THERE WERE three minutes left on the clock when scrumhalf Seán Fahey burst over on the blindside for Sandford Park, Ranelagh, to squeeze past De La Salle Churchtown 29-24 in the first round of the Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Senior Cup at Ballycorus yesterday.

This was a cracking contest, Sandford edging it 5-3 on the try count with a brace from flanker Kris Assaff-Kirk and further touch downs from wing Matthew Tector and James Orr.

De La Salle kept in the hunt with a pair of intercept tries by their captain, Scott Finlay, and scrumhalf Kevin Burke, who also landed nine points from the boot.

St Andrew’s had to recover from the early sucker-punch of a try by Skerries Community College captain Niall Collins to record a 19-5 win at Westmanstown.

Thereafter, the Booterstown side turned up the pressure and the territorial advantage told with tries from number eight Nathan Felton, scrumhalf Daniel Joyce and flanker Killian McCarthy, their captain.

Newpark Comprehensive outhalf Fergal Howley held his nerve to kick the winning penalty three minutes from time in a superb encounter against Gorey Community School (18-17) at Greystones RFC.

This really was a proper cup match in that the lead changed hands five times over the 70 minutes. Centre Ronan Sherlock and flanker Aaron Campbell pierced the Gorey defence, while the Wexford side struck back with tries from forwards James Mulligan, Eddie Earle and Jordan Ahearne.

Wing wizard Phil O’Neill was the hero of the hour with four tries in Newbridge College’s 55-3 eclipse of Wilson’s Hospital at North Kildare RFC.

It was one-way traffic the whole way, O’Neill striking twice in each half together with efforts from right wing Ivan Briody, centre Charlie Ryan, outhalf Mark Sutton, lock Billy Scully and replacement Billy Delaney, while Wilson’s were restricted to a penalty by Reuben Pepper-Hobbs.

Stephen Alexander played a captain’s role for his side with a pair of tries in High School’s facile 40-0 defeat of a game St Conleth’s College at Sydney Parade.