Leinster Schools Senior Cup: St Michael’s College 54 St Gerard’s School 7
Matthew McCarthy raced away for four tries as St Michael’s cruised into the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final at Energia Park on Monday afternoon.
St Gerard’s started with energy and aggression on the ball, with outhalf Zenon Chambers sending willing runners Johnny Harkin and Colin Whitten into heavy traffic. But the early breakthrough never materialised as St Michael’s tightened up their defence to parry the punches.
When the time came for the Ailesbury Road school to show its hand, there was a clinical edge to how they went about it.
St Gerard’s fumbled on their line to give up a scrum. Outhalf Cathal Lydon’s late change of position created the overlap for McCarthy. Ethan Black converted in the 18th minute.
Seán Costigan’s yellow card left St Gerard’s vulnerable and St Michael’s lock Cian O’Neill pierced the first line and Luke Kilmurray sped to the posts. Black’s conversion doubled the advantage.
Fullback Dan Ryan then gathered possession to break two tackles on his way to the third try from 60 metres out, Black converting in the 31st minute.
A pinpoint pass by Ryan allowed O’Neill to eat up the ground, timing the pass to let McCarthy’s footwork and speed do the rest. Black converted for a 28-0 lead at the interval.
St Michael’s speed on the outside was decisive and McCarthy was the main beneficiary for his second and third tries.
There was an exhale of relief when St Gerard’s hard work was rewarded with a try by Ronan Kelly and a conversion by Matthew Murray to leave the score 42-7 going into the final quarter.
They even managed to build up a head of steam in countering from deep through captain Turlough McCracken Brown and centres Johnny Harkin and Ellian Desmond.
There was still time for James McMahon and Oran Richardson to add the seventh and eighth tries on the final whistle.
SCORERS – St Michael’s: M McCarthy 4 tries; L Kilmurray, D Ryan, J McMahon, O Richardson try each; E Black 7 cons. St Gerard’s: R Foley try; M Murray con.
ST MICHAEL’S: D Ryan; C Kenny, C McConnell, E Black, M McCarthy; C Lydon, L Kilmurray; C Canniffe, J Kennedy, D Maguire (capt); P O’Gorman, C O’Neill; B Gorman, O Twomey, M Berman.
Replacements: J McInerney for O’Neill (47 mins); H Miller for Kennedy, D O’Donohoe for Canniffe, E Burke for Gorman (all 53); O Richardson for Ryan (56); C Staunton for Maguire, J McMahon for Kilmurray (both 58); S King for Lydon (60).
ST GERARD’S: C Whitten; L Clopin, E Desmond, J Harkin, R Kelly; Z Chambers, L Tanner; R Moore, R McDonagh, P Lawlor; P Hanley, S Costigan; C Paterson, J McGovern, T McCracken Brown (capt).
Replacements: M Murray for Chambers (28 mins); M Fitzpatrick for McDonagh (40); F Rankin for Paterson (42); R McCowen for Hanley (48); M Kenny for Clopin (52); D Naidoo for Moore, A Butler for Tanner (both 67).
Referee: J MacNeice (Leinster).
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