CBS Monstown - 29 CUS - 0: There are occasions when honesty of endeavour simply will not suffice, where perspiration doesn't guarantee a merited recompense. Catholic University School discovered that at Donnybrook yesterday. They gamely stuck to the task but by the end of this Leinster Schools' Vinnie Murray Cup match there was precious little consolation.
CBC Monkstown were flattered somewhat by the final margin of victory. There is no doubting they were the better team, technically and individually but not to the extent the scoreboard suggested. They outscored their opponents five tries to nil but two of those came in injury time, hooker Brian Clarke's try at the end of the first half and centre Peter McLoughlin's second seconds before the final whistle.
CUS were limited to just two scoring opportunities but outhalf Niall McInerney couldn't post either penalty opportunity. The competed wholeheartedly, tackled without fear but could not retain possession long enough to put their opponents under serious pressure. They needed to get beyond a couple of phases to really test Monkstown but despite some strong running from Robert Savage, Ross McAuley, Gavin Cowzer and Peter Weldon errors undermined their ambition.
CBC Monkstown began nervously and were occasional architects of their own problems largely through inaccurate passing. McAuley was also doing a fine job in harassing CBC outhalf Justin Kinch. However, once the latter bedded into the pace of the game his distribution and decision-making improved.
The team also benefited from the virtually seamless link between the Clarkes, hooker, Brian and second row, Damien, out of touch. This provided an excellent platform for the driving maul, conspicuously effective in making the hard yards.
They also enjoyed an edge behind the scrum particularly in the talented Peadar Nolan and right wing Ken Keogh. On a limited diet they both appeared accomplished players and might have wreaked greater havoc had a little more ball come their way. Number eight Paul Grannell carried ball effectively while Peter Roberts scavenged to great effect.
Kinch's decision to take on a brace of long-range penalty opportunities, all wind assisted, looked and proved to be a mite optimistic. CBC though were not to be denied and on 23 minutes right wing Keogh was put clear on the CUS 10-metre line. He slalomed inside a couple of tacklers and gave centre Peter McLoughlin an unopposed run in. Kinch converted.
In first-half injury time the Clarkes combined at a lineout, the pack rumbled over the line and hooker, Brian came up with the ball. In an effort to play a little catch-up CUS opted to pursue a few risky options and from one such misadventure, the ball was spilled on their own 22 with Kinch the beneficiary as he scooted in for a try, which he failed to convert.
The outhalf, though, was to prove more accurate with the placed ball in the 61st minute when he grabbed a second try, backing himself from close range to step inside one tackle and force his way through another before adding the conversion.
The final try was once again a by-product of strong running by Keogh with the strong-running O'Loughlin on hand to provide the finishing touch from close range. CBC will now face King's Hospital in a repeat of last season's League final.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 23 mins: McLoughlin try, Kinch conversion, 7-0; 35 (+1): B Clarke try, 12-0. Half-time: 12-0. 51: Kinch try, 17-0; 62: Kinch try, Kinch conversion, 24-0; 72: McLoughlin try, 29-0.
CBC MONKSTOWN: R O'Connor; K Keogh, P McLoughlin, P Nolan (capt), C Jones; J Kinch, P Woods; M Murdock, B Clarke, T Fayne; D Clarke, C Shiel-Drohan; C O' Rathallaigh, P Grannell, P Roberts. Replacements: S Verso for B Clarke (58 mins); C Finnegan for Shiel-Drohan (58 mins); A McLoughlin for Jones (64 mins); J McCann for Woods (64 mins); B O'Donovan for O'Rathallaigh (68 mins).
CUS: R Buckley; D Ivory, G Cowzer, C Kane, P Weldon; N McInerney, C Dillon; S Molle, D Macari (capt), E Hessian; J Gough, A Beakey; P Garrigan, R Savage, R McAuley. Replacements: C Doyle for Ivory h-time; J Watter for Kane 54 mins; J Bailey for Dillon (64mins), P Lynch for Hessian 66 mins; R Mangan for Cowzer 66 mins.
Referee: A Adams (Leinster).
