Deegan touches down for decisive score

Leinster Schools' Junior Cup - St Michael's College 15 Castleknock College 10:TRIES FROM centre Adam Leavy and number eight Max Deegan triggered a successful St Michael's College comeback in the Powerade Leinster Schools' Junior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook yesterday.

Initially, their outhalf Matthew Gilsenan smacked over a 36-metre penalty in the fifth minute when a Castleknock College attacker carried the ball into contact only to fail to release on the floor.

An immediate response ended with Castleknock outhalf Cian Doody pulling a penalty left into a difficult wind before he tied it up from just to the right of the posts in the 15th minute for the defence moving up offside.

There were half-chances created for Castleknock wings Seán McEntagart and Keith Doyle, but nothing concrete came of it until Doyle popped up in the centre to break a tackle for a try, converted by Doody, for a 10-3 lead four minutes after the break.

This was the cue for Leavy to put the foot down for 60 metres in a surge that eventually earned a penalty for the havoc it caused. Not content to take the points, St Michael’s played keep-ball for Leavy to power in under the posts. Gilsenan converted.

The tide was turning. Props Oisín Joyce and Harry Redmond led the charge for territory and certain handling ended with Deegan escaping around the outside to push St Michael’s five clear on the hour.

ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: G Duffy; K Victory, A Leavy, J O’Connell, O O’Meara; M Gilsenan, D Duggan; O Joyce, J Bollard, H Redmond, C Cregan (capt), J Ryan, A Penny, C McGettigan, M Deegan. Replacements: S Smith for Duggan, W Butler for Penny (both ht); J Browne for Joyce (68 mins).

CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE: C O’Shea; S McEntagart (capt), L Reilly, K Dixon, K Doyle; C Doody, C Lynch; Z Butt, K Murphy, S O’Heir, R Murrells, J O’Sullivan, C Gleeson, D Moran, N O’Riordan. Replacements: C O’Doherty for Lynch (44 mins); M McQuillan for Reilly (62 mins); T Hanlon for Murphy, C Fagan for OHeir, A Tallon for Murrells (all 65 mins); D Scanlon for Moran (69 mins).

Referee: G Glennon (Leinster Branch).