IT WAS A big occasion at Donnybrook today in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final and there was the unlikely figure of a Kerry All-Ireland minor winner involved on the pitch.
Robert Wharton played at outside centre today for Roscrea CC in their tense 8-8 draw with Newbridge College. The teams must meet again next Monday to determine who will face Belvedere in the final on St Patrick’s Day.
Wharton is starring on the rugby pitch now but last September he was part of the Kerry minor setup that won the All-Ireland title. Wharton is from the Renard club in South Kerry – where senior defender Killian Young also hails from – and came on in last year’s final win over Donegal for his clubmate Brian Sugrue.
Wharton’s not the first GAA star to grab the schools rugby headlines this week. On Tuesday, Conor Fitzgerald struck the winning penalty as Ardscoil Rís overcame Cork’s PBC at Musgrave Park in the Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final.
That was Fitzgerald’s second converted penalty of the game and he also converted a try as his side advanced to a final tie on St Patrick’s Day against Rockwell College.
Last year Fitzgerald was part of the Limerick minor hurling squad that reached the All-Ireland final before losing out to Kilkenny. Fitzgerald, a member of the Claughaun hurling club, came on as a substitute in that game in Croke Park.
