LEINSTER SCHOOLS' SENIOR CUP Blackrock College 20 Belvedere College 13:THE CHAMPIONS got off to a respectable start at a cold yet well-attended Donnybrook yesterday, but let us dispel any potential hype about the current Blackrock version. They are by no means a replica of the all-conquering 2009 edition.
That type of team comes along only once every 10 years or so.
The current crop are well coached, by former Leinster hooker Peter Smyth, and full of enthusiasm, but victory here was assisted by a malfunctioning Belvedere lineout and practically no territorial kicking, so crucial for a foothold in the modern game.
And so, Blackrock progressed without too many heart palpitations thanks mainly to a three-minute period in the first half that yielded two well-taken tries from outside centre Caolann Fitzpatrick, their most dangerous strike runner, and number eight Richard Marsh, who was later sinbinned after five successive Belvedere penalties at the breakdown.
Kick-off was delayed by 12 minutes due to the late arrival of one of the match officials, but it was Belvedere who shot out of the blocks with an early try from winger Mark Kavanagh. It came off turnover ball, quick hands on the short side and Kavanagh’s natural finishing instincts.
Then the Belvedere scrum laid down a marker by shunting their opposing eight back. If only their lineout could have produced such solidity it would have been a nail-biter of a contest.
Blackrock outhalf and captain David Godfrey reduced arrears with a penalty, but Belvedere centre James Hart responded with a penalty to make it 8-3 for a tackle before the ball off a planned backrow move.
The northside Jesuit school, champions in 2008, had all the momentum at this juncture, but a near certain try died on the turf after good continuity by Kavanagh and fullback Cian Kennedy only for Hart to fumble the last offload.
Blackrock eventually forced a path into enemy territory after yardage by Fitzpatrick and fullback Barry McGuinness set the stage for 14 points in a golden period between the 25th and 28th minutes.
Fitzpatrick’s try was all his own after clean, off-the-top lineout ball saw him running straight and hard as the first receiver. The centre produced an extravagant sidestep to beat Belvedere captain and number eight Michael Oyuga before his pace took him clear of the cover.
From the restart, flanker Con Sheehan buried Oyuga with a massive tackle. Belvedere retained possession, but an attempted box kick by scrumhalf David Shanahan was blocked and gathered by Sam Cooke, who released Marsh for another sprint to the line.
Godfrey added the extras to make it 17-8 at the break and leave Belvedere needing some serious inspiration, along with a dose of luck.
They got both in a third quarter which was notable for referee John Carvill penalising the Blackrock forwards at five successive rucks, with Marsh yellow-carded (seven minutes at schools level) after the fifth breakdown.
However, Cooke and Jack Kelly continued to destroy the Belvedere lineout.
Still, hope came a minute before Blackrock ended the numerical disadvantage as Belvedere’s other winger, Donal Murray, produced a moment of excellence, slipping four tackles to complete a run from halfway. Hart missed the conversion but a four-point game was impossible to call.
Blackrock upped the tempo with flankers Pierce Dargan and Sheehan seemingly everywhere, ably assisted by hooker Patrick Carroll and prop Tyrone Morgan. Godfrey landed what proved the insurance penalty on 57 minutes after a bout of intense pressure.
Gabriel Fulcher’s young men were not prepared to fold and continued to carry hard at the Blackrock line, but a distinct lack of ingenuity, as basically big Shane Lynch or Oyuga rumbled off first-phase, meant any well-organised defence could halt any advances at the gainline.
Belvedere went to their maul but it was stalled. The midfield offered little penetration and supply to their dangerous wingers was laboured; five minutes of injury time was not enough to get them into opposing territory.
As mentioned, any comparison to last year’s Blackrock seniors would be unfair as they were an exception even by this school’s lofty standards. Not even Fitzpatrick could break into the 2009 starting XV, but along with McGuinness and Mark Roche, working off Godfrey’s intelligent delivery, there is plenty of quality out wide.
Up front, however, is where they can make a mark with an industrious backrow, flexible frontrow and rangy, domineering locks.
They may not win a 67th title this season, but it will take a ruthless and highly structured team to kill them off. Same as ever really.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: M Kavanagh try, 0-5; 9: D Godfrey pen, 3-5; 13: J Hart pen, 3-8; 25: C Fitzpatrick try, D Godfrey conv, 10-8; 28: R Marsh try, D Godfrey conv, 17-8. Half-time. 49: D Murray try, 17-13; 57: D Godfrey pen, 20-13.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: B McGuinness; J O'Sullivan, C Fitzpatrick, C McEllin, M Roche; D Godfrey (capt), M Walsh; S Wijntjes, P Carroll, T Moran; S Cooke, J Kelly; P Dargan, C Sheehan, R Marsh. Replacements: D Walsh for R Marsh (50 mins). Sinbin: R Marsh (42 mins).
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: C Kennedy; M Kavanagh, F McManus, J Hart, D Murray; J Fitzgerald, D Shanahan; C Duffy, C Walsh, S Lynch; D Van Buren, P Farrelly Pendred; J Conroy, N O'Flynn, M Oyuga (capt). Replacements: J McHugh for J Fitzgerald (half-time), D Lynch for J Conroy, A Slein for D Van Buren (both 44 mins).
Referee: J Carvill(ARLB).
