Harried holders are sent packing

Leinster Schools' Senior Cup/St Michael's College 3 CBC Monkstown 30:What a monstrous backrow! The rumours are true and after watching this performance we were compelled to flick through the record books.

Two undoubtedly massive challenges await but CBC Monkstown will never have a better chance to win only their second Leinster Schools Cup.

They will consider it an underachievement if they don't bridge the 32-year gap - or at least make their first final since 1984. The semi-final on February 26th is against a St Mary's team that beat them 15-8 in a friendly last month.

But back to the backrow, where Leinster captain Michael Noone (formerly of Pres Bray) was joined by openside Steve Boucher (who covered every blade of grass) and, of course, imposing leader Shane Grannell.

We heard they held their own against the Seapoint RFC men's team in a warm-up match and on this evidence that sounds about right. Towering locks Richard Ivers and Stephen Flood also deserve a mention, as does hooker David Lewis for the platform created out of touch.

This match was over after 21 minutes when Noone bludgeoned through the midfield for try number three, converted by fullback Chris O'Brien (whose continued accuracy will prove crucial in the coming weeks) to make it 17-3.

Any chance of St Michael's retaining the title they claimed for the first time last season was obliterated by the direct, offloading style of this well-coached CBC outfit.

They did, however, start brightly as hard-working openside Carl Waters faced down the kick-off to tap possession into centre Alex Kelly's grateful arms. Over eager CBC hands at the breakdown allowed Noel Reid to slot a straight forward penalty.

It looked set for a classic, but the Monkstown boys had yet to find their rhythm. They checked for weaknesses everywhere, with Noone forcing an earth-shuddering tackle from St Michael's captain Conor O'Sullivan before Boucher sent Lewis down the short side for a try disallowed for a forward pass.

The dam finally burst on 13 minutes when the exceptional Gary Foley carried Waters over on third phase after the CBC heavies brought play mere inches from the try-line.

The second try was a work of pure continuity, with Foley involved twice in the build up for his centre partner, and fellow Leinster under-19 representative, Killian Jenkinson to finish off near the left corner flag after Boucher supplied the final offload.

Four minutes later, Noone killed off the tie. St Michael's' attempts at a revival continually collapsed due to handling errors, usually forced by a London Wasps-style rush defence. Reid tried to force the issue, but his drop-goal attempt sailed wide, while, in first-half injury-time, O'Brien showed the presence of mind to split the uprights when nothing else was on.

Reid, in his third year as a senior, continued to probe, but one decent break came to nothing due to the opposing forwards' ability to slow ruck ball down. O'Brien then denied Kelly a try after Mark Bollard's hack on caused a ripple of concern in the CBC ranks.

O'Brien kicked another penalty 10 minutes into the second half, but CBC finished the stronger, as a reminder of their already emphatically stated credentials.

Winger Stephen Roberts finished off a scintillating move sparked by Boucher and carried on by a slick diagonal angle from Foley whose well-timed release made the fourth try a formality. O'Brien planted the touchline conversion.

How's that for a statement of intent?

SCORING SEQUENCE: 1 min: N Reid pen, 0-3; 13: G Foley try, 5-3; 17: K Jenkinson try, 10-3; 21: M Noone try, 15-3; S O'Brien con, 17-3; 37: S O'Brien pen, 20-3. Half-time. 45: S O'Brien pen, 23-3; 67: S Roberts try, 28-3; S O'Brien con, 30-3.

CBC MONKSTOWN: C O'Brien; N Rogers, G Foley, K Jenkinson, S Roberts; A Ging, S O'Connor; R Kearney, D Lewis, S Gould; R Ivers, S Flood; S Grannell, S Boucher (capt), M Noone. Replacements: J Fitzsimons for R Ivers (64 mins), D Graham for D Lewis, D Conroy for C O'Brien (both 68 mins); P Crown for S Boucher (70 mins).

ST MICHAEL'S COLLEGE: S Malone; M Bollard, A Kelly, R Cruess-Callaghan, A O'Neill; N Reid, J O'Beirne; C Lorigan, A Pollard, G Featherstone; E MacMahon, K McKenna; C O'Sullivan (capt), C Waters, C Mallon. Replacements: A Walsh for J O'Beirne (45 mins); C O'Connor for G Featherstone (50 mins); S O'Dowda for K McKenna, S Wright-Goff (both 58 mins); C Thurley for A Pollard, A Kealy for A O'Neill, R Croke for C Mallon (all 68 mins).

Referee: P Haycock (ARLB).