The sheer size and raw talent of CBC Monkstown enabled them to get the better of Templeogue College in this Leinster Schools' Junior Cup meeting at Donnybrook yesterday.
Templeogue could not counteract Monkstown's physical presence. The Templeogue captain, Bernard Donohoe, was a shining light in the loose. They also had the help of superior rucking skills and an unquestionable commitment to the tackle.
Outside these elements, they had little to offer. Whereas CBC boasted a talented, if not fully-interwoven back line, their big centres, Jonathan Collins and Barry O'Connor, had difficulty in locating the boys outside them.
Collins struck a 23rd-minute penalty to give Monkstown the lead, and seven minutes later second row Chris Kennedy barged over from close in, for Collins to convert. Monkstown thus held a 10-0 halftime lead, and their penetrative running, mainly through number eight Keith Doyle, O'Connor, Collins and full back James Conran, continued after the break.
Although the winners could not break through a steely Templeogue defence, they did spend most of the second half in safe territory. Collins kicked a 42nd minute penalty for the only score of the second half that served to emphasise his side's domination.
CBC MONKSTOWN: J Conran; P Casey, B O'Connor, J Collins, R Smyth; M Tuthill, R Murphy; M McHale, D Murphy, P Cogavin, L Kavanagh, C Kennedy, E Healy, M O'Reilly, K Doyle. Replacement: E O'Malley for Tuthill (6 mins).
TEMPLEOGUE COLLEGE: K Dolan; A McPhillips, A Fitzpatrick, T Sweeney, I Harris; R Rogers, B Dowling; A Germaine, B O'Brien, J Conlon, R Davitt, I Murray, B Conway, B Donohoe, C Kelly.
Referee: G McFadden (ARLB).
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