Gonzaga’s Barry Goulding dives over to score against King’s Hospital. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Leinster Senior Cup [First round]
Gonzaga College 26
King’s Hospital 19
Gonzaga advance to a quarter-final meeting with St. Andrew’s after overcoming a stubborn King’s Hospital side at Balbriggan RFC this afternoon. The Ranelagh School, coached by Bobby Byrne, shot into a 14-0 lead with two tries in the opening 15 minutes, one of which saw Barry Goulding touch down.
A third try left Gonzaga with a 19-5 half time lead, and when Oscar O’Leirigh added a fourth soon after the interval this first round clash was as good as over. The Conor Spillane-captained King’s Hospital did rally to score two second half tries of their own, but that revival proved too little, too late.
Gonzaga’s victory leaves the Leinster Senior Cup with a quarter-final draw that looks like this:
- Clongowes v Belvedere [9th February, Donnybrook, 3pm]
- St. Michael’s v Blackrock [11th February, Donnybrook, 3pm]
- St. Andrew’s v Gonzaga or King’s Hospital [12th February, Donnybrook, 3pm]
- St. Mary’s v Newbridge [13th February, Tallaght Stadium, 3pm]
Leinster Junior Cup [First round]
Kilkenny College 5
Terenure College 8
The Dublin school emerged victorious from this first round tie at Cill Dara RFC. A penalty from Mark Fabian saw Terenure open the scoring in the first half, before Zac Vaughan crossed the whitewash for a try. That resulted in an 8-0 half time lead that Kilkenny couldn’t overhaul despite a second half try of their own.
There are a number of Junior Cup ties scheduled to be played in Leinster tomorrow, weather permitting:
- Newbridge v Castleknock [Templeville Road, 1.30pm]
- Cistercian College Roscrea v C.U.S. [Newbridge College, 2.30pm]
- CBC Monkstown v Blackrock [Donnybrook, 2pm]
- Clongowes v Presentation College Bray [Anglesea Road, 3pm]
- St. Mary’s v St. Michael’s [Lakelands, 3pm]
- St. Andrew’s v St. Gerard’s [Stradbrook, 3pm]
Munster Junior Cup [Quarter-final first round]
Crescent College 7
Ardscoil Rís 7
Last year’s losing Junior Cup finalists Crescent ensured themselves a home draw for the quarter-final second round despite a draw with Ardscoil Rís at Rosbrien this afternoon. The fact that the Dooradoyle Road school scored the first try in difficult conditions was the deciding factor.
Daniel Hurley was the man who got the significant score, racing in from long-range and allowing Brian Ryan to convert. Ardscoil equalised inside the first half, to leave the game tied at 7-7 at the break. The second 40 minutes failed to yield any score as the weather spoiled both side’s attacking intents.
Glenstal Abbey 5
Rockwell College 5
Glenstal’s Junior Cup squad. Image: Twitter.
There was a second draw in the Munster Junior Cup this afternoon, with Glenstal also confirming a home quarter final in the second round having scored the opening try of the fixture. This clash was played on the synthetic 4G pitch at the University of Limerick.
Charles Gavin’s try proved to be the difference for Glenstal, as his side hung on despite an equalising score for Rockwell under torrential rainfall.
The other two Junior Cup quarter-final round one ties are set to be played tomorrow:
- Castletroy v St Munchin’s [University of Limerick 4G Pitch, 3pm]
- CBC v PBC [Musgrave Park, 4.30p.m]
