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Conor Kelly scored one of Blackrock's seven tries. Gary Carr/INPHO

53 and easy for Blackrock - and up next it's a mouthwatering showdown against Belvo

Rock full-back James McGowan scored 25 points in a one-sided affair.

Blackrock College 53-8 Castleknock College

BLACKROCK COLLEGE GOT their Leinster Senior Schools Cup campaign off to a flying start in Donnybrook putting 53 points past Castleknock.

But the schools superpower now face a fierce test after they were pitted against rivals Belvedere College in the quarter-final draw.

Castleknock’s entry onto the scoreboard after 15 minutes with the score 6-3, spurred Rock into action with impressive blindside flanker Richard Dunne a battering ram in rocks armoury.

Four minutes after knock entered the scoreboard, Dunne was over for the first try of the day after Knock had held up James McGowan and Conor Kelly on the line.

The record winners then went about their business in typical rock style, the pack winning their first real battle of the day on 31 minutes with John Fairley touching down after the maul surged home.

The southsiders where in control and began to turn the screw, going over for a third time straight from the restart, James McGowan having expertly converted.

McGowan turned provider with an excellent chip pass between the Castleknock defensive line for Conor Kelly to sprint onto and touchdown beneath the posts.

McGowan converted his third of the day with Conor Stinson alert defending preventing another rock score as they lead 27-3 at the break.

Full-back McGowan got his name on the try scoring list three minutes into the second half, Rock went across the pitch, McGowan finding a gap in the corner before converted his own try.

Rock certainly weren’t finished with Gavin Mullin sprinting home on 49 minutes as Rock emptied the bench, proving hunger within the panel, replacement Emmet Burns powering over six minutes later.

Castleknock looked crushed as rock went across the pitch again with Patrick Patterson’s touching down in the corner with eight minutes remaining, McGowan fluffing the conversion leaving him nine from 11 on place kicks for the day.

Cathal Lacey found space to run in a consolation try on 65 minutes, but it was deservedly Blackrock’s day as they look to live up to their favourite tags for this year’s Leinster Senior Schools cup.

Blackrock tries: Dunne, Fairley,  Kelly, McGowan, Mullin, Burns, Patterson; Conversions: McGowan (7); Penalties: McGowan (2).

Castleknock tries: Lacey; Penalties: Boucher

Blackrock College: James McGowan, Patrick Patterson, Gavin Mullin (Ferdia Power 53), Liam Turner, Conor Kelly (Burns Emmet), Conor Dean, Luke Gaffney, Richie Mouatt, Stephen McLoughlin (Paul Cullen 44), Charlie Connolly, Colm O’Flaherty, Charlie Ryan, Richard Dunne(Hugo Bourke 44), John Fairley (Jack Gardiner 48), Caelan Sweetman-Doris (Captain) (Hugh Egleston 53)

Replacements not used: Giuseppe Coyne, Alejandro Alonso

Castleknock College: Cathal Lacey, Robert Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond (Jamie McGaley 65), Sean Gibbons, Marc Boucher, Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon, Jack Keleghan (Carl Keogh 53), Michael Corcoran (James Gibney 28), Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Cathal Birmingham, Adam Corcoran, Cian Clancy (Josh Connolly 50)

Replacements not used: Alex Doyle, Daniel Treacy, Darragh McNally, Cian Egenton

Referee: Paul Haycock

Leinster Schools Senior Cup – Round 2 Draw

  • Blackrock College v Belvedere College
  • Cistercian College Roscrea v Gonzaga College
  • St Michael’s College v Terenure College
  • Clongowes Wood College v CBC Monkstown Park

– To be played 7-11 February

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Dave Hooper
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