No way through for Templeogue

Blackrock College just about deserved to hold off a resurgent Templeogue College in a nail-biting finish to this Leinster Schools' Junior League Division Two final at Donnybrook yesterday.

Templeogue fought hard for the victory they craved during a second-half performance that saw them enjoy numerous line-outs and scrums within five metres of the Blackrock line. However, the Williamstown boys fought tooth and nail to repel their opponents and in tackling centres Pearse Feeny and Ruairi O Briain, they had the resources to keep Templeogue at bay.

Templeogue only managed to break Blackrock down in the third minute when Cormac Ryan made his way over from a tap penalty, and in the 43rd minute, when captain Patrick Kerfoot cut through the Blackrock defence out wide. Kerfoot added the conversion to his own try to leave Templeogue staring at a 1512 deficit - but it was one they could not overcome.

In between, Blackrock moved the ball with urgency and panache. A sixth-minute penalty from Feeny was added to by a from left wing Niall Carty, on 16 minutes, who showed his pace by outflanking the Templeogue cover. This left Blackrock 8-5 in front at the break.

This lead was stretched in the 40th minute when number eight Paul Sweeney punctured the Templeogue defence where others had failed. The conversion from Feeny was simple and although Kerfoot kept the game boiling with his contribution minutes later, Templeogue were never able to create another breakthrough.

Scorers: Blackrock: N Carty, P Sweeney try each, P Feeny penalty and conversion. Templeogue: P Kerfoot try and conversion, C Ryan try.

Blackrock College: S Roe; W Reidy, P Feeny, R Briain, N Carty; R Kavanagh, C McShane; D McEvoy, B Hanrahan, P Massey, M Legee, M McGinty, P Baker, C Kennedy, P Sweeney. Replacements: M Gaffney for O Briain (38 mins); R Lawlor for Baker (45 mins).

Templeogue College: E Kenny; B Armstrong, D McGarry, C Holmes, C O'Keeffe; P Kerfoot, C Ryan; N Walsh, S Walsh, J Conlon, D Coughlan, J Griffin, S JEnnings, B Conway, K Dolan. Replacements: T Sweeney for O'Keeffe (half-time); A Kenny for Conway (32 mins); P McGlynn for Dolan (34 mins); M Williams for Jennings (54 mins).