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Still The Kings

Defending champions Roscrea see off Clongowes to reach Leinster senior final

Alan Tynan was the star man as Cistercian College won today’s semi-final.

Cistercian College Roscrea 24
Clongowes Wood College 18

ROSCREA COLLEGE BOOKED their place in the Leinster senior schools cup final with a dramatic six-point victory over Clongowes Wood College.

CC Roscrea players celebrate at the final whistle Roscrea players celebrate at the final whistle today in Donnybrook. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Brian Diffley’s try 10 minutes from the end means the defending champions can look to claim their second Leinster senior schools cup title on 13 March.

Clongowes opened the scoring after four minutes, Benjamin O’Shea slotting over a penalty after Roscrea’s Alan Tynan was penalised for not releasing following Clongowes pressure.

The Kildare men had the better of the opening period, where defences won out, with Clongowes defensive line holding strong to keep out Roscrea’s first real territory gain.

Keith Kavanagh tackles Joseph Murphy Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Within sixty seconds Clongowes had turned defence into attack. An intelligent hidden lay off by David Jeffares, allowing Daniel Sheehan to move into space.

While Roscrea held up the first attacks on their line, full back Michael Silvester found the gap to land the game’s opening try.

Benjamin O’Shea converted to give Clongowes a 10-0 lead in the 20th minute

The try triggered the Roscrea forwards into action and resulted in a prolonged spell of pressure which saw Clongowes holding out for five minutes with last ditch tackles.

Tighthead prop Dylan Murphy finally broke the Clongowes resistance, the Offaly men pressing hard in the maul from their lineout and deservedly touching down.

CC Roscrea score their opening try CC Roscrea celebrate their opening try of the game Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Benjamin O’Shea added three points to Clongowes leads two minutes before the break with a calm penalty to leave Clongowes leading 13-5 at the interval.

The Kildare side had the better of the possession in the opening stages after the restart, though found the Roscrea defence hard to break down.

Cistercian executed an impressive turn over on 45 minutes with Clongowes just a metre short of the line.

And the defending champions came right back into the game after a brilliant sprinting surge from hooker Eoghan Maher saw him make 30 metres.

Jack Canning is tackled by Florence McCarthy Cistercian's Jack Canning is tackled by Clongowes Florence McCarthy Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Maher kept the move alive finding Daniel Keane on the 22 and within a couple of phases Jack Canning went over for a try, Conor Kelly converted to leave the deficit at one point, 13-12.

Then Clongowes seized the first piece of space behind Roscrea’s rearguard with Alan Tynan’s covering tackle on Michael Silvester saving Roscrea.

However Clongowes spread the ball quickly with Fiachra Lynch’s fast feet enabling him to bounce off a tackle to land a strong right handed try and place his team ahead, 18-12.

Fiachra Lynch scores a try Fiachra Lynch touches down for a try for Clongowes College. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Five minutes later, Roscrea were right back in contention with Michael Milne crashing over after Roscrea had kept the ball in the forwards from their lineout.

There was just the minimum between the teams and then the defending champions took the lead for the first time 10 minutes from the end.

A clearly rattled Clongowes were placed on the back foot following Alan Tynan’s inch perfect kick into the corner.

Roscrea’s pressure in the maul paid off as Brian Diffley landed the try with Kelly’s conversion giving Roscrea a 24 – 18 point lead.

There was one final attempt at the try line from Clongowes, but the defending champions held firm to secure a passage to the final for a shot at their second Leinster Senior schools title.

Sam Hastings and Keith Kavanagh celebrate CC Roscrea's Sam Hastings and Keith Kavanagh celebrate after the game Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Star Man: Alan Tynan (Roscrea)

Fly-half Tynan was a very cool customer in the Roscrea midfield, especially as his side trailed for the majority of the game.

Tynan’s kicks to touch are a formidable weapon in Roscrea’s armour, while his super tackle on Benajmin O’Shea in the second half, prevented what would have been a key Clongowes try.

Alan Tynan is tackled by Thomas Monaghan CC Roscrea's Alan Tynan is tackled by Thomas Monaghan of Clongowes Wood College. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Cistercian College scorers:
Tries: Dylan Murphy, Jack Canning, Michael Milne, Brian Diffley.
Conversions: Conor Kelly (2)
Clongowes College scorers:
Tries: Michael Silvester, Fiachra Lynch
Conversions: Benjamin O’Shea (1)
Penalties: Benjamin O’Shea (2)

 Cistercian College Roscrea

Conor Kelly
Daniel Keane
Philip O’Shea (Ben Hyland HT)
Sam Hastings
Joe Murphy
Alan Tynan
Keith Kavanagh

Michael Milne
Eoghan Maher
Dylan Murphy
Fineen Wycherley
Aaron Murphy (Aaron Browne 40)
Brian Diffley
Jack Canning (Jack Culligan 46)
Simon Meagher

Replacements not used: Ryan Lomas Darragh Treacy, Cathal Walsh, Finbarr Crowley, Evan Browne

Clongowes Wood College

Michael Silvester
Fiachra Lynch
Miles O’Connor
Benjamin O’Shea
Reinis Lemess
Thomas Monaghan (Tadhg Dooley 66)
Joseph Murphy

Jospeh Martin (Gareth Graham 66)
Daniel Sheehan (Brian Maher 66)
Edward Carroll
Jack Moore
Florence McCarthy
Patrick Nulty
Sean McMahon
David Jeffares (Andrew Kelly 42)

Replacements not used: Arthur Odlum, Jonathan Nally, Jack Gilheany, Joseph Gilmartin,

Referee: Paul Haycock

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