This was always going to be close, though no one expected it would be won and then lost in injury time. But after a taut afternoon at Lakelands Park, it was The High School who progressed to the second round.
With just three minutes of normal time remaining, Gonzaga won a penalty in front of the posts and decided to kick. Trailing 15-8, it seemed like a slightly ambitious choice. Oisin Crean took the points and then with the sort of dramatic late flurry that is the trademark of schools' rugby, full back Ross McCarron set up Kevin McLoughlin for what seemed to be the winning try. Crean missed the conversion, but the clock was three minutes into injury time.
Yet with remarkable composure, The High School stormed down the field one last time. A final penalty was coolly struck by Phil DeBarra to regain the lead. On the balance, it was just about the deserved result. After DeBarra and Crean exchanged early penalties, The High School gradually started to hold the greater possession. In the 22nd minute scrumhalf David Foran chased a Robbie Burns kick and won the race to the line for the opening try.
Just before the break, however, Gonzaga responded again after a superb team effort ended with Ross McCarron passing outside to Shane O'Brien. He skipped over the line for a delightful try and they turned ends on level terms.
From the start of the second half, Gonzaga were in their heels more than they would have liked. But there was little they could do when DeBarra made the short pass to John Kelly, who displayed great vision and pace to shimmy over the line. DeBarra duly converted.
For a long while, that looked to be the decisive score. Gonzaga then showed great heart to reply once more and even when Crean's conversion hit the upright, the victory seemed to be theirs. However, DeBarra had the final word.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 15 mins: DeBarra pen, 3-0; 18 mins: Crean pen, 3-3; 22 mins: Foran try, 8-3; 31 mins: O'Brien try, 8-8; 45 mins: Kelly try, DeBarra cons, 15-8; 67 mins: Crean pen, 15-11; 73 mins: McLoughlin try, 15-16, 74 mins: DeBarra pen, 18-16.
THE HIGH SCHOOL: R Smyth; H Feldman, S Day (capt), J Kelly, T O'Brien; P DeBarra, D Foran; S Goldsmith, J Collery, T Bass, N O'Byrne, T Egar, F Cooney, S Killoran, R Burns. Replacements - S Loane for Goldsmith (38 mins), J Maher for Killoran (40 mins), E McNally for Kelly (65 mins), Okonji for Loane (68 mins).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: R McCarron; S O'Brien, M Fanning (capt), S Morrissey, D Nix; P Doran, O Crean; J Hamill J McCloskey, P Kilkenny, J O'Regan, K McLoughlin, P Flood, J Eustace, A Condon. Replacements - B McGonagle for Flood (45 mins), B Carr for Morrissey (52 mins), M Murray for O'Brien (66 mins).
Referee: N Lynas (Leinster Branch).
