OLD BELVEDERE sauntered into the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final shake up under a warm sky on a hard, dusty pitch at Anglesea Road yesterday. Despite the absence of Martin Ridge, Neil Francis, Mike Carswell and Kevin Spicer - arguably their four best players - Belvedere showed too much initiative for Greystones.
That said, Greystones had to contend with losing half their pack over the 80 minutes. In the end substitute scrum-half Stewart Hannon replaced prop Dermot Murphy. Reggie Corrigan jumped from the second row to the front row, while flanker Des Rigney moved to the second row to accommodate Hannon.
No doubt the significance of the Leinster Senior Cup has diminished in recent years, beneath the shadow cast by the All Ireland League. Nevertheless, any trophy at senior club rugby level is a welcome one and both sides were mindful of that yesterday.
Earlier in the season Greystones came to Anglesea Road and walloped the home side 35-6 in the Floodlit Cup. After 15 minutes yesterday it was plain that there would be no repeat performance.
Belvedere's number eight Hugh McDonnell and scrum-half Barry Murphy created the opening for flanker Cormac Johnstone's try with only five minutes on the clock. Barry Murphy missed the conversion, but made amends shortly after to add to hooker Andy Donovan's try, this time inspired by Johnstone.
Greystones out-half Richard Murphy settled his side somewhat with a 19th minute penalty, but Belvedere's Donovan produced an unorthodox overhead pass to send Alan Wallace over for Murphy to convert just before the break.
That was the last score for half, an hour, which did not reflect the willingness of both sides to commit themselves to attack. On more than one occasion it was only a last-gasp tackle or a dropped pass that saved both defences.
Murphy eventually broke the stalemate with a 70th minute penalty for offside.
Not even two late tries from the flying Gary Brennan and number eight John O'Beirne could disguise "Belvedere's superiority. Although Richard Murphy's conversion of the O'Beirne's touchdown confirmed his season total of 399 points - a Leinster record - it was small consolation for an unrewarding season.
