King’s Hospital 8-33 Clongowes Wood College
CLONGOWES HAVE SECURED a place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals after an impressive second-half performance against King’s Hospital.
The underdogs entered the field to a huge cheer and looked so pumped for the game that there may have been concerns of them controlling their emotions during the contest. However, any fears were quickly eased and King’s dominated the early stages of the game.
Clongowes were barely out of their own half when King’s were awarded the first penalty of the game after several errors by Clongowes. Full-back Paul McCullagh stood up to give them a 3-0 lead.
That score sprung Clongowes into action and if it wasn’t for some last-ditch defending in the corner, their response would have been immediate.
As the rain started to fall midway through the first-half, kicking became more prevalent, with King’s fly-half Daniel Courtney starting to pull the strings with some clever kicks into the 22.
Clongowes, however got the crucial first try of the game as lock Florence McCarthy bundled the ball over the line after nice work from Patrick Nulty. Centre Benjamin O’Shea, who kicked well throughout in tough conditions, converted to give Clongowes a 7-3 lead.
The men from Palmerstown didn’t wilt under the pressure and responded with a try of their own. After refusing to go for goal with a tricky penalty, they opted to kick into the corner and after several phases of play, they managed to re-take the lead after Sean Goodburn scored a maul try on the half-hour. The conversion was missed by McCullagh and King’s wouldn’t score again for the rest of the match.
The game turned when O’Shea managed to score three penalties in quick succession, with two coming before the break to give Clongowes a 13-8 half-time lead.
Clongowes started the second-half just as they finished the first, in the opposition half. A third penalty by O’Shea increased the gap to eight points.
The Kildare men were starting to dominate the game and King’s were unable to provide the response needed to get them back in the match.
Miles O’Connor scored the second try of the game after a terrific interchange allowed O’Connor to cross the line after a darting run. His strength was too much for the opposition defence.
Further tries by Patrick Nulty and winger Brian Maher wrapped up the victory. Brett Igoe, the head coach of Clongowes will be particularly happy with the final try, which demonstrated the team’s pace and power accompanied by good distributuion for Maher to get the final score of the game.
Clongowes progress to the quarter-finals but King’s Hospital can take plenty of positives from a battling first-half display.
King’s Hospital Tries: Goodburn; Penalties: McCullagh
Clongowes Wood College Tries: McCarthy, O’Connor, Nulty, Maher; Conversions: O’Shea (2); Penalties: O’Shea (3)
The King’s Hospital: Paul McCullagh, Harrison Mahood, Connall Howley, Dylan Corcoran, Daniel Corr, Daniel Courtney, Scott Le Roux, Sean Goodburn, Conor Murphy, Cathal Mullen, Sam Wrafter, Tom Doyle (Captain), Sam Charman, Jordan White, David Boles.
Replacements: OJ Onolememen, Jack Courtney, Finian Shilling, Nathanael Sibanda, Liam Morgan, Clinton Wokocha, Felix Campbell, Daniel Eiffe.
Clongowes Wood College: Michael Silvester, Fiachra Lynch, Miles O’Connor, Benjamin O’Shea, Brian Maher, Thomas Monaghan, Joseph Murphy, Joseph Martin, Daniel Sheehan, Edward Carroll, Jack Moore (Captain), Florence McCarthy, Patrick Nulty, Sean McMahon, Sean McCrohan.
Replacements: Tadhg Dooley, Arthur Odlum, Gareth Graham, Andrew Kelly, David Jeffares, Joseph Gilmartin, Conrad Daly, Reinis Lemess.
Referee: Simon Owens
He’s been a huge plus for the Farrell team as he’s just bossed what was starting to become a problem position for Ireland.
Takes care of the basics first, and he’s starting to reveal more to his game now week on week at every level, influencing huge games.
I think the lad has a massive ceiling.
@Patrick Doherty: and a brilliant mix of writing and analysis as always from Murray Kinsella.
I completely agree the way he played last week against Munster was top class. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand. Rock solid under the high ball and looking to attack at every opportunity
Where I have the difficulty with his play is over the five games for Ireland he offered absolutely nothing whatsoever in attack. Even when we were dominant against the English. He looked easy to read with ball in hand.
Before I get lambasted and abused here I believe it must be the different coaching structures between Ireland and Leinster
@Bgkph: he’s 24 and learning every week.
This is the role leinster wanted for carbury so it’s no surprise they are working with Keenan to do the same. Ireland don’t seem to want their 15 to play make so your not going to see this too much for Ireland
@Bgkph: it’s a much much higher level than any PR014 or HC games. It’s what Ronan O Gara keeps saying. Such a chasm between the levels
He’s a good solid player who has already improved hugely since he got his first cap. I’m not sure if he has as much X factor in attack that larmour and stockdale have. The experiment with them at full back failed though and IMO a safe pair of hands which he has , is the most important thing a full back should have…. hopefully the attacking threat can be worked on and will continue to improve…
This guy is a massive credit to the 7s system. He’s so solid, does all the basics so well and rarely makes a mistake. He’s going to get better and better.
He needs to work on his passing and decision making. He is already an improvement on Kearney but like Kearney he takes the ball into contact. Also he needs to fix his man before passing as it cost Lowe a try against France
@Patrick O Connell: the videos show him passing or offloading each time and continuing the movement. Doesn’t really correlate to your point about him going into contact
@Patrick O Connell: every time he takes it into contact he seems to make yards. Fella wriggles out of every tackle