Schools Rugby Leinster Junior Cup: Terenure 3; CBC Monkstown 3. Looking back on this game in years to come, CBC Monkstown may rue not turning a mountain of possession into points in yesterday's quarter-final.
Instead, they must try to conjure a new method to unlock a highly disciplined Terenure rearguard ahead of Monday's replay back at Donnybrook.
Time and again they came within inches of landing a knockout blow only to see possession turned over and Terenure outhalf Terry Jones clear the lines.
Eight minutes into injury time they came with a final assault. Captain Gary Foley wisely kicked a penalty close to the Terenure line; hooker Stephen Boucher's inch perfect throw found Richard Ivers, but yet another maul for the line came up short.
They bossed the tempo in the opening half, with only the flawless tackling of the opposition denying any reward.
At least a Killian Horgan drop goal, after his pack put him in striking distance after 15 minutes, ensured a narrow half-time lead.
Terenure also had their moments on the counter-attack, with Conor Allen splitting through the centre on 25 minutes only for flanker Kevin Nolan to make a last-gasp tackle to deny what would have been the try of the competition.
In the second period Monkstown continued to lay siege but all efforts were repelled, in particular, Grannell was well covered off the base of the scrum. With each passing moment, Terenure's confidence grew as it became apparent a single score would not decide this contest.
They duly levelled matters entering the final quarter after a rare sortie into the Monkstown 22 yielded a penalty in front of the posts. Jones blasted over.
Monkstown still appeared to have the greater arsenal, especially out of touch where Ivers consistently supplied clean possession.
TERENURE COLLEGE: W Crawford; S Kinsella, R Williamson, C Allen, M Russell; T Jones, G Flanagan; K Moloney, B Ledge, J Clarke; R Duke, K Flanagan; A Carey, P Ryan, C Fitzgerald (capt). Replacements: C Farrell for A Carey (40 mins), R Byrne for B Ledge, M Boland for W Crawford (both 44 mins),
CBC MONKSTOWN: A Ging; E Cunningham, G Foley (capt), K Jenkinson, E Gallagher; K Horgan, S Roberts; S Devine, S Boucher, D Lewis; R Ivers, S Flood; B Dunne, K Nolan, S Grannell. Replacements: R Kearney for S Devine (41 mins), J O'Connor for E Gallagher (59 mins), S O'Connor for S Roberts (64 mins).
Referee: Andrew Adams (ARLB).
Due to the replayed quarter-final, Blackrock College and Belvedere College will play their Junior Cup semi-final next Tuesday at 4pm in Donnybrook. The winners of Terenure and CBC will play St Mary's on Monday, March 14th, at 4pm, also at Donnybrook. The final is still scheduled for Sunday, March 20th.
