CLONGOWES WOOD, who beat St Mary's in the semi final of last year's Leinster Schools Senior Cup, repeated that win in the second round of this season's competition with a hard fought victory at Donnybrook yesterday.
Left wing David Hourihane got his side off the mark after just six minutes when he landed a penalty from the right hand touch line after St Mary's were penalised for going over the top at a ruck.
That penalty proved to be the only score of the half and at half time seemed scant reward for the territorial advantage Clongowes had enjoyed. However, it was also true that St Mary's rarely threatened a score in that opening period and that their forwards especially she front row, were under pressure.
The game was turned on its head three minutes into the second half when right wing Robert Daly drifted into the centre and, after getting possession 10 metres inside the Clongowes half crossed in the corner for an excellent try.
Fifteen minutes into the half Hourihane looked set to score for Clongowes as he raced onto Ciaran Finane's crossfield kick, but a lucky bounce gave St Mary's a reprieve as the left wing knocked on.
But there was to be no let up and from the resultant serum St Mary's out half David Kelly was only able to find touch five metres out. Clongowes flanker Rory Hussey won possession at the back of the line out and though he was held up short of the line, St Mary's were unable to prevent prop Conor Matthews from barging over for the crucial try, which Hourihane converted.
St Mary's out half David Kelly was off target with a penalty from 30 metres a short time later and when captain Stephen Conlon was forced to leave the field with 12 minutes remaining, St Mary's chance of avenging last year's defeat seemed slim.
Their best chance came 10 minutes from time when the ball was moved wide from a serum inside the Clongowes 22. Fullback Alan Shirley came into the line at pace but was tackled as he attempted to cut inside when he might have been better advised to pass to John Fortune outside him.
