McAllister clinches it

Belvedere College left it late in the Leinster Junior Cup tie at Donnybrook before advancing thanks to two late tries from the strong running Marcus McAllister.

With the score at 7-6 in St Mary's favour deep into injury time in the first half, McAllister seemed destined to score when fellow centre Conor Hayes released him with a pass out wide. McAllister raced away but as he attempted to cut under the posts, he had the ball taken from his grasp through a timely interception by Tom Daly.

As a result St Mary's retained their lead and as the game wore on it seemed as if they might hold for an unexpected win. Furthermore, with 10 minutes remaining, outhalf Jonathan Sexton kicked a penalty to make it 10-6.

Undaunted, however, Belvedere launched a quick response with McAllister's clever chip through seeing him win the chase to the line with four minutes remaining. Then in the dying seconds, McAllister sprinted clear to make victory secure with outhalf Robert Hedigan adding the conversion.

St Mary's had got off to a great start with full back Robert Gannon scoring in the opening minutes. Sexton converted but up against a powerful Belvedere team, both Gannon and Hugh Queenan became casualties of an intense first half with the two forced to retire.

Belvedere, growing in confidence, pegged their way back and were just a point short of their opponents at the interval following two successful penalty kicks by Hedigan.

Belvedere College: K Barden; M McCarthy, M McAllister, C Hayes, D Keane; R Hedigan, B O'Neill; G Brennan, R Carson, E Weigel, H Lacey, M Walsh, R Fitzgerald, R McDonald, B Kennedy. Replacements: N Monahan for Carson, H Mahon for Weigel, R Mc Donald for Armstrong.

St Mary's College: R Gannon; D Shaffrey, J Finnigan, T Daly, R Bowe; J Sexton, B McDermott; B McGovern, G O'Meara, D Fallon, C Burke, B O'Kelly, H Queenan, C Lucas, J Kelly. Replacements: A Culligan for Queenan, J Andreucetti for Gannon.

Referee: D Bolger (ARLB).