Belvedere regroup to reach semi final

THE script may not have gone precisely to plan, but yesterday's Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter final served as a lesson in how to overcome adversity for Belvedere College who, 20 minutes into this game at Donnybrook, looked as much at odds with themselves as with their opponents.

St Michael's College had started the game with the sort of intense passion normally reserved for the pre match huddle: every tackle produced a black and white clad victim, and every kick found its target. Such endeavours appeared to ruffle Belvedere, and certainly disrupted any game plan.

So, when Belvedere full back Donal Martin - whose first penalty kick was the subject of much derision among the Michael's supporters when the ball failed to rise more than five feet off the ground lined up another effort in the 20th minute, with his side already trailing 6-0, he was more aware than anyone of the kick's importance. It proved to be high and true Belvedere were back on the right track and, stubbornly, refused to be derailed again.

Indeed, for the rest of the match, Belvedere were a far cry from the one forced to play second fiddle for the opening quarter or so. Of the pack, captain John Logan, loose head prop Sean Brophy and, particularly, lock Fergal Meegan, who won substantial line out possession and also made a number of telling breaks, played key roles in the team's transformation, while the backs launched attacks whenever the opportunity arose, with winger Fearghal Swords, centre Shane Moore and out half Andrew Dunne most prevalent.

Michael's, however, set the early pace. Donal O'Herlihy and Declan Pierce were particularly prominent in the line out exchanges, and the players behind them were eager to keep the ball moving. In this regard, Peter Maughan and Simon Keogh proved most adept and caused considerable consternation among the Belvedere backs.

In fact, one memorably clever interchange between Maughan and Keogh, in the 14th minute, led to Belvedere straying offside and Barry McMahon stroked the resultant penalty between the posts.

Two minutes later, McMahon again punished a Belvedere indiscretion when referee Gerry Maher correctly awarded a penalty for a late tackle on Keogh. Given the impressive manner in which Michael's started the game, it was rather strange that McMahon's second successful kick should end their scoring. But it did. And, if Martin's penalty proved the catalyst, Belvedere gradually assumed control.

An indication of Belvedere's ability to overcome adversity arrived in the 30th minute, when they still trailed. St Michael's scrum half Karl Becker took the wrong option by attempting a drop goal, and Dunne launched a superb break, supported by Swords, who delayed his pass back to the out half with all the cuteness of an old hand and set up Dunne for a clear run to the line.

Referee Maher had other ideas, though, and halted the Belvedere celebrations, alleging a forward pass. It seemed a harsh decision. But, a couple of minutes later, Martin soothed Belvedere wounds by landing a penalty from 35 metres to level the scores.

The real turning point in the game came in the 47th minute. Jarlath Travers, Kevin O'Malley and Dunne web involved in the early part of the move, but it was Moore's meandering run through the Michael's cover which proved decisive, and he passed to the powerful Brophy who went over for the only try. Martin's conversion attempt rebounded off an upright, but the fullback extended the Belvedere lead to eight points with a 52nd minute penalty.

St Michael's best chances to reduce the margin fell to McMahon, but he missed two penalty kicks in quick succession - in the 55th and 56th minutes - and Belvedere, by now strutting with renewed confidence, had negotiated a path into the semi finals.