Belvedere Collage 13 Conzaga 8 As a contest it was never less than enthralling, more for the tension associated with a close encounter rather than the quality of rugby. There were cameos of excellence but they were few and far between as errors and infringements were more commonplace but compensation was to be found in the sharply changing fortunes of the combatants.
The outcome was undecided until Belvedere outhalf Ian Keatley kicked a second penalty on 66 minutes but even then the winners had to endure several nervous moments as Gonzaga threw body and soul into trying to secure a lifeline. It was a game to which either side could reasonably have laid claim.
Belvedere were the more assured in the opening throes of the contest, introducing pace and precision to their game that seemed destined to earn a reward. Keatley had an early opportunity but couldn't convert a penalty award and it was Gonzaga captain Michael Boland who posted the first score from a similar chance.
Unfortunately for the Ranelagh school they ceded the initiative immediately from the restart when penalised at a ruck, with Keatley making no mistake. There were 24 penalties awarded by referee Eanna O'Dowd, probably encompassing the A to Z of possible infringements.
Gonzaga had lost full back Mark Kelly to a damaged shoulder on 22 minutes but the league winners were coping admirably. Daniel O'Sullivan was a useful option out of touch and around the pitch. Tomas O'Dea, Brian Hannon and James Egan were equally effective in the loose. Boland explored every channel close in and further out, while replacement Shane Gahan manufactured several half breaks.
Tommie Toomey also had a fine game albeit from an unpromising start. A Gonzaga penalty was reversed in Belvedere's favour as the centre was singled out for some infringement. Keatley kicked to the corner and number eight David Gilchrist was driven over, with the outhalf adding the conversion.
The second half was barely 90 seconds old when Toomey atoned for his earlier misdemeanour. Boland showed great hands to collect a low pass and his nicely-weighted pop pass, allied to Toomey's clever angle, saw the latter cut through the Belvedere cover on halfway. There was still plenty to do but a change or direction and a lovely arcing run saw Toomey cross for an excellent individual try; Boland could not add the conversion.
It was the signal for sustained Gonzaga pressure and when Gilchrist was sent to the sin bin for an infringement at a ruck, Belvedere fortunes looked precarious.
It proved deceptive as it was the latter that raised the tempo and quality of performance. Gonzaga wing Shane Hanratty did very well to get between Belvedere centre Brian Moran - he had made a superb break - and right wing Peter Woods to prevent a certain try. Replacement full back Colin Murphy might have given Belvedere a little leeway on the scoreboard but lost the ball forward over the Gonzaga line following a good run.
Belvedere sought to control the football and in this respect Eoin O'Malley and the excellent Cian Healy racked up the yardage. It was from just one such surge by Healy that yielded the final penalty opportunity that Keatley gratefully accepted.
Gonzaga desperately sought a chink of light in the Belvedere defence as they launched a sustained assault in the closing minutes but came up agonisingly short.
Scoring sequence: 23 mins: Boland penalty, 3-0; 24: Keatley penalty, 3-3; 35 (+1): Gilchrist try, Keatley conversion, 10-3. Half-time: 10-3. 37: Toomey try, 10-8; 66: Keatley penalty, 13-8.
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: R O'Brien; P Woods, E O'Malley, B Moran, D Kenna; I Keatley, L Power; M Cuddy, C Healy, E Byrne; G O'Rourke, C Pendred; R Fitzgerald, D Gilchrist, R Carson (capt). Replacements: P O'Donohue for Power (41 mins); C Murphy for O'Brien (46 mins); M Dufficy for Moran (51 mins).
GONZAGA COLLEGE: M Kelly; S Hanratty, T Toomey, P Arnold, S Ryan; M Boland (capt), J Gethings, R Upton, B Hannon; D O'Sullivan, Sam Hodgins; J Egan, T O'Dea, D O'Shea. Replacements: S Gahan for Kelly (22 mins); J Moriarty for Hodgins (27-30 mins); Moriarty for O'Dea (57-58 mins).
Yellow card: D Gilchrist (Belvedere College) 41-48 mins.
Referee: E O'Dowd (Leinster).
