EMMET RIORDANtalks to two members of the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup winning side who are equally adept on the Gaelic football field

BLACKROCK COLLEGE’S domination of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup continued apace on St Patrick’s Day as the school notched up title number 66 with victory over Terenure College.

The present crop have drawn favourable comparisons with some of the great teams that have graced the halls at Williamstown down the years, with the backline coming in for plenty of praise for the ingenuity and skill best demonstrated by fullback Andrew Conway’s brilliant opening try at the RDS.

And a crucial cutting edge was provided throughout the campaign by wing wizards Liam McHugh and Calum Rowden, two players who added their considerable Gaelic football skills to the mix.

Both wingers played minor football for their respective counties last summer; McHugh lining out at wing back for Dublin, with Rowden at corner forward for Wicklow. And they believe the experience with the round ball certainly helped them prosper with the oval variety.

“I’d say it helps because there’s no offside or that in Gaelic, it’s an open field game so you’re always looking around and your vision improves because there are people everywhere. It also helps with catching and keeping your eye on the ball,” says McHugh, who plays with the Cuala club in Dalkey.

“Once you get into space in rugby I feel I have a lot more awareness than other people might have,” he adds.

Rowden backs up his colleague’s assertions and claims the sharpness required in football can offer those vital extra seconds to exploit an opponent’s weakness.

“It’s the ability to see opportunities that’s the main thing. In Gaelic you’re not used to having time, but you can still deal with the pressure. That helps with the rugby,” confirms Rowden, who has also transferred a fine kicking game across the codes.

“It’s made such a difference, the Gaelic; accuracy-wise it makes you a more complete player.”

The two 18-year-olds have had to put their football careers on the back burner somewhat, dedicating their time to rugby in their bid to add a senior cup medal to the junior title they won back in 2006.

“It wasn’t the nicest decision to have to make, a few friends weren’t too happy, but they understood it,” admits McHugh, who also missed out on another day out on TV.

“Cuala were involved in Celebrity Bainisteoir and I missed out on that. I couldn’t play a few league matches and we got promoted to senior recently and I missed that match also.”

With so much emphasis on rugby over the last few months, McHugh believes it might have taken him a bit of time to readjust, although he admits his tackling has improved by playing both codes.

“When you’re playing both sports around the same time, you have to make sure you don’t hop on someone’s back, you have to wait and catch up with them and tackle them properly.

“I find that the rugby helps my tackling in Gaelic football, as it has got more physical lately, especially playing with adult teams in the last few years. If I hadn’t played rugby I would have been a lot weaker.”

Although McHugh followed his father, Willie, a former Leitrim under-21 footballer, into the game at a young age, Rowden’s early sporting achievements came with his local rugby and soccer clubs in Greystones, while he also played with St Joseph’s in Sallynoggin.

His Gaelic career took off when he moved to Ballinaclash, near Rathdrum, and he joined the Ballinacor club. A late arrival at Blackrock College, Rowden admits the pace was completely different to anything he was used to, but he would go on to play his part in the Junior Cup success in 2006.

It wrapped up the double for the school, with Grand Slam winner Luke Fitzgerald helping the senior side to glory. He has provided a perfect role model for the two present wingers.

“I would look up to him, he’s unbelievable,” says McHugh. “It’s only his second year playing Six Nations and he’s won a Grand Slam.”

Of course, they have a few role models excelling at Gaelic football also, with four former ’Rock students on the Kilmacud team that won the All-Ireland club title at Croke Park on the same afternoon they triumphed over Terenure.

So when the tough decisions have to be made, will they follow the path taken by Fitzgerald and Brian O’Driscoll or join the likes of Mark Vaughan and Mark Davoren?

“It’ll definitely be Gaelic for me,” admits McHugh. “I just like it more as a sport. Rugby is a lot of set plays and it’s too stop-start. Gaelic is a lot more spur of the moment.”

Rowden is keeping an open mind at this stage, although both agree that the memories they will take from their rugby successes will live with them forever.

They may even play together in the future with the pair hoping to study PE courses at St Mary’s College in Twickenham after they do their Leaving Certificate in June. Two talented wingers who have a lot more to offer, whatever the code.