Gonzaga get their timing just right

MURRAY CUP FINAL/Cistercian College 7 Gonzaga College 19:AN AMAZING brace of tries within four minutes of each other in first-half injury time set up Gonzaga for eventual triumph in the Vinny Murray Cup final at Donnybrook yesterday.

Gonzaga had hardly seen the Roscrea half for the first 35 minutes of the game. But a sudden turnover well inside their own half led to slick Gonzaga handling between backs and forwards and ended with a nice breakthrough by flanker Dominic Ryan, whose touchdown was converted by the reliable boot of centre William McEvoy to put Gonzaga into an unexpected lead.

Ryan's try was followed up almost immediately by another flowing move from Gonzaga's own half which was finished off on the left by right winger Neil Hanratty and again converted by McEvoy.

Roscrea had made all the running in the first half but Gonzaga's two strikes left them in disarray for the second half.

Both sides seemed to slow the game down considerably, with neither pack gaining any advantage, but Gonzaga's 14-point advantage left them in the driving seat until very late in the game.

Roscrea raised some hope for themselves during a long period of second-half injury-time when number eight Séamus Hennessy crossed for a try after 73 minutes which was converted by outhalf David Joyce.

But a scrum awarded to Gonzaga on the Roscrea 22-metre line gave them the opportunity to break forward and number six David Doyle crossed for their third try.

SCORERS: 42 mins: D Ryan try, W McEvoy con (0-7); 46: N Hanratty try, McEvoy con (0-14); 73: S Hennessy try, D Joyce con (7-14); 76: D Doyle try (7-19).

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: J Cody, F Ryan, C Pardy, T O'Halloran, J Devane, D Joyce, K Quinlan, L Hyland (capt), J Hayes, P Duggan, J Magee, B Ennis, L Smyth, P Finn, S Hennessy. Replacements: R Shanahan for Ennis (37 mins); E Wheatley for Duggan (38 mins); R Durcan for Quinlan (43 mins); C Byrne for Joyce (67 mins); T Nolan for Wheatley (69 mins).

GONZAGA COLLEGE: F Doherty, N Hanratty, N Cullen, W McEvoy, D McEvoy, K Tuite, J Cooney, K Larchet, N Rutledge, C Farrell, J Whelan, R Kenny, D Doyle, D Ryan, D Kane (capt). Replacements: A Byrne for Cooney, S Costello for Kenny (both 50 mins); K Ryan for W McEvoy (70 mins).

Referee: Brian Montayne (Leinster Branch).