Calasanctius retain title as O'Donnell delivers two tries

JUNIOR CUP FINAL/Calasanctius College 17 Rice College 5:RICE COLLEGE'S hopes of becoming the first side from Mayo to win a Connacht schools' title were dashed at the Sportsground yesterday when champions Calasanctius College, Oranmore, proved too strong.

The Galway school are relatively new to the sport – Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery helped introduce the sport there while with Connacht – but they look a force for the future now they have put junior titles back-to-back as they outscored the Westport side by three tries to one yesterday.

Flanker Paul O’Donnell crossed for a brace as Calasanctius College wrapped up the issue in the first half.

Rice College needed a solid start as they became only the second Mayo side to feature in a schools final – St Muredach’s, Ballina, were beaten in the junior final by Portumna in 1997 – but they were on the backfoot from the start.

O’Donnell laid down an early marker as he brushed off several tackles to get over for his first try after just three minutes. On 15 minutes prop Tom Huxford touched down after an excellent drive off a left-wing lineout.

But Rice College bounced back and four minutes later scrumhalf Ernan Geraghty tapped a penalty inside the 22 and made it over in the left corner.

But O’Donnell got his second try seven minutes from the break. Darren Hennessy converted.

The second half was scoreless as Calasanctius ran out deserving winners.

CALASANCTIUS COLLEGE: D Hennessy; E Stenson, D Moran, P Burke, P Griffin; K Finneran, J Hamilton; T Huxford, J Lardner, D McArdle; L Keaveney, S O’Brien; P O’Donnell, P Hackett, D O’Brien. Replacements: G Burke for Keaveney (45 mins), C Hansbury for Lardner, L Folan for Huxford (both 51 mins).

RICE COLLEGE: K Dever; R Ludden, B Mullen, D Corcoran, R Keating; S Tobin, E Geraghty; T Geraghty, R Feehan, C Groden; M Sammon, M O’Grady; A McAleer, M Brady, C McNally. Replacements: A Carroll for Ludden, E Dunning for Sammon (both 42 mins), C Nolan for O’Grady (50 mins).

Referee: K Collins (CBIRFU)