Leinster Schools Senior Cup / Clongowes Wood 10 Terenure College 5: Terenure sides rarely depart quietly via the side exit.

Yesterday's Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook was no different. It was a tough slog but Clongowes Wood College progressed to the semi-finals thanks to a gritty display, which was typified by full back Robert Kearney.

The outstanding player in this year's competition kicked the only points of the first half, from a long-range penalty, and he also made two incisions into the line during the build-up for Dan O'Connor's vital try.

Yet, this was by no means a one-man show. The influence in the physical stakes of captain Paddy O'Meara and Brian Coyle was constant, while winger Killian Stafford proved Kearney isn't their only effective runner from broken play.

For much of the contest Terenure dominated possession but an unflinching defence met them. In this regard, centre Fergus McFadden was immense. His late departure through injury will be a major concern.

Terenure attempted to use their physically imposing prop Peter McKiernan off first phase ball but the Clongowes loose forwards were waiting for him. When that failed, they channelled the ball through outhalf Conor Gildea, who produced an excellent performance.

Despite being under pressure for most of the first half Clongowes looked the more dangerous side during their rare forays into enemy territory.

Pierce Cassidy was wide with a drop goal effort in the 20th minute. Four minutes later Kearney chipped over the Terenure defence only to be collared late by Adam Hughes. He dusted himself off before landing the penalty from inside the 10-metre line.

Within a minute Terenure could have levelled the match but Gary Byrne screwed his penalty attempt left and wide.

Two minutes into the second-half, Clongowes produced the game's only try. Kearney made an initial break down the left flank, before he - as ever - offloaded in the tackle. The ball was recycled several times before O'Meara was held up just short of the try-line but after two further drives a gap appeared for O'Connor to touch down. Kearney added the conversion to make it 10-0.

Again, Terenure responded immediately, yet they managed to squander another golden opportunity when a host of Clongowes scavengers turned over possession close to their own line.

The game looked up when both Hughes and influential second-row Alex Dunlop both departed the field, injured, in quick succession.

However, Gildea's side refused to accept defeat. The outhalf continually probed for an opening, emptying his full bag of tricks, which ranged from half-breaks to some outrageous passing.

Shane Durkin looked to have finally found an opening with a chip over the defence only for Kearney to collect the ball and send it 70 metres downfield. Terenure shoulders sagged.

Yet, Clongowes' inability to fashion another score meant the game remained wide open right to the death. A minute into injury-time Terenure's lifeline finally arrived.

By this stage, their pack were taking full responsibility and after a number of drives Michael Mellotte forced his way over to the right of the posts. Byrne was wide with the conversion, leaving them requiring another try to tie the contest.

This proved too big an ask. In the fifth minute of injury-time Clongowes scrumhalf Louis Ronan's box-kick to touch brought Terenure's defence of the cup to an end.

Clongowes now face Newbridge College in the semi-finals on March 2nd, with the other semi-final between Blackrock College and Belvedere College on Monday, March 1st. Both games are at Lansdowne Road, as is the final on March 14th.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 24 mins: Kearney pen, 3-0. Half-time. 37: O'Connor try, 8-0; Kearney conv, 10-0; 71: Mellotte try, 10-5.

TERENURE COLLEGE: C Byrne; A Hughes, G Byrne, G Coffey, S Durkin; C Gildea, R Vij; C Moffat, C Pounch, P McKiernan; S Dunlop, S Duggan; M Mellotte, C O'Hagan, C Smyth. Replacements: A Page for Hughes (44 mins); A Donohoe for Dunlop (47 mins).

CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: R Kearney; R McElwee, F McFadden, D O'Connor, K Stafford; P Casey, L Ronan; D Halpin, M Jacobs, P Crilly, T Shiels, D Fagan, B Coyle, P Lennon, P O'Meara. Replacements: J Rooney for Coyle (59 mins); S Kelly for Fagan (65 mins); J Fitzgerald McFadden (73 mins).

Referee: A Rolland (ARLB).