SCHOOL RUGBY LEINSTER SENIOR CUP FINAL Blackrock College 18 Terenure College 9FORENSIC EXAMINATION in the video room and implementation of an effective game plan inevitably leads to any good team crumbling, but the great sides always find a way. The proof of just how magnificent Blackrock College's 66th Leinster Schools' Cup winning team really were will only be revealed in time.
Certainly there are three players with the potential to go all the way, and another half dozen who should retain similar ambitions, but as a collective the manner in which they soaked up Terenure College’s territorial approach before striking two incisive blows in the third-quarter displayed a confidence and patience so rare in sporting teenagers.
Jordi Murphy’s young men were the best team in Leinster. Terenure, led by Robert Duke but continually inspired by outhalf James Thornton, deserve their runners-up medals and provided worthy opposition. In another year they would be kings and with Thornton keeping ball away from the devastating running ability of fullback Andrew Conway, with a fine exhibition of line kicking, it was up to other Blackrock players to make inroads.
Murphy was immense, be it clearing out rucks, nailing the big Terenure rumblers or providing link play for his sniping halfbacks Paul O’Shea and Brian Kingston.
Brendan Macken also lived up to his reputation, making yardage despite the presence of Terenure’s respected centre partnership of Ross Williamson and Dominic O’Dowd. His hand-off and outside breaks almost saw Blackrock out the gate by half-time, but Terenure’s resilience must be credited.
They only trailed 6-3 at the interval thanks to a clever Thornton drop-goal, on their only foray into the Blackrock 22. Macken was wayward with a responding effort two minutes later but the counter-rucking ’Rock pack ensured Kingston was provided the platform to land two penalties.
Clearly frustrated by Thornton’s boot forcing them backwards in the opening half-hour, Murphy’s pack upped their aggression before half-time and cracks duly appeared. O’Shea sprinted into open field off lineout ball from Conor Barry with Murphy and then Richard Liddy keeping the break alive before feeding the ever-alert winger Calum Rowden, but his grubber was carried over by Terenure fullback James O’Donoghue. From the resulting siege, Blackrock won a penalty under the posts that allowed Kingston to give them a lead they refused to surrender.
The first wayward punt of the day led to Conway ghosting past four defenders despite a complete lack of space to do so. Moments later he crossed for the opening try to make it 11-3. Off an attacking scrum, Macken drew the backrow and centres before a cleverly disguised pass put Rowden away. An early offload saw Conway glide over.
Kingston missed the conversion but, after a Thornton penalty reduced arrears, the Blackrock outhalf secured the result when exploiting the drift defence to disappear through a gap for a 40-metre run in. It was a try born out of the quick thinking by Liddy, who played advantage off a Terenure knock-on to gallop into enemy territory. Kingston’s conversion made it 18-6 and with Terenure never threatening a line break it seemed like a long road back. The territorial game was abandoned but the loss of scrumhalf Kevin O’Neill hardly helped matters, although Cathal Deans gathered a clever cross-field kick by Thornton only for the cover to halt his long strides to the line.
Terenure refused to buckle and five replacements were thrown into the fray, but Blackrock seemed to enjoy the defensive endeavour as much as their ultra-awareness in attack.
Hooker Patrick Kilcoyne got through an abundance of work, Barry carried well off the base of the scrum or it went wide to Macken. Kicked long and Conway came back at pace.
It’s hard to pick a man-of-the-match but Murphy for his leadership and constant presence – at one point he obliterated a three-man Terenure ruck before collaring O’Neill for turnover ball – probably edges out his teammates.
The captain, along with Macken and Conway, will move onto higher grades but to neutralise such an accomplished Terenure outfit and make it seem a comfortable victory, while playing attractive rugby, is the best compliment that can be given. “Even in the last 10 minutes we were over a converted try ahead but our philosophy has always been to play rugby,” said Murphy. “Whether we are on our line defending a two-point lead we’d still go out and try and score the seven points.”
A unique group and deserving champions.
Scoring sequence:2 mins: B Kingston pen, 3-0; 4 mins: J Thornton drp gl, 3-3; 33 mins: B Kingston pen, 6-3. half-time. 38 mins: A Conway try, 11-3; 46 mins: J Thornton pen, 11-6; 57 mins: B Kingston try, 16-6; B Kingston conv, 18-6; 60 mins: J Thornton pen, 18-9.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE:A Conway; L McHugh, B Macken, K Curran, C Rowden; B Kingston, P O'Shea; D Buckley, P Kilcoyne, A Lyons; J O'Beirne, J Murphy (capt); D Fawsitt, R Liddy, C Barry. Replacements: C Fitzpatrick for K Curran (63 mins, inj).
TERENURE COLLEGE:J O'Donoghue; C Kelly, R Williamson, D O'Dowd, H Moore; J Thornton, K O'Neill; P McCormack, S Reid, R Burdock; R Duke (capt), Cathal Deans; A Clarkin, C Shanahan, E Joyce. Replacements: N Casey for K O'Neill (58 mins, inj), S Doherty for A Clarkin (61 mins), B Mooney for R Burdock (63 mins), M Hyland for D O'Dowd (65 mins), G O'Doherty for C Shanahan (69 mins).
Referee:Dudley Phillips (ARLB).
