Gonzaga hold out to reap honours

Leinster Junior League Final Conzaga College 13 Wesley College 10 Last season's Leinster Junior Cup finalists Gonzaga College…

Leinster Junior League FinalConzaga College 13 Wesley College 10 Last season's Leinster Junior Cup finalists Gonzaga College gave every indication that they will challenge again this season with this Leinster Schools Junior League final defeat of a brave Wesley College side at Donnybrook yesterday.

It was all one-way traffic early on and tries from Donal Ó Cosaigh and Chris Coughlan, in the fourth and 23rd minutes respectively, gave Gonzaga a 10-0 lead at the break. Indeed they could have been out of sight as Wesley's defending was erratic.

The eventual losers' outhalf Brian McLaughlin kicked a penalty early in the second half. When Gonzaga's Shane Gahan kicked his first, in the 45th minute, it looked as though Gonzaga would win comfortably. However, Wesley's Mark O'Byrne found a way through on the outside of the Gonzaga defence and McLaughlin added the conversion.

There was then just three points in it and Gonzaga were made to sweat for not grounding the ball on at least of one five occasions in which they were held up over the Wesley line.

READ MORE

GONZAGA COLLEGE: S Ryan; C Coughlan, D Ó Cosaigh, R Byrne; G Morgan; S Gahan, M Healy; M Smyth, R Hanlon, E O'Keeffe, I Mays, I McGreal, K Hussey, B Walsh, D O'Sullivan. Replacements: I Eustace for Smyth (37 mins); J Caslin for McGreal (54 mins); N Hanratty for Morgan (56 mins).

WESLEY COLLEGE: A Slazenger; S Turner, S Ashmore, D O'Doherty, M Faria; B McLaughlin, M Darling; J Wrafter, J Brickendon, J Dand, J Coates, A Forrest, B Brady, M O'Byrne, D Lyons. Replacements: S Caldwell for O'Doherty; W Fleury for Forrest (both half-time).

Referee: R Byrne (Leinster).