries at Energia Park on Tuesday afternoon as Terenure College reached their first Leinster Schools Senior Cup final since 2009 with an emphatic triumph over St Fintan’s High School, Sutton.

Frank Maher, Josh Mooney, Benedict Dohnal, Michael Kennedy and Ethan Balamash (two) also made their way over the whitewash as Terenure booked their spot in an upcoming showpiece at Tallaght Stadium on St Patrick’s Day.

Awaiting them in that decider will be the winners of the second semi-final featuring title holders Blackrock College and Cistercian College Roscrea on Thursday in the Donnybrook venue.

Playing at this stage of the competition for the first time, Fintan’s found themselves under immediate pressure from their south Dublin counterparts.

After winning a penalty close to the opposition posts with just over 60 seconds on the clock, a quick ‘tap and go’ from Terenure was passed into the hands of second-row Maher for a simple finish over the whitewash.

While Gareth Morgan fired marginally wide of the target from the conversion that followed this score, Sean Skehan’s side had seemingly issued a serious statement of intent.

Yet Fintan’s were equally determined to show what they were made of and a kick to touch from fly-half Ben Barnes brought them inside the Terenure ‘22’ for an extended spell.

Scrum-half Oisin Kelly was agonisingly close to breaking over for a five-pointer before Michael Bolger ultimately pounced for a seventh-minute try. A successful bonus strike from Barnes edged Fintan’s into a 7-5 lead, but it wasn’t long before 10-time champions Terenure reinforced their authority in this contest.

After being fed through a gap at the tail end of an elongated move, back-row Mooney clinically touched down for a converted try on 16 minutes.

This helped to restore the confidence within their ranks and with Mooney’s fellow flanker Smyth rounding off additional attacks with tries in the 22nd and 26th minutes, Terenure were creating significant daylight between themselves and Fintan’s.

There was enough time left in the first half to secure their fifth try of the action — winger Dohnal capitalising on excellent approach work from Maher and Jamie Coleman before diving over in the right corner.

This five-pointer ensured Terenure brought a 29-7 buffer into the interval and any prospect of Fintan’s producing a dramatic second-half fightback was effectively ended seven minutes after the resumption when Smyth completed his hat-trick by getting on the end of a line-out maul.

Their pack had shone brightly up to this stage in the proceedings, but the aforementioned Dohnal was eventually joined by another Terenure back in the try-scoring stakes when outside centre Kennedy crossed over moving towards the final quarter of this last-four affair.

Fintan’s were doing their utmost to keep their opponents at bay as the final whistle approached, but Terenure were hell-bent on finishing this game with a flourish.

Having gotten on the end of a long delivery from Morgan on 59 minutes to dive over on the right-hand side, Balamash added a second try on the opposite wing in the closing moments to leave all of 44 points between the teams.

Terenure College scorers: Tries – Michael Smyth 3, Ethan Balamash 2, Frank Maher, Josh Mooney, Benedict Dohnal, Michael Kennedy

Conversions – Gareth Morgan [3/9]

St Fintan’s High School, Sutton scorers:

Tries – Michael Bolger

Conversions – Ben Barnes [1/1]

TERENURE COLLEGE: Geoff O’Sullivan (William O’Leary ’60); Ethan Balamash, Michael Kennedy, Alvaro Swords, Benedict Dohnal (Niall Fallon ’49); Gareth Morgan, Jamie Coleman (Arran Boehm ’60); Pearse Kelly (Evan McMonagle ’32), Leo Zelman (Daniel McKenna ’60), Adam Cooper (Rory O’Brien ’60); Luke McNiff, Frank Maher (Michael Candon ’60); Josh Mooney (Senan Gavin ’54), Michael Smyth, Ben Blaney.

ST FINTAN’S HIGH SCHOOL, SUTTON: Ronan O’Shea (Ryan Curley ’66); Tadg Young, Marcel Haas (Eoin Curley ’66), Giovanni Nostro, Samuel O’Leary; Ben Barnes (James Burke ’43), Oisin Kelly (Nicky Sheridan ’66); Tadhg O’Connor Hehir, Luca Macari-Kelly (Michael Burke ’68), Ponamu Palazzetti (Fionn Cullen ’60); Robert Harvey, Michael Bolger; Louis Sanfey (Harry Curley ’60), Brendan Dillon (Yi Lin ’28), Rory O’Connor Hehir.

