Schools Vinnie Murray Cup final/King's Hospital 36 CBC Monkstown 25: Commendable heart and application ensured King's Hospital emerged triumphant from a titanic struggle with CBC Monkstown for the Leinster Schools' Vinnie Murray Senior Cup at Kilternan yesterday.
It looked as though CBC's silky smooth backs would be the crucial difference as fullback Anthony Quinn and right wing David Finnegan (twice) finished beautifully crafted moves that made the most of their own initiative and King's Hospital's ill-advised attempts to run the ball out of defence.
Blindside Shane Grannell's appearance on the left wing provided the extra man for try number four for Monkstown as Hospital did all they could to hang onto to CBC.
A Ciarán Donohue outside break, a penalty try and outhalf Harry Murphy's goal-kicking meant that they trailed by a mere seven points (22-15) at the break.
It was a different story on the turnover as King's Hospital finally managed to close down space in midfield. CBC could only manage a John McGann penalty.
While Donohue knifed over for his second try, fullback Paddy Davis took a gap when it was on offer in the 52nd minute and replacement Sam Murphy sniped for the line in injury-time.
KING'S HOSPITAL: P Davis; J Pearson, T Spiers, C Donoghue, C Coyle; H Murphy, S Treacy; J Brady, A Darragh, B White, P Stewart, R Evans, R Wallace (capt), J Marron, D Russell. Replacements: R Moore for Darragh 32 mins; K Young for Marron 57 mins; L Feighery for H Murphy 58 mins; S Murphy for Treacy 66 mins.
CBC MONKSTOWN: A Quinn; D Finnegan, R Kohls, G Foley, S Stephens; P Whelan, J McGann (capt); K Finlay-Mulligan, B Clarke, D Steyaert, D Kennedy, R Fayne, S Grannell, C O'Raghallaigh, J Rodgers. Replacements: D Lewis for Clarke 56 mins; J Clarke for Finnegan 64 mins; S Flood for O'Raghallaigh, B Dorgan for Quinn both 66 mins; Finlay-Mulligan 68 mins.
Referee: D Woods (IRFU).
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