O'Kane leads way

St Gerard's...17 Newbridge College...10: As surprises go this rates pretty highly. But for those at Donnybrook yesterday the only shock was the small margin of victory as St Gerard's were crowned champions of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup, Section B.

They looked set to be just another small school to crumble on the big stage when Newbridge outhalf David Ahearne put his side 10-0 in front with a 28th-minute penalty.

Yet, this merely served to loosen the shackles. Led by captain Tony O'Kane, St Gerard's used the rolling maul to telling effect and even scored a try off it to go in front with 10 minutes remaining.

They had been caught out after 16 minutes when Gary Delahunt sliced through the centre to touch down near the posts.

Crucially, right on half-time an excellent try from Alan Power reduced the deficit. It came compliments of some slick handling, started by Zach Desmond's excellent pass out of the tackle. Power even added the extras.

Still, all hope seemed lost when St Gerard's coughed up the ball a yard from the try-line with 12 minutes left. Newbridge cleared, but from the resulting lineout the impressive Kevin Durkan slipped it up the proverbial jumper before O'Kane and company drove him 15 yards to the line.

They even had enough time for a third try when Stephen Monahan crossed in injury-time, after another forward drive brought the scrumhalf close to the line.

So, the Vincent Murray Cup leaves Dublin, but not for the expected destination.

ST GERARD'S: G Fahey; C Gildea, A Power, G Mooney, N Burke; R Morrisson, S Monahan; T O'Kane (capt), G Sinnott, C Kenna; R Lee, S Duffy; D Byrne, Z Desmond, K Durkan. Replacements: B Wojnar for Kenna (55 mins).

NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: D Tinsley; M Healy, G Delahunt, S Roe (capt), M Neylon; D Ahearne, S Cleere; B O'Shea, N Barton, B Shanahan; M Kindregan, S Griffin; D Miley, R Mulryan, C Doyle. Replacements: B Grady for Doyle (44 mins), E Craig for Griffin (62 mins).

Referee: E O'Doul (ARLB).