RUGBY/ Leinster Schools Senior Cup: Clongowes Wood 41 King's Hospital 5Clongowes completely overwhelmed King's Hospital at North Kildare yesterday. The winners were dominant in every sector as they gave an all-round display of quality rugby.
While the back division more than played their part, it was the superiority of the pack that proved decisive and with Ciarán Wade prodding them forward intelligently, they set about breaking the King's Hospital resistance from the outset.
Hooker Tim O'Mahony took the individual plaudits, securing three of Clongowes' seven tries. All the scores came at the end of Munster-style forward rumbles, possession having been secured from lineouts inside the opposition 22.
A wonderfully placed Wade chip forced King's Hospital winger Chris Kelly into touch in the lead-up to the first score and Wade fired over a wonderful conversion from the right touchline with his right boot.
O'Mahony added his second soon after, when Clongowes had opted to kick a penalty to the corner.
Wade was off target with the difficult conversion but added the points from a similar position to his first kick when Robert Timlin scored the third try, again after an outstanding forward effort.
Clongowes also looked dangerous when spreading the ball and winger Gerard Mullen helped himself to a try just before half-time to leave the score at 24-0.
While the King's Hospital pack continued to be outmuscled, they fronted up to a greater degree in the second half and with fullback Ariel Robles a dangerous runner in the loose and number eight Des Murray also capable of providing go-forward possession, they represented more of a threat in the second period.
However, they still found themselves 34-0 down mid-way through the second half, with Lorcan Smyth diving over in the corner and replacement secondrow Gary Hoban touching down in almost the same spot not long afterwards.
King's Hospital did finally breach the impressive purple and white rearguard 15 minutes from time, when Nicky Darragh wriggled free for a deserved score but it was scant consolation.
Clongowes finished on the attack and returned to the reliable template for their final score.
Once again possession was won from a lineout 10 metres out and at the end of another inexorable surge, it was O'Mahony who emerged with the ball for his third try of the afternoon. Smyth converted from out on the right to bring a fitting conclusion to proceedings.
CLONGOWES WOOD:L Smyth; G Mullen, D Cullen, S Kennedy, N McNamara; C Wade, M McLoughlin; J O'Connell, T O'Mahony, M Collins; William M Courtney, N Delahunty; R Timlin, W Larkin, J Larchrin. Replacements: B Glynn for McLoughlin, A Hoban for Larkin; William A Courtney for McNamara; G Hoban for Delahunty, J Mannu for O'Connell; C Kiely for Collis.
THE KING'S HOSPITAL:A Robles; N Darragh, S Wogan, S McGlynn, C Kelly; G Murphy, E Lett; D Murray, D Wiston, I Hurst; P White, D Foley; J Forbes, P du Touit, A Traynor. Replacements: C Armstrong for Kelly.
Referee: B Montayne
