In recent years new rugby-playing schools have mushroomed all over Leinster. St David's, Greystones created their own piece of history at Merrion Road yesterday in the Leinster Junior Cup when they qualified for their first final against CUS.
Usually, CUS leave their cup expedition until Section B gets underway at the end of January. But, faced with the realism of having to cope with their own dearth in quality at junior level, they opted for the pre-Christmas cup campaign.
Within two minutes, right wing Daragh Kelly was put over by centre Cian O'Sullivan. Out-half Brian O'Sullivan converted following tries by himself and number eight Barry Holmes.
Holmes, scrum-half Ross McKeown and out-half Brian O'Sullivan manned the key positions and it was from here that they drove St David's on to a convincing victory.
CUS's only threat to St David's came from number eight Graham Carty and it was his 19th-minute try, converted by out-half Ray Naughton, that cut St David's lead to 21-7. Unfortunately, St David's response was swift and decisive, with flanker Barry Dorgan going over for a 24th minute try. Two second-half converted tries by Karl Murray and Cian O'Sullivan only served to emphasise St David's superiority.
St David's, Greystones: G O'Farrell; D Kelly, C O'Sullivan, D Finlay, K Murray; B O'Sullivan, R McKeown; A Griffin, D Lee, N Hoey, D Hatton, A Smyth, B Dorgan, K Byrne, B Holmes. Replacements: A Carroll for Griffin; R O'Brien for Smyth both half-time; D Breen for C O'Sullivan 50 mins.
CUS: C Fitzsimons; A Donohoe, B Dunne, G Fennell, S O'Beirne; R Naughton, D Doolin; M Griffin, C Malone, I Pitcher, P Watson, B Fitzgerald, S Davies, B Tarpey-Guiney, G Carty.
Referee: S Kennedy (ARLB).
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