Irish Schools TrialProbables 28 Possibles 12 It was hardly the apposite vehicle to showcase individual talent. Two scratch teams, playing on a sodden surface, buffeted by a gale and sheeting rain that finally gave way to hailstones on the final whistle is hardly conducive to entertaining rugby.
Factor in a plethora of changes both "inter-team" and from the sideline, two periods of 25 minutes and one of 20 minutes and it's not hard to see why Saturday's Final Irish Schools Trial was more to be endured than enjoyed.
To their credit, the players tried manfully and some excelled in the adverse conditions, none more so than the Probables fullback, Robert Kearney.
The Clongowes schoolboy demonstrated pace, balance, strength and quick feet and that quite apart from a staggering contribution with the placed ball. He kicked four conversions from as many opportunities, three from the touchline and one into the teeth of the wind.
He helped his team to a four try to two victory, the Probables' scores coming from hooker Sean Cronin centre Tom Gleeson, right wing Rory Drysdale and replacement outhalf Tom Barry.
The Possibles responded with a try from Newbridge left wing Fionn Carr, replacement right wing Conor Quinn (Glenstal), the latter of which was converted by RBAI's Jonathan Watt.
Set-piece play was a lottery on the day so it was more in broken play that individuals caught the eye, notably flanker Ron Boucher, Liam Casey, Darren Cave, Gleeson and David Sherry for the Probables. Their opponents battled bravely up front, led by Chris Kenefick and Gavin O'Meara and boasted the best scrumhalf on view over the 70 minutes in High School's Matthew D'Arcy, who comfortably outshone last year's Irish number nine, CBC Cork's Duncan Williams. In mitigation, the latter was returning after a month's lay-off due to concussion.
Two Ireland Schools teams will be announced later today. The senior side will play the Ireland under-19's and a younger XV will take on their Ireland youths counterparts. Both matches will be played at Terenure College on January 29th.
PROBABLES: R Kearney (Clongowes); R Drysdale (BRA), T Gleeson (PBC Cork), D Cave (Sullivan Upr School), P Shallow (Rockwell); C Doyle (Ard Scoil Rís), D Williams (CBC Cork); B McGovern (St Mary's College), S Cronin (Ard Scoil Rí), L Casey (Ard Scoil Rís); D Best (Ballyclare HS), D Toner (Castlenock); R Boucher (CBC Monkstown), D Sherry (Ard Scoil Rís), B O'Mahony (Crescent).
POSSIBLES: E Ryan (PBC Cork); K Barden (Belvedere), E Flanagan (Castlenock), M Suiter (Rainey ES), F Carr (Newbridge College); K Lett (Kings Hospital), J Burns (Coleraine AI); R Stirling (Belfast HS), G O'Meara (St Mary's), P Collins (Templeogue); C Kenefick (PBC Cork), F Walsh (St Munchin's College); D O'Reilly (Blackrock), N Melbourne (Rockwell College), M Connaughty (Ballymena Academy).
Replacements (all used): T Phelan (St Saran's), C Quinn (Glenstal), B Walpole (Ard Scoil Rís), A Kelleher (PBC Cork), J Watt (RBAI), T Barry (Rockwell), M Darcy (High School), T O'Kane (St Gerards), C Knipe (RS Armagh), G Walsh (Blackrock), C McInerney (St Mary's), J Cornett (RS Armagh), D Gardiner (St Munchin's), P O'Meara (Clongowes), S Young (Kings Hospital).