Referee: Padraic Reidy (Leinster Rugby Referees).

Posted in Schools Rugby | Comments Off on Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final: Terenure College V St Fintan’s High School, Sutton – The42.ie – March 4 2025

Leinster Schools Junior Cup Quarter-Final: Clongowes Wood College V Newbridge College – The Kildare Nationalist – March 4 2025

Posted on March 3, 2025 by admin

Clongowes Wood get the better of Kildare rivals in Junior Cup

Clongowes Wood won the Kildare derby in the Leinster Junior Cup quarter-final

DAIRE WALSH

LEINSTER SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP QUARTÉR-FINAL 

CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE 31 NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE 24 

Clongowes Wood College will face St Michael’s College at the semi-final stage of the Leinster Schools Junior Cup after the Clane side came out on the right end of a pulsating all-Kildare clash with Newbridge College at Energia Park on Thursday afternoon.

Coming into this game, both teams had been buoyed by impressive victories in the opening round of the competition. Whereas Clongowes claimed a convincing 39-5 triumph at the expense of CBC Monkstown on February 7, Newbridge had 22 points to spare (32-10) over Presentation College Bray three days earlier.

While Newbridge registered six tries in their win against the latter, Clongowes crossed the whitewash on no fewer than seven occasions over the course of a comprehensive success over Monkstown.

This further whetted the appetite for this contest, which was preceded in the Donnybrook venue by an impressive 35-10 victory for Michael’s over their fellow Dublin school Belvedere College. Although both sides were understandably eager to lay down a marker, it was Clongowes who ultimately hit the ground running.

After Newbridge had overthrown off a line-out, tighthead prop Eze Nwike had a couple of powerful carries that brought Clongowes deep into enemy territory.

Following an extended spell inside the opposition ‘22’, dynamic No 8 Harry Lawlor drove over for a breakthrough try with less than two minutes gone on the clock. Tom English’s bonus strike in the wake of this score drifted past the target and this ensured Newbridge were just two points in arrears when Eoin Gibbons knocked over a seventh-minute penalty.

Yet this only offered his side a temporary reprieve as Clongowes responded almost immediately with their second try of the proceedings. Following a charge down on an attempted clearance by Newbridge, Wood found themselves back within striking distance of the whitewash and it was then left for Lawlor to power his way over for another five-pointer.

A successful conversion from English provided Clongowes with additional daylight, before Newbridge came roaring back into contention when Donal Larkin pounced for a breakaway try just past the first-quarter mark. Gibbons supplied the extras for this effort in routine fashion, only for ‘Bridge’s line to be breached for a third time when English rounded off an enterprising attack with an unconverted score on 19 minutes.

Newbridge had looked set to end a relentless opening period on level terms when Gibbons supplemented Larkin’s second try with an outstanding touchline kick, but Clongowes had other ideas.

A thorn in the side of the Newbridge defence, Lawlor completed his hat-trick in the dying moments of the first half with a typically ruthless touch down to the left of the posts. English added the bonuses to give Clongowes a 24-17 buffer heading into the second half and the boys from north Kildare were a step closer to a spot in the penultimate rounds when Victor Lamph got his hands on a loose ball before racing over the try-line just two minutes after the the resumption.

Yet Newbridge continued to persevere with their challenge and it took some diligent defensive work from Clongowes to prevent Larkin claiming his own hat-trick off a brace of intricate attacking moves. The Wood rearguard were coming under sustained pressure as the third-quarter wore on and Newbridge were very much in the reckoning for a comeback win when back-row Saul Brewster burst powerfully over the whitewash on the stroke of 40 minutes.

This set the game up for a tantalising final-quarter, during which both teams had their share of possession inside their opponents’ half. Newbridge withstood an extended spell of attacking pressure to keep alive their hopes of securing at least a draw from this thrilling affair, but Clongowes ultimately prevailed when Larkin was forced into touch off another lung-bursting run up the left-flank.

Having last reached the final of this competition in 2008 – when they claimed an emphatic 36-0 triumph against Michael’s – Wood are now just 60 minutes away from bridging a 17-year gap and returning to a junior cup showpiece.

CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: Robert Wyse; Ryan Mahon, Tom English, Daniel Maguire, Victor Lamph; Michael McCormick, Sean Crowe; Daithi Behan, Shaun Priede, Eze Nwike; Luke Ryan, Lucas Aveling; Philip Kenny, Senan Walsh, Harry Lawlor. Replacements: Scott Morrissey for Aveling (49), Odhran Doyle for Crowe (53).

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: Harry Treanor; Ryan Crawford, Eoin Gibbons, Lucas Flynn, Donal Larkin; Jack Scott, Daniel Liston; Alexander Bowens, Adam Hathaway, Sean Patrick Lynch; Oscar Gill, Ollie Kelly; Cian Brennan, Joshua D’Alton, Saul Brewster. Replacements: Fiacha Duffy for Bowens (37), Paddy White for Lynch (46), Aaron O’Donnell for Crawford (49), Matt Spollen for Hathaway, Oliver Francis for Gill (both 53).

Referee: Euan O’Riordan (Leinster Rugby Referees).

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Post-Match Reaction: Leinster V Cardiff – Leo Cullen & Charlie Tector – The42.ie – March 3 2025

Posted on March 3, 2025 by admin

Cullen hails 30-year-old Clontarf prop as ‘inspiration’ after making Leinster debut

Ivan Soroka was called up to Leinster due to the absence of a host of looseheads.

LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen is hopeful Ivan Soroka can serve as an inspiration for burgeoning club players after the 30-year-old loosehead prop made his debut for the province in their 42-24 victory over Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Either side of making a single senior appearance for Connacht in the 2016-17 edition of the Guinness Pro12, Soroka has been a stalwart with north Dublin outfit Clontarf in the All-Ireland League. While his day job is as a financial adviser with AIB Bank, the Ukrainian-born front-row had been training with Leinster recently due to the absence of a host of looseheads through a combination of international call-ups and injuries.

His younger brother Alex is a current member of the Leinster squad and started at blindside flanker in last weekend’s bonus point triumph at the Aviva Stadium. He was still on the pitch when Ivan and his fellow debutant Oliver Coffey were introduced off the bench on 70 minutes in Irish Rugby HQ – making it a very special day for the Soroka family.

“There’s a lot of excitement, particularly for a couple of guys that are potentially, leading into the game, going to make their debuts. They have made their debuts now. It’s fantastic excitement in the dressing rooms there, seeing Ollie and his family, and with Ivan. Which is just a brilliant story, isn’t it? Inspiration we hope for many more club players out there,” Cullen remarked in the aftermath of Saturday’s game.

“It’s so apt that lads are wearing club socks today. Not only do we have the club socks out there, but you’ve got a club player. There’s just such a brilliant story. If you want to have a main story from today, that’s probably it.”

As Cullen alluded to, the Leinster players wore the socks of their club and/or schools in the Aviva as part of the United Rugby Championship’s second consecutive ‘Origin Round’ – which aims to celebrate the communities and people who helped to launch the careers of hundreds of rugby players and coaches.

Whereas some of his team-mates chose one over the other, player of the match Charlie Tector opted to wear one sock from his boyhood club Enniscorthy RFC and another from his alma mater of Kilkenny College. Although his development continued when he joined the Leinster Academy in the summer of 2022 (a number of months after winning a Six Nations Grand Slam with the Ireland U20s), Tector stressed that those early experiences at club and schools level have helped to shape him into the player he is today.

“I played in Enniscorthy till I went to first year in Kilkenny. I could name countless lads. Dougie Kidd played a huge part in my development in Enniscorthy. Then I went to Kilkenny. I had a great time there with Steve Ashmore, Jeff Carter, Wesley Carter especially and Pieter Swanepoel. I’m sure I’ve missed someone there now, but it played a huge part in my development as a player,” Tector explained.

Despite making eight appearances across the past two seasons, it wasn’t until the current campaign that Tector started a game at senior level for Leinster. This was partly due to the fact he was primarily seen as an option at out-half, but following consultation with a former professional player, he decided to try his hand at the inside centre position.

Ex-Munster, Leinster and Connacht back James Downey currently works as a Player Manager with Wasserman Rugby – a company that specialises in the management of world class rugby union and rugby league talent. He spoke to Tector about the prospect of becoming a viable option in the number 12 jersey, given there were several players ahead of him in the out-half pecking order.

Considering Cullen described him as ‘a revelation’ for how he has performed this season, the Wexford native has reason to be pleased with his decision to make a move into the Leinster midfield. Last Saturday’s game saw Tector registering his third try in five starts as an inside centre, while a sole appearance as a 13 against Connacht in the URC last December also saw him crossing the whitewash.

