Celebrations for Blackrock College at the final whistle. Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
Blackrock College 19
St Gerard’s School 17
A MAJOR SHOCK was on the cards for the majority of this absorbing encounter at Donnybrook Stadium, but following a superb 62nd-minute drop-goal by Stephen Madigan, Blackrock College edged past St Gerard’s School, Bray in the quarter-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
The 68-time champions were staring defeat in the face when they trailed 14-3 at the break, after Oliver Haydock and Cormac Foley had both crossed over for Gerard’s. The north Wicklow boys remained in the ascendancy at the beginning of the final-quarter, before Madigan’s try offered Blackrock a new lease of life.
They gradually increased the pressure on Gerard’s as the final whistle approached, and Tarrant’s timely intervention ensured that they ultimately booked their place in the last-four.
Gerard’s were viewed as rank outsiders heading into for this encounter. However, with Leinster underage star Ethan Baxter and hooker Robert Byrne driving forward at will, they deservedly took the lead in the 15th-minute.
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St Gerard’s School's Paddy Opperman under pressure from Rory Madigan of Blackrock College. Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
After he picked up possession five metres from the Blackrock line, outside centre Haydock grounded the ball against the padding for a deadlock-breaking score — which he also converted.
It was expected that this would be a wake-up call for ‘Rock — whose most recent Senior Cup success was back in 2014 — but they instead fell further behind just shy of the half-hour mark.
After catching his own chipped kick close to the ‘Rock posts, Foley touched down beyond the whitewash in spectacular style. Another bonus strike by his midfield partner stretched the Gerard’s advantage to all 14 points — although their opponents finally opened their account through a Tarrant penalty at the tail end of the half.
A reinvigorated ‘Rock cut the gap to five points just after the resumption with a brace of successful place-kicks by the reliable Tarrant, and subsequently gained a temporary numerical advantage when Gerard’s full-back Max O’Reilly was sent to the sin-bin.
Gerard’s responded well in his absence, though, and Haydock’s coolly-converted penalty on 45 minutes helped them to settle back into the proceedings. By the time of O’Reilly’s return, ‘Rock were still searching for a way through a stubborn opposition defence.
Dejection after the game for Charles Byrne of St Gerard's. Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
Their persistence eventually paid off in the form of a Madigan try in the left-corner, following excellent approach work from Tarrant and replacement scrum-half Louis O’Reilly. Madigan’s outstanding touchline conversion cut the gap to the bare minimum (17-16), setting the game up for a grandstand finale in the process.
With the clock moving beyond 60 minutes, ‘Rock established territory deep inside the Gerard’s half. This allowed Tarrant to move back into pocket, and he split the posts from outside the ’22’ to edge his side in front for the very first time.
This was a cruel blow for a Gerard’s team that secured the Leinster Senior League crown back in December, but at the end of a compelling battle, it was Blackrock who prevailed.
Blackrock College scorers
Tries: Stephen Madigan Penalties: James Tarrant [3 from 3] Conversions: Stephen Madigan [1 from 1] Drop-goal: Stephen Madigan [1 from 1]
St Gerard’s College scorers
Tries: Oliver Haydock, Cormac Foley Penalties: Oliver Haydock [1 from 1] Conversions: Oliver Haydock [2 from 2]
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: 15. Stephen Madigan; 14. Rory Madigan (22. Gavin Jones 16’-23’), 13. Liam Turner (captain), 12. Tom Maher, 11. Harry Donnelly; 10. James Tarrant, 9. Ross Barron; 1. Hugo O’Malley (17. Cian Duffy 43’), 2. Sean Molony, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Sean O’Brien, 5. Jack Stapleton, 6. Josh Dixon, 7. Jack Loscher, 8. Michael McGagh.
ST GERARD’S COLLEGE: 15. Max O’Reilly; 14. Morgan Freeley, 13. Oliver Haydock, 12. Cormac Foley, 11. Paddy Opperman; 10. David O’Brien (22. Ben Watson 63’), 9. Jack O Caoimh; 1. David Carroll, 2. Robert Byrne, 3. Adam O’Reilly, 4. Donal Ahern (7. Ethan Baxter 68’), 5. Daniel McGovern, 6. Charles Byrne, 7. Ethan Baxter (captain) (20. Thomas Cahill-Hannigan 61’), 8. Rory Wilson (4. Donal Ahern 69’).
