Despite a strong challenge from Templeogue College, Clongowes emerged deserving victors at Barnhall RFC. Full back Robert Kearney, with a personal tally of 15 points, proved to be the match winner.
Templeogue opened the scoring after 10 minutes when prop Paul Collins powered over in the corner. But Clongowes replied with a well executed try when Kearney collected a kick from outhalf Daniel O'Connor inside the Templeogue 22 to race clear and add the touchline conversion. He tacked on a 15 metre penalty, leaving it 10-5 at half-time.
After the restart, Kearney landed his second penalty to stretch the lead and 18 minutes later, Clongowes sealed it with their second try as centre Michael Cronin sprinted in under the posts, adding the points himself. Well into into injury time, Collins got a second try for Templeogue which Mark Leech converted.
CLONGOWES WOOD: R Kearney; L Ronan, M Cronin, J O'Toole, R Connolly; D O'Connor, M Soraghan; B Collins, A Tobin, P O'Leary, S Moriarty, D O'Reilly, D Fagan, B Coyle, P O'Meara (capt). Replace- ment: O Carmody for O'Toole (63 mins).
TEMPLEOGUE COLLEGE: P Callaghan; M Ebbs, M Boyle-Tobin, R Bredin, M Leech; E McInerney, P Timmons; O Kelly, M Dunne, P Collins, D Kelly, R Dever, A Donohoe, P Tully (capt), A Deacon.
Referee: N Carter (ARLB).
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