HAVING already captured the Section A Leinster Schools' Senior Cup, Kilkenny College completed the double yesterday in taking the League final against Newpark Comprehensive at Sydney Parade.
In truth, Kilkenny comfortably handled a Newpark side attempting to make amends for an early cup exit to Wilson's Hospital. To this end, they acquitted themselves well.
Indeed, left wing Shane O'Neill must have been left shaking his head in disbelief as referee Noel Butler sounded the final whistle. For he had plundered a hat trick of tries and still ended up on the losing side.
O'Neill's first try in the fourth minute provided the initial breakthrough in a match decorated by six tries.
But almost immediately Kilkenny number eight, Barry Gahan, responded, crashing over beside the posts for captain Philip Jones to convert.
The irrepressible O'Neill was put away again after 14 minutes, when number eight, Mark Leinster, popped up in midfield to create an overlap. Fullback Philip Bredin once again failed to convert, although his side led 10-7.
Minutes later, Kilkenny right wing Denis Brennan availed of some straight, strong running from his full back, Stewart Williams, to go over in the right corner and thus give Kilkenny the initiative again. They led 12-10 at the break.
With the second half boiling down to a tense battle up front, it seemed unjust that the game should hinge on a singular defensive error. But it did.
Newpark's full back Bredin, attempting to clear his lines, only found the alert Kilkenny centre, Jonathan Shirley, on top of him. The block down enabled Shirley to fall on the ball for the all important try. Jones converted and shortly after added a penalty to leave Kilkenny 22-10 to the good.
It was in these somewhat ironic circumstances that Newpark's O'Neill completed his hat trick in injury time.
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