VINNIE MURRAY CUP:HIGH SCHOOL came within four minutes of completing the first real shock of the Leinster Schools' Vinnie Murray Senior Cup when they were thwarted by a 66th-minute converted try by King's Hospital's Ian Fitzpatrick in the second round at Lakeland's Park yesterday.
The pendulum swung over and back in this thriller as HS held a 5-3 lead at the interval from a try by their captain Stephen Alexander. This was quickly wiped out by lock Conor Kenny’s effort, restored by wing Conor Sexton’s try only for Fitzpatrick to surge to the posts, and Josh Dowds to convert to seal the 15-10 win.
St Andrew’s College lock Greg Jones stamped his authority all over their 21-3 defeat of Newpark Comprehensive at Railway Union.
Three first-half penalties from out-half Peter Crowley put Andrew’s into a nine-point lead at the break. Newpark out-half Fergal Howley stepped up to hit a 44th-minute penalty to make a game of it, considering the breeze was in the losers’ favour.
It was then Jones showed his knack for being in the right place at the right time to take two crash balls to the line to seal the deal.
Newbridge wing Phil O’Neill made it six tries in two matches with a brace in the 43-10 defeat of a brave Sandford Park at Westmanstown.
Sandford had their moments in this one, left wing Cian Martin and centre Niall Campbell pilfering tries in the second-half as they recovered from the concession of four converted tries in the first.
Newbridge’s strength rests very much in their backline from which they scored all six tries, centre Charlie Ryan sniping for a couple, along with left wing Ivan Briody and full-back Dan O’Loughlin.
Wesley were far too good for Templeogue at Kilternan, running in five tries that were contributed by back rowers Niall Carmody, Harry Bower and Andrew Walsh, centre Johnny Lewis and left wing James Quinlan.
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
At Railway Union – St Andrew’s College 21 (G Jones 2 tries; P Crowley 3 pens, con); Newpark Comprehensive 3 (F Howley pen).
At Kilternan – Wesley College 39 (N Carmody, J Lewis, H Bower, A Walsh, J Quinlan try each; T Hawe 2 pens, 4 cons); Templeogue College 0.
At Westmanstown – Newbridge College 43 (P O’Neill, C Ryan 2 tries each; I Briody, D O’Loughlin try each; R Mullen pen, 5 cons); Sandford Park School 10 (C Martin, N Campbell try each).
At Lakeland’s Park – The King’s Hospital School 15 (C Kenny, I Fitzpatrick try each; J Dowds pen, con); The High School 10 (S Alexander, C Sexton try each).
