AN outstanding second half display from St Columba's scrum-half, William Passmore proved the turning point in yesterday's pulsating Leinster Schools Senior Seconds League final played at Donnybrook.

Passmore took the game by the scruff of the neck just as Roscrea's forward power was beginning to tell and ran in the final try of the game.

Columba's had raced into a 12-0 lead with a try from Nicholas Fryday, converted by Nicholas Wheeler, and one from Jonathan Wardell, before scores in quick succession from Roscrea's Patrick McCarthy (2) and Joseph Hogan turned the game on its head.

A penalty from Wheeler brought it back to 15 points apiece and it was then that Passmore and company began to exploit gaps in the Roscrea cover. Halfway through the second half, Columba's had fashioned a 27-15 lead, with wing backs Fergus Drake-Lee and Fryday went going over in opposite corners. Wheeler converted Fryday's try.

Roscrea proved resilient, and Colin Smyth atoned for earlier misses by kicking his first successful penalty. Then, with four minutes to go, the scrum-half converted a Brian Hall try to leave just two points between the sides.

But Passmore then jinked in under the posts, and Wheeler converted.