St Michael’s College 29
Terenure College 14
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE are into the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after four first-half tries left Terenure with too much to do this afternoon at Donnybrook.
St Michael’s, who were knocked out of the quarter-final stage last year by Clongowes, dominated the early stages of the first-half with the wind at their back.
They didn’t threaten to break the deadlock until the eight minute when a superb Harry Byrne pass was caught by captain Jack Kelly just outside the 22 and his darting run gave Michael’s a 5-0 lead.
The second try came just four minutes later and will be in contention for try of the competition.
Michael’s won a turnover in midfield, and the ball was then moved across the pitch with excellent passing, firstly by Byrne to keep the ball alive.
That was followed by wonderful interplay between Barry Fitzpatrick and Christopher Carey which saw Fitzpatrick cross the line in the corner. Michael’s now had a 10-point lead after just 12 minutes.
The third try was a reminder that no matter how beautiful a score, every try is worth the same on the scoreboard, as Ian O’Kelly managed to scramble the ball over the line after 16 minutes. Harry Byrne’s first conversion made the score 17-0.
A fourth try was to come without reply and its individual brilliance almost rivals the try scored by Fitzpatrick just minutes earlier.
Jack Kelly received a pass in his own half and cut inside the Terenure defence with his pace and power to score his second try of the day. The conversion increased the score to 24-0 after just 20 minutes.
Terenure were without the influential Sam Dardis, who was a late withdrawal after being picked to start at full-back, and his side missed him badly.
To Terenure’s credit they never gave up and got the next score of the match when Adam Melia bundled his way under the posts after good work from his captain Jack Dignam.
Michael’s went in at half-time with a 17-point lead and crucially got the first try of the second-half.
The impressive Fitzpatrick dodged a couple of tackles to set centre James Hickey free to run into the corner and extended Michael’s lead to 22 points.
However, Ternure responded again. Prop Jack Boyden epitomised his side’s never-say-die spirit with a superb grounding after bulldozing the Michael’s defence. Mark Fabian converted to close the gap to 15 points.
Although Terenure never gave up, the scoreboard was never close enough in the final 20 minutes to make their opponents sweat as Michael’s progress to the semi-finals after a well-controlled second-half performance.
St Michael’s scorers:
Tries: Jack Kelly [2], Barry Fitzpatrick, Ian O’Kelly, James Hickey
Conversion: Harry Byrne [2]
Penalties:Terenure scorers:
Tries: Adam Melia, Jack Boyden
Conversion: Mark Fabian [2]
Penalties:
St Michael’s College: Jack Kelly (captain), Michael Heaney, James Hickey, Ian O’Kelly, Christopher Carey, Harry Byrne, Tomas Killeen, Ronan Kelleher, Stephen Judge, Samuel Griffin, Ryan Baird, Jack Dunne, Oisin Dowling, Scott Penny, Barry Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: Max Kennedy, Milo O’Donahoe, Luke Duffy, Andrew Courtney, Michael Roche, Peter O’Beirne, David Ryan, Jeff O’Loughlin.
Terenure College: John Murphy, Christian Collins, Stevie Barry, Ted O’Donoghue, Zak Vaughan, Mark Kirwan, Mark Fabian, Jack Boyden, Jacob Henry-Hayes, Sean Collins, Rory Byrne, Adam Melia, Jeff Clarkin, Conor O’Sullivan, Jack Dignam (captain).
Replacements: Harry O’Neill, Sean Patchell, Jack O’Hare, Rory McGrath, Jack Cadell, Ciaran Cahill, Callum Ashmore, Adam La Grue.
Referee: Brian MacNiece
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