Leinster Schools Junior Cup Belvedere College 8 St Mary's College 7Outhalf David Carey defied the swirling wind to kick Belvedere College into the Leinster Schools Premier Junior Cup second round at the expense of unlucky St Mary's College at Donnybrook yesterday.
It was hectic early on. St Mary's number eight Stephen O'Carroll thundered for 30 yards and outhalf Cillian Barden pulled his drop goal just left of the uprights.
Belvedere's blindside Greg Offaih and centre Farrell McManus carried the ball with aggression. Then, their fullback John Butler sent wing Donal Brennan over on the right in the 17th minute.
St Mary blasted back, lock Donal O'Brien driving over for scrumhalf Hugh McDonnell to claim the lead from the simple conversion. It was a reasonable return for playing the more fluent rugby in the opening half.
The wind and rain lashed away behind Belvedere with all the benefits of a 16th man. It didn't turn out that way as the Rathmines boys held the ball better and kept Belvedere away from the red zone until a lack of discipline at a ruck allowed Carey to seal their fate.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: J Butler; D Brennan, F McManus, B Fitzpatrick, M Quinn-Neylon; D Carey D Shanahan; J Conroy, M Sexton, J McCabe, D Lynch, T McGimsey, T Offaih, A Slein (capt), K O'Donoghue. Replacement: L Mitchell for McCabe 47 mins.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE: B Daly; C O'Dwyer, C Delaney, E Farrell, C Molony; C Barden, H McDonnell; I Robinson, I Hickey, G Gallivan (capt), D O'Brien, J Sexton, T Barrett, J Walsh, S O'Carroll. Replacement: A Godfrey for Molony 34 mins; I Hall for Barrett, C Sheridan for O'Dwyer both 46 mins; S Daly for Daly 51 mins; M Andreucetti for Hickey 54 mins; T Keogan for Robinson 58 mins.
Referee: M Gargan (IRFU).
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