Leinster Senior Development Cup final / St Mel's, Longford 21 St Mary's, Dundalk 7: St Mel's College became the second winners of the Leinster Schools Section A Senior Development Cup final at the expense of a well-supported St Mary's at Donnybrook yesterday.
The Longford boys crossed the St Mary's line three times in the first half without actually getting downward pressure on the ball.
But in the 32nd minute, St Mel's outhalf Peter Foy was stopped short, but blindside Philip Dardis picked and plunged for the line. Second row Frank Kiernan kicked the conversion.
St Mary's were soon on terms. Centre Gerard Scully cut back against the grain on a sizzling sprint to the line from 30 metres and number eight Stephen Faulkner added the points.
After the break, St Mel's number eight John Geelan powered into the 22 for the ball to be spread for centre Aruna Kanu to slide in for the try. Kiernan's conversion, which deflected in off the upright, made it a double-scores lead.
Foy's intercept try deep into injury-time was the last play of the game.
ST MEL'S COLLEGE: S Meenaghan; S Macken, P O'Halloran, A Kanu, J Connolly; P Foy, B Farrell; E Farrell, C Carey, D Sweeney, F Kiernan (capt), J Duffy, P Dardis, P Donaghue, J Geelan. Replacement: J Donlon for Macken (47 mins).
ST MARY'S, DUNDALK: D Guest; F Duffy, J Lyons, G Scully, J Moran; S Murphy, D Toman; H Mulholland, S Martin, D Maloney, R Cahalane, P McWilliams, D Lyons (capt), S Quigley, S Faulkner.
Referee: A Purcell (Leinster Branch)
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