AFTER a pulsating Leinster Schools' Junior Cup quarter-final at Donnybrook yesterday St Mary's just made it by the minimum margin, 18-17, over Blackrock.

After nine minutes Blackrock full back Alex Cahill exploded into midfield. Receiving from centre Andrew Frame, he raced outside his opposite number Gareth Murphy to score a great try in the right corner. Outhalf Alan Dalton converted from the touchline.

St Mary's centre Kieran Lewis and right winger James Norton combined to force Cahill into a try saving tackle but Murphy rewarded the intuitive running of his captain Paul Madden and the driving of prop Colm Barry to land a penalty before half time.

Warming to their task St Mary's ripped into Blackrock on the re-start. After some hectic exchanges Madden seemed to have taken the wrong option in sprinting back into a forest of forwards but somehow his strength got him over the line for an unconverted try.

A superb break on halfway by Madden left the back row floundering. After some rucks Madden moved the ball right and with the Blackrock backs coming up fast Lewis chipped ahead for right-wing Norton to punish the slow turning defence. Murphy converted to put St Mary's 15-7 in front.

Dalton and Murphy kicked penalties within a minute of each, other as the game flowed from end to end. With five minutes remaining Paul Drew, John Montgomery and Dalton created the space for second row Jim McGovern to stretch out and breach the St Mary's line. Dalton converted to make it 18-17 with time fast disappearing.

Then referee Gerry Maher penalised St Mary's for offside on their own 22. Fierce pressure was suddenly thrust onto the young shoulders of Dalton and his effort drifted left and wide.