RUGBY/LEINSTER SCHOOLS' SENIOR LEAGUE FINAL/St Gerard's 20 Cistercian 18:THE ERIC Miller-coached St Gerard's exacted a measure of revenge by beating Roscrea in a repeat of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup semi-final in what was an absorbing Leinster Senior League final at Donnybrook yesterday.
The winners had to do it the hard way too, going well behind to tries from Roscrea captain Conor Finn and outstanding lock Rory Moloney in the ninth and 15th minutes, in addition to a conversion and penalty from outhalf Bill Duggan.
The turnaround had most to do with St Gerard’s making the most of the two gilt-edged opportunities that came their way and outhalf Steve Crosbie’s 10-point contribution from placed balls.
The comeback began with two Crosbie penalties just before the break to leave it 15-6 with the benefit of a strong wind at their backs in the second period.
First, flanker David Symes sprinted over from a clever lineout. Then, scrumhalf Conor O’Rourke showed an electric turn of speed to slash open Roscrea. Crosbie converted both to ensure Duggan’s penalty was not enough to haul St Gerard’s back.
Elsewhere, Gonzaga College left wing Barry Daly pounced for the second of his two tries to salvage a thrilling 33-all draw against Kilkenny College in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Plate final at Naas RFC yesterday.
This was nip-and-tuck all the way, with Gonzaga striking for five tries by Daly (2), hooker Cillian McDowell, centre Stephen Murphy and fullback Richie Lenehan.
Kilkenny was not short on invention either, their quartet of touchdowns coming from centres Ross Bailey-Kearney and Foster Horan, lock Max Barnard-Day and replacement flanker Shane Delahunt.
The accurate kicking of their outhalf Peter Lydon – he shot 13 points – looked like being decisive until Gonzaga took off from behind their own line for Barry to dot down at the post. Conor McKeon’s conversion tied it up.
ST GERARD’S SCHOOL: D Simmonds; J Desmond, C Shiel, R Martin, S Smith; S Crosbie (capt), C O’Rourke; S King, R O’Brien, O O’Neill, H Wojnar, J Prendergast, S Hackett-Delaney, D Symes, J Conan. Replacements: J Roberts for Hackett-Delaney (half-time), K Carroll for Prendergast (56 mins), D Murray for O’Neill (67 mins).
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE, ROSCREA: P O’Dwyer; C Brennan, S Layden, C Finn (capt), M Mellotte; B Duggan, G Gallagher; O Heffernan, D O’Dwyer, C Farrell, A McGrath, R Moloney, A Henderson, E Quirke, C Moloney. Replacements: G Fallon for Heffernan (35 mins), D Kirwin for O’Dwyer (58 mins), R Enright-Mooney for Henderson 62 mins.
Referee: B McNiece (Leinster Branch).
LEINSTER SCHOOLS’ SENIOR PLATE FINAL: At Naas RFC - Kilkenny College 33 (R Bailey-Kearney, F Horan, M Barnard-Day, S Delahunt try each; P Lydon 3 pens, 2 cons); Gonzaga College 33 (B Daly 2 tries; C McDowell, S Murphy, R Lenehan try each; C McKeon 4 cons).
