BELVEDERE HELD OFF A remarkable Clongowes fightback in the closing 20 minutes to advance into their first Leinster Schools Senior Cup final since 2008 with a 27-26 semi-final win.
Jack Clarke celebrates Belvo's win in Donnybrook. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Having dominated the first half and led by 27-5 with 53 minutes played, Belvedere looked like running out entirely comfortable winners.
But Noel McNamara’s Clongowes are nothing if not spirited and they scored three rapid-fire tries to make Belvedere sweat heading towards the final whistle.
Ultimately, Phil Werahiko’s side finished on the attack and with a missed shot at goal with the last action of the game, but the drama was typically fierce in Donnybrook.
Rarely have we seen such a momentum swing, Belvedere suddenly going from a dominant position to clinging on against Clongowes’ rampant attack, which was led by outside centre James Lappin.
It was a far cry from the opening 55 minutes, in which Belvedere halfbacks Hugh O’Sullivan and Conor Jennings demonstrated wonderful control with their kicking game, a sharp contrast to Clongowes’ difficulties in that area.
The Great Denmark Street school enjoyed a strong start to the game, benefiting from an uncharacteristically error-strewn showing from Clongowes. First an overthrow at a defensive lineout from the Kildare students allowed Belvedere to hammer the tryline, eventually creating space for wing Oscair McGrath to cross in the left corner.
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Conor Jennings and James McKeon after their victory. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Out-half Conor Jennings added a superb touchline conversion, before scoring Belvo’s second try just minutes later. Clongowes failed to deal with an O’Sullivan box kick into their 22, and Jennings raced up to dribble the bouncing ball over the line, falling on it gratefully for the five points.
The Clane school’s lineout coughed up possession and they spilled passes, before a scrum penalty allowed Jennings to extend the Belvedere lead to 15-0.
Clongowes out-half Jonathan Glynn and Jennings traded missed penalties before the break, but Belvo were deserved leaders after 35 minutes.
Any prospect of a Clongowes fightback appeared slim when Belvedere went on to create a brilliant try for fullback Eoin Cleere with 43 minutes gone, Jennings and lock Conor McCaffrey offloading skillfully to allow centre James McKeon to send Cleere over in the left corner.
That unconverted score did the job of waking Clongowes, and a cleverly-worked maul saw flanker Donal Mongey dot down and bring the scoreline back to 20-5 shortly after.
However, anything Clongowes could do, Belvo could do it better. Replacement hooker Dan McCaffrey bounded over for their fourth try at the tail of a dynamic maul within three minutes to stamp the Belvedere’s dominance on the game once again.
At 27-5, this semi-final looked as good as over, but a yellow card for try scorer McCaffrey signalled a stunning turnaround in momentum.
Michael Silvester gets wrapped up by Declan Murnaghan and Jennings. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Clongowes scrum-half Rowan Osbourne darted over on a clever diagonal sniping line from close-range, wing Conor Murray taking over the kicking duties and adding the extras.
Next, Lappin burst to within two metres of the Belvo tryline, allowing formidable hooker and captain John Molony to dive over on the next phase. Lappin grabbed Clongowes’ fourth try five minutes later, racing clear form 70 metres out after a sharp intercept.
Murray converted both scores to leave Clongowes within a point and with four minutes left to play. But Belvedere summoned the final dose of energy they required and earned good field position to see out a thrilling game.
Molony was penalised on Clongowes’ final defensive set for a no-arms chop tackle, although Jennings sent the resultant penalty wide. No matter, as that signalled the final whistle and Belvo’s support burst onto the pitch in joy and relief.
Belvedere now await the winners of tomorrow’s tie between Roscrea and Newbridge in the final. ’08 was the last time they claimed this senior trophy, current Melbourne Rebels hooker Tom Sexton leading them to that title.
Werahiko’s side have earned their latest shot at glory in the most nail-biting fashion possible.
Clongowes scorers:
Tries: Donal Mongey, Rowan Osbourne, John Molony, James Lappin
Conversions: Jonathan Glynn [0 from 1], Conor Murray [3 from 3]
Penalties: Jonathan Glynn [0 from 1]
Belvedere scorers:
Tries:Oscair McGrath, Conor Jennings, Eoin Cleere, Dan McCaffrey
Conversions: Conor Jennings [2 from 4]
Penalties: Conor Jennings [1 from 4]
CLONGOWES: Michael Silvester; Fionann Madden, James Lappin, Michael McDermott, Conor Murray; Jonathan Glynn (Thomas Monaghan ’54), Rowan Osbourne; Nickolas Rinklin, John Moloney (capt.) (Hugo McDermott ’70), Charlie Carroll (Edward Carroll ’45); Tim Burke (Jack Moore, ’45), Daniel O’Mahoney; Will Connors, Donal Mongey (Patrick Nulty ’65), Sean McCrohan.
Replacements not used: Daniel O’Leary, Patrick Delap, Joseph Murphy.
BELVEDERE: Eoin Cleere; Sean Long, James McKeown, Declan Murnaghan, Oscair McGrath; Conor Jennings, Hugh O’Sullivan (Gregory O’Kelly ’67); Mike Sweeney (capt.), Andrew Hynes (Dan McCaffrey ’42 (yellow card ’57)), Eoin Molloy; Conor McCaffrey, Brian Egan; Senan McNulty, Max Kearney (Andrew McLean ’58 to ’65), Tom de Jongh.
