RUGBY/ Leinster Schools Senior Cup: St Mary's College 34 Castleknock College 7This opener at Lakelands Park yesterday saw St Mary's produce some very attractive rugby to advance to the next round of the competition.
St Mary's were without their exciting wing, Ray Crotty, who toured with the Leinster Schools to South Africa last year. Crotty missed the game due to damaged knee ligaments but there was no shortage of depth on the St Mary's team with Eoin Moriarty coming in on the left wing to score two tries.
St Mary's took just four minutes to break down their opponents defence when, after several phases of play in the Castleknock 22, a short pass out to Darren Hudson sent the fullback over.
St Mary's then produced a wonderful move from left to right involving centres, Maurice Walsh and Peter Finnigan. Hudson came into the line and his well delivered pass set up Eoin Moriarty for a try in the corner.
Castleknock, however, were not out of it with only the quick hands of Hudson averting the danger after a St Mary's kick had been charged down inside their 22.
Having weathered the storm St Mary's went over for their third try on the half hour, when from a scrum close in, Richard Brent broke off the back of the scrum to make the line.
Darragh Fitzgerald added the points and approaching injury time, Hudson's pace took him away from the Castleknock cover before releasing Moriarty for his second to make it 22-0.
Castleknock were offered hope four minutes after the restart when Alan O'Donoghue intercepted just outside the St Mary's 22 before scoring under the posts. Replacement Mark Coffey kicked the conversion.
However, with 13 minutes to go, Mary's made the game safe from Lennon's take off a lineout. Jack McGrath gathered before going over for the try.
And with the game now over as a contest, Mary's then ran in their sixth try through Bent in the closing stages with Fitzgerald converting.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE:D Hudson; I O'Neill, M Walsh, P Finnegan, E Moriarty; D Fitzgerald, S O'Donnell; J McGrath, W Andruecetti, R Ferris, O McGill, R Field, R Lennon, B O' Connell, R Brent. Replacements: K O'Sullivan for Field 66 mins, S Murray for O'Connell 66 mins, G Blackburn for Andruecetti, D Callanan for Ferris, R Sweeney for O'Donnell, E McAleese for Finnegan all 68 mins
CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE:L Townsend; J Ring, C Woodgate, A O'Donoghue, C Doherty; R T Jones, C McCrossan; S McNally, A Bennett, A Sweeney, G Barry, D McDonald, L McConville, S Hafford, D Heneghan. Replacements: M Coffey for Jones half time, J O'Shea for O'Donoghue 51 mins, S Donnelly for Barry 55 mins, P Reilly for McNally, D King for Ring both 60 mins
Referee: R Doyle (ARLB)
