Blackrock complete a great escape

Blackrock 23 Roscrea 20:This was a great game, prompting Blackrock coach Peter Smyth to wonder aloud if there has ever been a better schools match. And he has seen a few, winning two medals in the mid-1990s.

None of this will provide consolation for outstanding number eight’s Seán O’Brien’s Roscrea team. Blackrock owe it to them to go on and win the competition now.

Down to 14 men after winger-cum-number eight Seán Coughlan was red-carded in the 39th minute, they trailed 20-9 entering the last 10 minutes. But somehow they found their way home. Superior fitness and a stronger bench helped. But Blackrock only won it in injury time.

But to the end game first.

O’Dowd cancelled Roscrea’s numerical advantage by sin-binning prop Jacob Walshe with eight minutes remaining but Blackrock couldn’t score despite some huge plays by backrower Nick Timoney, centre Steve Lawton, lock David O’Connor and fullback Jack Power.

As Walshe and blindside flanker Marc Kelly – replaced due to scrums – returned to the field in the 70th minute Blackrock’s chance seemed to have passed.

But with Charlie Rock directing matters at scrumhalf, they punched enough holes in the Roscrea defence. It was the backrow replacements – Jack Dwan and then Dane Fitzpatrick in the 72nd minute – who bulldozed over the try line to turn the tide. It also helped that Gary Ringrose was flawless from the kicking tee, landing five from five.

In injury time Blackrock were penalised but Dwayne Corcoran’s penalty from the 10-metre line fell short – and with it Roscrea’s chance of winning a first ever title.

Earlier Ringrose’s laser-boot had kept Blackrock in touch after Roscrea outhalf Ciaran Gaffney’s wonder try but they looked finished when, moments after Coughlan’s dismissal, O’Brien arose from an unstoppable Roscrea lineout-maul. Then on 56 minutes, Roscrea made further use of their numbers when Moloney attacked the short side, handing off Rock, to sprint clear.

That made it 20-9, but there was more drama to come.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE:J Power; Z O'Hagan, G Ringrose, S Lawton, S Coughlan; P Quirke, C Rock (capt); J Loughman, T Cooke, O Jager; D O'Connor, G Fenn; R Tyrell, D Fortune, N Timoney. Replacements: L O'Dea for S Lawton (12-23 mins) and for Z O'Hagan, J Dwan for R Tyrell (43 mins), D Fitzpatrick for D Fortune (all 57 mins). CISTERCIANS COLLEGE ROSCREA: F Higgins; T Carroll, C Brennan, D Corcoran, R Wharton; C Gaffney, D Lavelle; J Walshe, C Gavin, O Heffernan; D Trayers, K Buckley; M Kelly, R Moloney, S O'Brien (capt). Replacements: MJ Gavin for D Trayers (47 mins) P Ennis for M Kelly (64-69 mins). Referee: E O'Dowd (LRR).