St Michael's College 15 Clongowes Wood College 14:ST MICHAEL'S College wing Cian Kelleher blew the Powerade Leinster Schools Junior Cup wide open with a brace of tries to knock out raging favourites Clongowes Wood College in the quarter-final at Anglesea Road yesterday.
It looked like going to script when Clongowes scrumhalf Max McFarland shot clear from a ruck and side-stepped fullback Cameron Diamond for the opener in the first minute. Wing Conor Mahony added the extras.
Almost immediately, St Michael’s travelled forward for Kelleher to ground the ball from a ruck. Outhalf Rory Kavanagh made a stunning conversion from the touchline.
A contentious collision gave Kavanagh the chance to drill a penalty for a 10-7 lead at the interval. It got even better for the underdogs when Kelleher was put away into the right corner in the 42nd minute.
Clongowes fought back; replacement Kevin Cowhey made the initial surge before fullback Ciarán O’Hanrahan picked and placed the ball in one smooth movement; Mahony converted from the touchline.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: C O’Hanrahan; J Kennedy, N Rhatigan, J McDermott, C Mahony; C McQuaid, M McFarland; S Mullholland, B Byrne, E Byrne, D O’Byrne, J Fitzpatrick, J Wallace (capt), J Paul, P Timmins. Replacements: K Cowhey for McDermott (40 mins), P Phelan for Wallace (59 mins).
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: C Diamond; C Kelleher, C Fagan, R O’Loughlin, E Williams; R Kavanagh, B Holland (capt); J Barry, G Kelly, H Murray, O Moyles, S Haorold, J Parsons, D Leavy, R Lynch. Replacements: A Coleman for Parsons, A Comerford for O’Loughlin, M Craig for Haorold (all 56 mins).
Referee: B McNeice, Leinster Branch.
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