RUGBY LEINSTER SCHOOLS' JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Terenure College 20 Gonzaga College 10IT TOOK a late converted try by flanker Séamus Owens to ensure that Terenure qualified for the semi-finals at Stradbrook yesterday.
Gonzaga scored first with a penalty from scrumhalf Conor Gowing in the fourth minute before Terenure struck for two tries by John O’Sullivan and Gary O’Reilly to move into a 10-3 lead by the 40th minute.
Just when it looked as though Terenure were shifting into top gear, Gonzaga leftwing Seán Crowe showed great pace for a superb individual try from inside his own 22-metre line. This was converted by Gowing to level it up at 10-all in the 48th minute.
Terenure gained the upper hand in the possession stakes, forcing a penalty which was cleanly struck by number eight Rory Murray for a 13-10 lead to give them an edge that wasn’t exactly definitive in the 56th minute.
Time ticked on. A small mistake or a piece of magic was going to make all the difference. It went the way of Terenure, Owens scything over for the insurance try, converted by Murray, one minute from the end of normal time.
GONZAGA COLLEGE:B Goulding; R Fenton, D Meenan (capt), J Daly-Devereux, S Crowe; R McKeever, C Gowing; K White, C Maguire, C Fitzmaurice, S Holly, R Layden, P Ryan, J McNamara, H McVeigh. Replacements: E Garvey for Fenton (27 mins – blood), P Herlihy for Holly (36 mins), D Coyle for Maguire (46 mins), H O'Grady for McNamara (50 mins), E Keane for Fenton (57 mins).
Referee: N Behan (Leinster Branch).
