Leinster Junior Cup: The game's only try from Cistercian Roscrea's frontrow forward Liam Hyland eight minutes into the second half was sufficient to give the Co Tipperary College a narrow, but fully merited, win over St Columba's College, Dublin, at the Oak Park grounds, Carlow, yesterday.
St Columba's absorbed intense first-half pressure but defended strongly to prevent their opponents from scoring.
Against the run of play St Columba's took the lead in the 22nd minute when the talented outhalf and captain Ian McKinley kicked a penalty from the 22-metre line.
Early in the second half Roscrea healed three scrums against the head and from the first of these they scored their try, Hyland using his strength to cross close to the St Columba's posts with Jonathan Coady adding the points from the conversion.
St Columba's were in all-out attack during the final minutes of the game but, in truth, never really threatened the Roscrea try line over the course of the game.
The Cistercian college now advance to a semi-final meeting with Kilkenny College.
SCORERS: Cistercian Roscrea: L Hyland try, J Coady conv; St Columba's College: I McKinley pen.
CISTERCIAN ROSCREA: T Delaney; R Dunne, P Taaffe, R Shanahan, J O'Connor; J Coady, I Quinlan; P Duggan, D Walsh, L Hyland, R Ennis, E McGrath, R Smith, J Hayes, S Hennessey.
ST COLUMBA'S COLLEGE: P Owens; C Nolan, E Wilson, M Shirley, C Fenelon; I McKinley, C Lilly; G Howie, S Jocelyn, A Brown, J Ganley, J Trayer, D Cooper, C Boyd, L Mathews. Replacements: A Lawler (56 mins), S Steven for D Cooper (36mins)
Referee: N Lynas (ARLB).