St Michael's backs can break through

LEINSTER SCHOOLS CUP FINAL: St Michael's College v Clongowes Wood College:SEPARATING THESE schools, who are meeting in a senior final for the fourth time, will probably require a moment of inspiration.

Maybe it will come from St Michael’s conjurors Alex Kelly and Cathal Marsh.

Or from Clongowes fullback Stephen Macauley, who is capable of something special, as is Conor Gilsenan, a natural athlete, who switches from number eight to the blindside flank to accommodate under-19 international cricketer Jordan Coughlan.

In basic terms, Clongowes have been relying on their fearsome pack while St Michael’s have constantly sought to utilise a devastating, heads-up counter-attack.

The Clongowes selections of Coughlan and Jack McMahon at outside centre represent the only changes in personnel from both semi-final line-ups.

St Michael’s overcame Newbridge and Castleknock, but reached their fourth final (the previous three have also been against Clongowes) by ruthlessly halting the fairytale march of Eric Miller’s St Gerard’s, who giant-killed last year’s finalists Terenure and defending champions Blackrock.

Kelly is a brilliant centre, surely destined for the Leinster Academy and the professional ranks, with the rare ability to calmly offload in traffic. When heavily marked in the semi-final, he gave an intimidating defensive performance.

Marsh has provided a Gallic flair at outhalf to rip open three-quarter lines.

Yet their surprise package has been fullback Cormac Diamond. The Irish Schools’ selectors began making inquiries after three immaculately composed displays from the Dublin minor footballer.

Up front, second-year captain Emmet MacMahon – one of seven returning players highly motivated by a heavy defeat to Blackrock in 2009, never mind defeat in the last three Junior Cup finals – runs an impressive lineout and exudes natural leadership qualities. The 15-year-old flanker Daniel Leavy has been a no-nonsense revelation alongside number eight Paddy Dix and Chris Kenna in a mobile backrow.

Clongowes have a bigger pack, which over-powered The King’s Hospital and Kilkenny before a hard-fought win over St Mary’s, when they survived down the home strait with 14 players.

Their captain, Robert Hynes, also leads from the secondrow, while tighthead prop Ian Prendiville – one of five to feature in defeat to Terenure last season – requires at least two tacklers to stall his stampedes.

The unrelenting industry and agility of flankers Nick McCarthy and Gilsenan could prove irresistible.

Macauley is not the only strike runner feeding off the clever distribution of David Quirke, with the O’Suilleabhain twins, Oscar and Garret, along with Aaron Thompson, all capable of shredding the most solid defensive line.

And that is what St Michael’s possess, conceding just one try in three outings. If Marsh finds his place-kicking range they look capable of adding to their solitary, 2007 title and firmly establishing themselves as a major player in Leinster schools rugby.

This promises to be an enthralling spectacle this afternoon as the best teams in the competition square off.

Tough call, but St Michael’s by the narrowest of margins.

CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE: S Macauley; O O'Suilleabhain, J McMahon, G O'Suilleabhain, A Thompson; D Quirke, D O'Meara; E Byrne, E Lewis, I Prendiville; T Beirne, R Hynes (capt); C Gilsenan, N McCarthy, J Coughlan. Replacements: S O'Riordan, T Collis, T Byrne, S O'Keeffe, S Burke, M Maxwell, N Jones.

ST MICHAEL'S COLLEGE: C Diamond; M Corballis, A Kelly, M Craig, D Egan; C Marsh, L McGrath; K Duffy, F Barry, D Reynolds; E MacMahon (capt), S O'Connor; D Leavy, C Kenna, P Dix. Replacements: A Murphy, W Browne, S Hogan, S McGarry, K Jones, C Gilsenan, N Van Der Laan.

Referee: J Carvill (ARLB).

Paths to the final:

St Michael’s College

beat Newbridge 28-7

beat Castleknock 41-3

beat St Gerard’s School 15-6

Clongowes Wood College

beat The King’s Hospital 13-5

beat Kilkenny College 37-12

beat St Mary’s College 10-9