Referee: Brian MacNiece (Leinster Rugby Referees).
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Blackrock College avoid quarter-final upset thanks to late drop-goal
Blackrock College 19
St Gerard’s School 17
A MAJOR SHOCK was on the cards for the majority of this absorbing encounter at Donnybrook Stadium, but following a superb 62nd-minute drop-goal by Stephen Madigan, Blackrock College edged past St Gerard’s School, Bray in the quarter-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
The 68-time champions were staring defeat in the face when they trailed 14-3 at the break, after Oliver Haydock and Cormac Foley had both crossed over for Gerard’s. The north Wicklow boys remained in the ascendancy at the beginning of the final-quarter, before Madigan’s try offered Blackrock a new lease of life.
They gradually increased the pressure on Gerard’s as the final whistle approached, and Tarrant’s timely intervention ensured that they ultimately booked their place in the last-four.
Gerard’s were viewed as rank outsiders heading into for this encounter. However, with Leinster underage star Ethan Baxter and hooker Robert Byrne driving forward at will, they deservedly took the lead in the 15th-minute.
After he picked up possession five metres from the Blackrock line, outside centre Haydock grounded the ball against the padding for a deadlock-breaking score — which he also converted.
It was expected that this would be a wake-up call for ‘Rock — whose most recent Senior Cup success was back in 2014 — but they instead fell further behind just shy of the half-hour mark.
After catching his own chipped kick close to the ‘Rock posts, Foley touched down beyond the whitewash in spectacular style. Another bonus strike by his midfield partner stretched the Gerard’s advantage to all 14 points — although their opponents finally opened their account through a Tarrant penalty at the tail end of the half.
A reinvigorated ‘Rock cut the gap to five points just after the resumption with a brace of successful place-kicks by the reliable Tarrant, and subsequently gained a temporary numerical advantage when Gerard’s full-back Max O’Reilly was sent to the sin-bin.
Gerard’s responded well in his absence, though, and Haydock’s coolly-converted penalty on 45 minutes helped them to settle back into the proceedings. By the time of O’Reilly’s return, ‘Rock were still searching for a way through a stubborn opposition defence.
Their persistence eventually paid off in the form of a Madigan try in the left-corner, following excellent approach work from Tarrant and replacement scrum-half Louis O’Reilly. Madigan’s outstanding touchline conversion cut the gap to the bare minimum (17-16), setting the game up for a grandstand finale in the process.
With the clock moving beyond 60 minutes, ‘Rock established territory deep inside the Gerard’s half. This allowed Tarrant to move back into pocket, and he split the posts from outside the ’22’ to edge his side in front for the very first time.
This was a cruel blow for a Gerard’s team that secured the Leinster Senior League crown back in December, but at the end of a compelling battle, it was Blackrock who prevailed.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: 15. Stephen Madigan; 14. Rory Madigan (22. Gavin Jones 16’-23’), 13. Liam Turner (captain), 12. Tom Maher, 11. Harry Donnelly; 10. James Tarrant, 9. Ross Barron; 1. Hugo O’Malley (17. Cian Duffy 43’), 2. Sean Molony, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Sean O’Brien, 5. Jack Stapleton, 6. Josh Dixon, 7. Jack Loscher, 8. Michael McGagh.
ST GERARD’S COLLEGE: 15. Max O’Reilly; 14. Morgan Freeley, 13. Oliver Haydock, 12. Cormac Foley, 11. Paddy Opperman; 10. David O’Brien (22. Ben Watson 63’), 9. Jack O Caoimh; 1. David Carroll, 2. Robert Byrne, 3. Adam O’Reilly, 4. Donal Ahern (7. Ethan Baxter 68’), 5. Daniel McGovern, 6. Charles Byrne, 7. Ethan Baxter (captain) (20. Thomas Cahill-Hannigan 61’), 8. Rory Wilson (4. Donal Ahern 69’).
Referee: Brian MacNiece (Leinster Rugby Referees).
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