St Paul's secure double success

Schools' Rugby Leinster Senior Cup: St Paul's College enjoyed a double success at Donnybrook yesterday as victory ensured a place in the semi-final of the Vincent Murray Cup and qualification to the Senior Cup proper.

They will face Newbridge for a place in the final of the Section A competition, while St Patrick's, Navan, will be their opponents in the first round of the main event.

There were plenty of bruising hits from both sides in the first half, leaving little space for scoring opportunities. Templeogue played their forward-orientated style with props Owen Kelly and Paul Collins taking the ball up at every opportunity. However, St Paul's matched them in the physical stakes.

St Paul's were at their most dangerous when they channelled the ball through captain Conor Keegan in the centre. Also, full back Andrew Menton was always willing to test the opposition defence out wide. The only points of the first half came from a Keegan penalty after Templeogue were penalised for offside.

Just three minutes into the second half St Paul's secured an eight-point cushion when Menton found a gap and sent Richard Grimes clear for a try.

Keegan again almost broke the cover after 50 minutes but was held up short by Paul Fitzgerald. Their pressure was rewarded when Keegan slotted two more penalties to bring it to 14-0.

Templeogue's frustration boiled over and Kelly was sent off for foul play in the 58th minute. Soon afterwards the knock-out blow arrived.

After probing the flanks, the St Paul's number eight Mark Hickey almost crossed before tight-head prop David Hegarty bustled over from two yards. Keegan landed a fine conversion.

St Paul's sent out a warning to the elite schools when their back-row trio of Hickey, Conor Ryan and Gareth Reynolds all handled the ball in an 80-metre move that finished with Alan Nagle crossing for their third try.

SCORERS: Templeogue: C Keegan 3 pens, con; A Nagle, R Grimes, D Hegarty a try each.

TEMPLEOGUE COLLEGE: R Hannify; M Halloran, B McNamara, M Ebbs, J Byrne; P McGillion, G Dowling; O Kelly, M Mooney, P Collins, P Foran, R Dever, G Foran, P Tully, A Deacon. Replacements: P Fitzgerald for McNamara (22 mins); J Dunne for Foran (63-64 mins); A Dowling for Mooney; A Ebbs for Fitzgerald; K Sheehan for P Foran; S Shortt for Byrne (All 66 mins).

ST PAUL'S COLLEGE: A Menton; A Nagle, R Grimes, C Keegan, B Gallagher; D O'Halloran, K O'Siochan; F Donnelly, P Finnegan, D Hegarty, K Gaffney, C O'Kelly, C Ryan, G Reynolds, M Hickey. Replacements: D O'Conorain for Finnegan (66 mins); I Tyrell for O'Kelly (69 mins); D King for Gallagher (72 mins); P Cullen for Nagle (73 mins).

Referee: R Doyle (Leinster Branch).