Clongowes Wood College 27
CBC Monkstown 5
CLONGOWES ARE THROUGH to the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after beating CBC Monkstown in a game that didn’t come to life until the end of the first-half.
Clongowes dominated much of the ball in the opening period and a penalty by Ben O’Shea gave his side a deserved three-point lead after five minutes.
The first 25 minutes were largely played in midfield with both sides making several unforced errors, understandable given the cold, wet and windy conditions in Donnybrook.
Despite not having much of the ball in the early stages, CBC remained dangerous and looked capable of scoring when they came alive in short bursts of play.
In the 26th minute, they looked like they were going to get the first try of the game when Thomas O’Callaghan pounced on a loose ball in his own 22, the centre proceeded to kick the ball along the ground, but his soccer skills didn’t get him across the line, as Fiachra Lynch made a last-ditch tackle to prevent CBC taking the lead.
It was Clongowes who got the first try when prop Edward Carroll grounded the ball under the posts following a powerful maul. O’Shea’s conversion made it 10-0 with nearly half-an-hour played.
CBC responded quickly though as they got the next score just before half-time when full-back Tom Kelly touched down in the corner with Clongowes outnumbered. The conversion was missed, making it 10-5 at the break.
Not long after the restart, O’Shea scored another penalty as Clongowes re-asserted their control.
Clongowes captain Jack Moore went on to score the third try of the game, his side’s second, after a brilliant display of strength and power by Edward Carroll set him free for an easy score under the posts.
Sean McMahon blocked a clearance and the Clongowes flanker then gobbled up the loose ball in the 55th minute for his side’s third try of the game. And another conversion from O’Shea increased the gap to an insurmountable 22 points.
CBC tried tirelessly to reduce the deficit in the closing stages but the defiant defence of Clongowes kept Monkstown at bay.
CBC Monkstown scorers
Tries: Tom Kelly.
Clongowes Wood College scorers:
Tries: Edward Carroll, Jack Moore, Sean McMahon, conversion: Ben O’Shea x3, penalties: O’Shea x2.
CBC Monkstown: Tom Kelly, Patrick Rogers, Thomas O’Callaghan, Darragh Forster, Darragh Porter, Shane O’Hanrahan, Robert Jordan (Captain), Callum Kavanagh, Alex Holmes, Eoghan Clarke, Jack MacAteer, Alec Byrne, Robert Doyle, Zach Sattar, William Fry.
Replacements: Conor Montayne, Dylan O’Regan, Kenzi Kouadri, Ben Reynolds, Cameron Madden, Cameron Watson, Geoffrey Mahon, Alex Guerin.
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: Tadgh Dooley, Arthur Odlum, Gareth Graham, Patrick Celebi, David Jeffares, Joseph Gilmartin, Jack Gilheany, Reinis Lemess.
Referee: Cillian Hogan.