RUGBY CONNACHT SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP - QUARTER-FINALS: Calasanctius, Oranmore10 Marist Athlone 23LEAGUE CHAMPIONS and cup favourites Marist Athlone were comfortable winners over Calasanctius College at Oranmore yesterday. Marist ran in three second-half tries to Calasanctius's single late effort to progress to the semi-finals, where they will meet either Rice College Westport or Development Cup runners-up Clifden.
Marist opened the scoring through Connacht schools’ outhalf Ben Carty on 16 minutes and restricted their hosts, who had wind advantage, to three points from scrumhalf Kevin Finneran, who levelled in the 20th minute.
Carty stroked his side ahead 10 minutes after the break and, with the wind at their backs, their tactical kicking caught out the defence more than once. It led to Irish schools’ player Robbie Henshaw’s try, and eight minutes later Harry Hughes ran in from 30 metres, with Carty converting. When Eoin O’Reilly added a third for 23-3, there was no way back for the hosts.
C ALASANCTIUS, ORANMORE: D Hennesy; M Kavanagh, N McLoughlin, P Hackett, S Neary; M Coyle K Finneran; T Hoxford, P O'Donnell, D McArdle (capt), G Burke, L Folan, J Lardiner, A Officer, D O'Brien. Replacements: C Beirne, C Hansberry, T O'Reilly, M Donahue, S Carroll, R Steplaton, C Steedman.
MARIST ATHLONE:E O'Reilly; H Hughes, R Henshaw (capt), R Sheridan, C Langdon; B Carty, R Reilly; B Teape, S Flanagan, S Meunargia, J Flynn, C White, D Lynch, B Cooper, J Cooper. Replacements: J Gormally, C McGrath, N Carr, Roert Ashe, G Costello, E Maher, S Dempsey.
Referee: Joe Doyne (Connacht).
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