RUGBY/Leinster Schools Senior Cup: Blackrock College 46 St Gerard's 10With the competition still largely at the muscle-flexing stage, this match-up can be remembered for the resilience of a young St Gerard's team in the face of a relentless Blackrock onslaught.
True, the 65 times champions registered eight tries, but for the briefest period the 100 to 1 outsiders held sway yesterday, deep in enemy territory no less, as Blackrock RFC provided the venue.
Flanker David Bourke's audacious seventh-minute try seemed such a shock to Blackrock that they struggled to assert complete authority until well into the second half.
There were of course mitigating circumstances. They never looked like losing and rested several frontline players, suffering from illness and niggling injuries that would have been risked in, say, the quarter-final against Clongowes on February 3rd.
The six-day turnaround meant no key component was overly exerted, thus we learned very little about Blackrock's candidacy for the Leinster Schools Cup. The bench was emptied long before the inevitable conclusion. It was sensible management.
The remit was simple: get the job done without risking any casualties although one concern this morning is outhalf Lorcan O'Daly, who was replaced, albeit by Leinster schools player Brian Kinston, before the interval with a bruised ankle. The race is on for the place-kicker to make Sunday's game.
Clongowes may have sent out a similar warning in dismantling The King's Hospital down in North Kildare, but Blackrock showed enough glimpses of quality to be treated as serious contenders. Flanker Barry Kelly and prop Simon Schuster stamped their authority on matters with Blackrock's opening tries, while the pack in general look capable of rising to whatever challenge is presented.
A gem for the next three Cup campaigns has also been unearthed in fullback Andrew Conway. He pocketed a hat-trick here, delivering the final pass for as many, in a truly assured performance for an under-16. Aficionados of schools rugby will recall his brilliance in the 2007 Junior Cup final victory over St Michael's. There is certainly more to come.
Also, the physicality of Brendan Macken, son of coach Frank, makes him a constant threat in midfield while winger Gavin Greene is a quality finisher.
But the opening scene belonged to Gerard's. After Kelly's early try, the Bray schoolboys bombarded a seemingly impregnable blue and white try-line, that is until Bourke gathered from a ruck to dive at the feet of the Blackrock defenders.
Wicklow minor footballer Jordan Egan added the conversion to put them 7-5 in front. His penalty attempt moments later was wide but he nailed Gerard's only other scoring opportunity before half-time. By that stage Blackrock's third try from winger Niall Kilcullen had them 17-10 in front.
St Gerard's adherence to a defensive structure, and sheer courage under fire, forced an extra phase or offload from every Blackrock score. The on-field leadership of Gareth Crotty and the coaching of Tony Ward must be commended.
The constant promptings of outhalf Steven Toal-Lennon also deserves a mention.
Conway raced over for two of his tries, followed by Greene with stand-in kicker Macken missing all three touchline conversions before a try was finally engineered from distance. It was Macken who broke the line before sending Conway clear.
Left wing Alan Philpott claimed the eighth touchdown after good work again by Conway and Macken, who added his second conversion to complete the day's scoring.
The return of scrumhalf Alan MacGinty, number eight Ross Hartnett and Irish schools prop Denis Buckley will bring Blackrock on as the campaign takes a defining turn next Sunday at Donnybrook.
Clongowes remain favourites to progress but an epic duel is guaranteed.
SCORING SEQUENCE - 6 mins: B Kelly try, 5-0; 9: D Duggan try, 5-5; J Egan con, 5-7; 16: S Schuster try, 10-7; L O'Daly con, 12-7; 28: N Kilcullen try, 17-7; 32: J Egan pen, 17-10. Half-time. 41: A Conway try, 22-10; 50: A Conway try, 27-10; 54: G Greene try, 32-10; 60: A Conway try, 37-10; B Macken con, 39-10; 66: A Philpott try, 44-10; B Macken con, 46-10.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE:A Conway; N Kilcullen, B Macken, C Rhatigan, A Philpott; L O'Daly, P O'Shea; D Hillery, P Kilcoyne, S Schuster; J Murphy, M Cawley (capt); B Kelly, D Fawsitt, C Barry. Replacements: B Kingston for L O'Daly (30 mins), K O'Riordan for C Barry, A Lyons for S Schuster (both half-time), T Parsons for D Fawsitt (40 mins), G Greene for N Kilcullen, R Hoey for C Rhatigan (both 51 mins), S Lambe P Kilcoyne (61 mins).
ST GERARD'S SCHOOL:J Egan; C McKeown, J Crosbie, S O'Brien, C Cafferky; S Toal-Lennon, R Glynn; G Crotty (capt), P O'Donnell, F Maxwell; A O'Reilly, A Bowtell; D Bourke, A Roche, D Duggan. Replacements: R Maxwell for A O'Reilly (57 mins), J Glynn for J Crosbie (61 mins), H Sherry for F Maxwell (68 mins).
Referee: B McNeice (ARLB).