Terenure survive tough test in defence of their title

LEINSTER SCHOOLS' JUNIOR CUP Terenure College 8 St Mary's College 6:HOLDERS TERENURE College just about survived a hectic examination of their credentials by St Mary's College in the Leinster Schools' Junior Cup first round at Donnybrook yesterday.

St Mary’s were out of the blocks quickly, their lock Eoin Rochford, centre Fred Daly and fullback Kevin Caldwell making a positive impression with and without the ball. More than that, when they got hold of it, they were loathe to give it away. This has always been their way.

Jack-of-all-trades number eight Ronan Kernan, also doubling up as their lineout thrower, shot St Mary’s into the lead from 40 metres out in the 15th minute.

Terenure were able to call on five starters from their cup-winning run last season. There was a sense of Terenure waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen until they went behind. Centre Stephen O’Neill equalised from right of the posts. Even then, St Mary’s returned to their continuity game changing the point of attack, constantly asking questions the champions did not always have the answers to. Kernan kicked a beauty from the right to make it 6-3 at the interval.

There was a transformation in Terenure’s attitude thereafter, with outhalf Jordan Lynch pulling the strings and centre O’Neill the catalyst for getting over the gain line. The tide was turning.

The weight of pressure told when O’Neill surged to the line from the edge of a ruck only to strike the upright, for the second time, with the conversion.

It was a ding-dong battle from there to the end as St Mary’s threatened from all angles and Terenure trusted their defence, refusing to concede a penalty even in the most perilous situations.

TERENURE COLLEGE: R Church; H Nwankwo, S O'Neill, J McCormack, T O'Brien; J Lynch, G Clarkin; K Colgan, J Carroll, S Borza, R Somerville (capt), M Murphy, N O'Sullivan, P Thornton, H Brewer.

ST MARY'S COLLEGE: K Caldwell; B Hoey, F Daly, S Molony, C Dunne; B McAuliffe, B Flood; A O'Connor, C Whelan, N Davis, M Farrell, E Rochford, T Lynch, G Fitzgerald (capt), R Kernan. Replacements: S O'Brien for O'Connor 52 mins; A Davis for Lynch 59 mins; L Wallis for Hoey 61 mins; D Lyons for Dunne 68 mins.

Referee: G Glennon, Leinster Branch.