THREE tries in the space of five minutes half way through the first half put St Conleth's on the road to a comprehensive victory over Firhouse in their first round Leinster Senior Cup match at the CYMS ground in Terenure.
Firhouse, who were playing in the competition for the first time, more then held their own in the early stages, and even took the lead, when their captain and outhalf, Brian Spain, landed a penalty in the third minute.
The St Conleth's captain, Lochlann Quinn, put his team on terms with a penalty on 15 minutes and then the floodgates opened. After a bout of sustained pressure hooker Stephen Halpenny dived over from close range. Two minutes later, from a five metre scrum, the ball was fed out to Louis Lavelle, who crossed in the right corner. Then scrum half Brian O'Connor raced through from 40 metres to score his first try.
Firhouse regrouped and number eight Paul Sheerin made a hreak for the line from the back of a scrum and though held up short, he managed to get the ball away to scrum half Aidan Tyrrell - who got over in the left corner.
The St Conleth's half backs, Quinn and O'Connor, took control in the second half. A kick ahead from Quinn brought play up to the line. Second row David Earlie went highest in the line out and dived over for his side's fourth try.
O'Connor, who is only 15, darted through for his second try on 60 minutes and in the closing stages, Quinn capped a fine performance with a try. He also landed a second penalty and five conversions.
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