St Mary's cruise into last eight after proving too strong for King's Hospital

St Mary's College 20 King's Hospital 8:Captain Niall Curran led St Mary's College into the Powerade Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final against a never-say-die King's Hospital at Lakeland's Park yesterday.

KH got off to an early lead when outhalf Dan Courtney broke left to slip the ball out to wing Dan Coor, who showed his pace into the left corner. The next score would be crucial. It came from St Mary’s, their hooker Oisin Donnelly powering over at the rear of a maul to level it up. Their number eight Sean Donohoe was beginning to dominate in the air and Curran on the ground.

However, a Hospital breakout almost led to a second try by Coor, Courtney having to settle for a penalty in the 24th minute. St Mary’s Derry O’Connor made it level at the break when St Mary’s came within inches of their second try. They didn’t have to wait too long. Scrumhalf O’Connor smartly sniped the blindside for wing Cian Buckley to squeeze in at the left corner in the 34th minute.

The Blues dominated the second period, captain Curran eventually making the game safe with a backrow move off their superior scrum in the 51st minute. O’Connor converted.