“He [Downey] has been a huge help. I met up with him coming to the end of my second year in the Academy. At the time there were so many 10s in Leinster and I hadn’t really thought about the 12 position,” Tector added.

“We sat down and we said ‘Right, you cover 10 and you cover 12. You’re going into your third year in the Academy now, just give it a good go’. That’s what we did and thankfully it paid off.”

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United Rugby Championship: Leinster V Cardiff – The Irish Examiner (Print) – March 3 2025

Posted on March 3, 2025 by admin

Tector and Leinster reaping benefits of move to inside centre

Leinster’s victory over Cardiff on Saturday was their 12th successive win in the URC.
DAIRE WALSH, AVIVA STADIUM

URC: Leinster 42 Cardiff 24 

Charlie Tector has hailed the influence of James Downey after his latest try-scoring performance at inside centre helped pace-setters Leinster to record their 12th successive victory in the United Rugby Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

A former Munster, Leinster and Connacht player, Downey currently works as a Player Manager with Wasserman Rugby – a company that specialises in the management of world class rugby union and rugby league talent. One of Wasserman’s many clients, Tector spoke to Downey towards the end of the 2023/24 season and it was at this point that becoming a midfield option for Leinster was broached.

An out-half when the Ireland U20s won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022, the Wexford native found that opportunities were limited in the number 10 jersey.

He eventually decided that he would try his hand at a new role in the eastern province and given last weekend’s clash with Cardiff saw him scoring his third try in five starts at inside centre (he also claimed a five-pointer when named at outside centre against Connacht last December), he is currently reaping the benefits of this move.

“He [Downey] has been a huge help. I met up with him coming to the end of my second year in the Academy. At the time there were so many 10s in Leinster and I hadn’t really thought about the 12 position,” Tector explained after Saturday’s game.

“We sat down and we said ‘Right, you cover 10 and you cover 12. You’re going into your third year in the Academy now, just give it a good go’. That’s what we did and thankfully it paid off.

“I’m just delighted to be on the pitch. I know 12 is one out from 10. It’s just another pair of eyes, another pair of hands feeding the same information in. I am loving it at the minute. Thank God.”

Coming into this contest with 11 wins from as many games in this season’s URC, a Leinster side that was shorn of a whole host of international stars broke the deadlock when hooker John McKee applied the finishing touches to a line-out maul on 15 minutes. Ross Byrne knocked over the first of six successful conversions in the wake of this score, before their Welsh counterparts roared into contention either side of the first-quarter mark.

After full-back Cam Winnett released Harri Millard for a 17th minute try, Cardiff’s blindside flanker Thomas Young dotted down on the half-hour mark to move the visitors in front.

Yet there was enough time remaining in the opening period for Leinster to swing the pendulum back in their favour and they were back in business when Jack Boyle – returning to provincial fare after making his Ireland senior debut on the previous weekend – burst over on the left-wing for a stoppage-time try.

Another Byrne bonus strike offered Leinster a 14-12 interval cushion and with Max Deegan and Luke McGrath crossing over while Cardiff replacement Alex Mann was in the sin-bin, Leo Cullen’s men had a bonus point wrapped up by the 51st minute.

Tector got the try that his performance deserved just a few minutes later and even though five-pointers courtesy of Millard (his second) and Ellis Bevan meant Cardiff came away with a try bonus of their own, Rob Russell ensured Leinster had the final say when he squeezed over in the left-corner on 76 minutes.

Now 13 points clear at the summit of the URC, the eastern province will now have another mini break before travelling to South Africa for bouts against the Bulls and the Sharks on March 22 and 29 respectively.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: J McKee, J Boyle, M Deegan, L McGrath, C Tector, R Russell Cons: R Byrne 6

Scorers for Cardiff: Tries: H Millard 2, T Young, E Bevan Cons: C Sheedy, T De Beer

LEINSTER: J O’Brien; T O’Brien (R Russell 61), H Cooney (L Turner 77), C Tector, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath (O Coffey 70); J Boyle (I Soroka 70), J McKee (S Smyth 57), R Slimani (R McGuire 70); D Mangan (RG Snyman h-t), B Deeny; A Soroka, W Connors (S Penny 63), M Deegan.