Replacements not used: James Kenny, Hugh Sexton, Daire Boylan.
Belvo survive thrilling Clongowes fightback to book spot in Leinster Senior Cup final
Clongowes Wood College 26
Belvedere College 27
BELVEDERE HELD OFF A remarkable Clongowes fightback in the closing 20 minutes to advance into their first Leinster Schools Senior Cup final since 2008 with a 27-26 semi-final win.
Having dominated the first half and led by 27-5 with 53 minutes played, Belvedere looked like running out entirely comfortable winners.
But Noel McNamara’s Clongowes are nothing if not spirited and they scored three rapid-fire tries to make Belvedere sweat heading towards the final whistle.
Ultimately, Phil Werahiko’s side finished on the attack and with a missed shot at goal with the last action of the game, but the drama was typically fierce in Donnybrook.
Rarely have we seen such a momentum swing, Belvedere suddenly going from a dominant position to clinging on against Clongowes’ rampant attack, which was led by outside centre James Lappin.
It was a far cry from the opening 55 minutes, in which Belvedere halfbacks Hugh O’Sullivan and Conor Jennings demonstrated wonderful control with their kicking game, a sharp contrast to Clongowes’ difficulties in that area.
The Great Denmark Street school enjoyed a strong start to the game, benefiting from an uncharacteristically error-strewn showing from Clongowes. First an overthrow at a defensive lineout from the Kildare students allowed Belvedere to hammer the tryline, eventually creating space for wing Oscair McGrath to cross in the left corner.
Out-half Conor Jennings added a superb touchline conversion, before scoring Belvo’s second try just minutes later. Clongowes failed to deal with an O’Sullivan box kick into their 22, and Jennings raced up to dribble the bouncing ball over the line, falling on it gratefully for the five points.
The Clane school’s lineout coughed up possession and they spilled passes, before a scrum penalty allowed Jennings to extend the Belvedere lead to 15-0.
Clongowes out-half Jonathan Glynn and Jennings traded missed penalties before the break, but Belvo were deserved leaders after 35 minutes.
Any prospect of a Clongowes fightback appeared slim when Belvedere went on to create a brilliant try for fullback Eoin Cleere with 43 minutes gone, Jennings and lock Conor McCaffrey offloading skillfully to allow centre James McKeon to send Cleere over in the left corner.
That unconverted score did the job of waking Clongowes, and a cleverly-worked maul saw flanker Donal Mongey dot down and bring the scoreline back to 20-5 shortly after.
However, anything Clongowes could do, Belvo could do it better. Replacement hooker Dan McCaffrey bounded over for their fourth try at the tail of a dynamic maul within three minutes to stamp the Belvedere’s dominance on the game once again.
At 27-5, this semi-final looked as good as over, but a yellow card for try scorer McCaffrey signalled a stunning turnaround in momentum.
Clongowes scrum-half Rowan Osbourne darted over on a clever diagonal sniping line from close-range, wing Conor Murray taking over the kicking duties and adding the extras.
Next, Lappin burst to within two metres of the Belvo tryline, allowing formidable hooker and captain John Molony to dive over on the next phase. Lappin grabbed Clongowes’ fourth try five minutes later, racing clear form 70 metres out after a sharp intercept.
Murray converted both scores to leave Clongowes within a point and with four minutes left to play. But Belvedere summoned the final dose of energy they required and earned good field position to see out a thrilling game.
Molony was penalised on Clongowes’ final defensive set for a no-arms chop tackle, although Jennings sent the resultant penalty wide. No matter, as that signalled the final whistle and Belvo’s support burst onto the pitch in joy and relief.
Belvedere now await the winners of tomorrow’s tie between Roscrea and Newbridge in the final. ’08 was the last time they claimed this senior trophy, current Melbourne Rebels hooker Tom Sexton leading them to that title.
Werahiko’s side have earned their latest shot at glory in the most nail-biting fashion possible.
CLONGOWES: Michael Silvester; Fionann Madden, James Lappin, Michael McDermott, Conor Murray; Jonathan Glynn (Thomas Monaghan ’54), Rowan Osbourne; Nickolas Rinklin, John Moloney (capt.) (Hugo McDermott ’70), Charlie Carroll (Edward Carroll ’45); Tim Burke (Jack Moore, ’45), Daniel O’Mahoney; Will Connors, Donal Mongey (Patrick Nulty ’65), Sean McCrohan.
Replacements not used: Daniel O’Leary, Patrick Delap, Joseph Murphy.
BELVEDERE: Eoin Cleere; Sean Long, James McKeown, Declan Murnaghan, Oscair McGrath; Conor Jennings, Hugh O’Sullivan (Gregory O’Kelly ’67); Mike Sweeney (capt.), Andrew Hynes (Dan McCaffrey ’42 (yellow card ’57)), Eoin Molloy; Conor McCaffrey, Brian Egan; Senan McNulty, Max Kearney (Andrew McLean ’58 to ’65), Tom de Jongh.
Replacements not used: James Kenny, Hugh Sexton, Daire Boylan.
Referee: Nigel Correll.
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