CARDIFF: C Winnett (T De Beer 41-52); G Hamer-Webb, R Lee-Lo, R Jennings, H Millard (R Grace 63); C Sheedy (T De Beer 70), J Mulder (E Bevan 63); D Southworth (R Barratt 52-61), L Belcher (E Daniel 65), R Litterick (W Davies-King 52); J McNally (A Mann 33), R Thornton; B Donnell (S Davies 63), T Young, A Lawrence.

Referee: A Piardi (FIR).

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United Rugby Championship: Leinster V Cardiff – Independent.ie – March 1 2025

Posted on March 2, 2025 by admin

Leinster increase advantage at top of URC table with six tries in bonus-point win over Cardiff

Leinster 42 Cardiff 24

Daire Walsh

Leinster have moved 15 points clear at the summit of the United Rugby Championship after a strong second half display helped them to claim a bonus point triumph over Cardiff at the Aviva Stadium earlier this afternoon.

Donning the socks of his alma mater St Michael’s College for the URC’s second consecutive ‘Origin Round’, the Gloucester-bound Ross Byrne kicked a brace of early penalties to touch in a bid to produce an early breakthrough try for Leinster.

While their first attempt at a line-out maul didn’t pay dividends, the hosts eventually broke the deadlock when Leinster hooker John McKee applied the finishing touches to a set-piece move.

Yet instead of this being the catalyst for a dominant opening period performance from Leo Cullen’s men, their Welsh counterparts came roaring into the contest either side of the first-quarter mark. Following his impressive break into the Leinster half, Cardiff full-back Cam Winnett passed out wide for winger Harri Millard to race over in the left-corner for a 17th minute try.

Although his wayward conversion attempt in the wake of this score kept their opponents in the ascendancy, Callum Sheedy was on hand to supply the bonuses when openside flanker Thomas Young drove over the whitewash just shy of the half-hour.

This offered the visitors a five-point buffer, but despite now being under serious pressure, there was enough time left in the first half to turn the tide back in their favour. Back on Leinster duty after making his Ireland senior bow against Wales last weekend, Jack Boyle got on the end of a prolonged move for a stoppage-time try on the left-flank.

A successful touchline bonus strike from Byrne ensured Leinster led 14-12 at the beginning of the second half and within three minutes of the restart, their cushion was extended as a result of Max Deegan crashing over for their third converted try – moments after Cardiff’s Alex Mann had been sent to the sin-bin.

Leinster had now discovered their groove and in the wake of Luke McGrath wrapping up their ninth try bonus of the campaign, Charlie Tector broke free for his fifth try in just nine appearances this season on 54 minutes.

Even though this appeared to place the final outcome beyond doubt, Cardiff sealed a bonus point of their own when Millard’s second try of the game was supplemented by a well-worked score from replacement scrum-half Ellis Bevan on the stroke of 70 minutes.

By this point in the action, a number of Leinster reserves had joined half-time replacement RG Snyman on the field of play – including debutants Ivan Soroka and Oliver Coffey.

Rob Russell was also introduced for his first competitive outing since an opening day victory on the road against Edinburgh back in late September and following a lengthy consultation between the match officials, he was awarded a 76th minute try that rounded off a 12th URC victory in as many games this term for the Irish province.

Scorers – Leinster: J McKee, J Boyle, M Deegan, L McGrath, C Tector, R Russell try each, R Byrne 6 cons. Cardiff: H Millard 2 tries, T Young, E Bevan try each, C Sheedy, T De Beer con each.

LEINSTER: J O’Brien; T O’Brien (R Russell 61), H Cooney (L Turner 77), C Tector, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath (O Coffey 70); J Boyle (I Soroka 70), J McKee (S Smyth 57), R Slimani (R McGuire 70); D Mangan (RG Snyman h-t), B Deeny; A Soroka, W Connors (S Penny 63), M Deegan.

CARDIFF: C Winnett (T De Beer 41-52); G Hamer-Webb, R Lee-Lo, R Jennings, H Millard (R Grace 63); C Sheedy (T De Beer 70), J Mulder (E Bevan 63); D Southworth (R Barratt 52-61), L Belcher (E Daniel 65), R Litterick (W Davies-King 52); J McNally (A Mann 33), R Thornton; B Donnell (S Davies 63), T Young, A Lawrence.

Referee: A Piardi (FIR).

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