#8 Andrew Murphy

Blackrock JCT 2014

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Supersub Roche on fire as ‘Rock rack up ‘double double’

Blackrock 14 Belvedere 10 Tony Ward – Published 24 March 2014 02:30 AM Blackrock underlined their dominance of the Leinster schoolboy scene by completing back-to-back junior and senior doubles at Tallaght Stadium.

Pity the Blackrock teams to follow in 12 months’ time and the pressure likely to be involved in translating the ‘double double’ into hat-tricks.

For the second time in 12 months, Belvedere put it up to the Williamstown school in the decider before coming up just short.

Last year, seven points separated the sides, this time the gap was just four as Belvo – with ‘Rock reduced to 14 for a time – gave it their all in the final quarter.

In the end the better squad prevailed and so the U-16 trophy rests where it is most deserved – and in a place it knows pretty well at this stage.

Loosehead Alan Francis and centre Liam Turner were particularly prominent early on while outstanding half-backs Patrick Patterson and Peter O’Reilly made sure the Blue and Whites dominated possession and territory for most of the opening half.

But, as in earlier rounds, and with Hugh O’Sullivan and Max Kearney to the fore, the Belvo defence was brave to a fault. They trailed by just four at the break, despite having defended deep in their own half for much of the opening 30 minutes.

Only once did they wilt: midway through the first period, following slick handling by Patterson, O’Reilly, James Moriarty and Turner up the right, the livewire Patterson chose his moment to perfection to snipe and cross for the opening score. O’Reilly converted for a seven-point lead.

Slowly but surely Belvo battled their way back and, in the final minutes of the half, had ‘Rock under extreme pressure.

First Mark Donnelly almost pounced for an opportunist try on the right and then Turner pulled off an amazing corner-flag tackle on Dylan Corrigan Forbes on the left.

The latter did, however, land the points he and his side deserved with the final kick of the half. At 7-3 and with that timely psychological boost for Belvedere, it was game on.

Within minutes of the restart ‘Rock lost ultra-reliable full-back Moriarty to injury yet, such was the immediate impact of replacement Tom Roche, the substitution was almost seamless.

With his first touch, the dynamic Roche set up John Gallagher on the charge before the supersub crossed himself in the 37th minute for an individual try born out of conviction and utter determination – and one that was ultimately to seal a 25th double for his school.

TEMPO

At 14-3, it seemed all over bar the shouting. But with the hugely influential Francis sent to the bin and Belvedere’s Kearney and Sam Osborne upping the forward tempo dramatically, out-half David Hawkshaw struck for a brilliant individual try, with replacement David Lacey adding the extras to narrow the gap to four.

Yet with Francis back on board for the final minutes, ‘Rock got back playing the game where they needed to – deep inside Belvo territory.

The final blast of Dermot Blake’s whistle brought contrasting scenes of agony and ecstasy – but with the cup returning to Blackrock.

Blackrock – J Moriarty (T Roche 37); J Gallagher, L Turner, R Plumtree, R Deegan; P O’Reilly, P Patterson; A Francis, S McLoughlin, A Savage; C Ryan (M Campbell 60), C Delaney (M Carroll); C Reilly (A Noble 54-61), J Fairley, A Murphy (capt).

Blackrock crush ‘Nure to book final spot

Tony Ward – Published 10 March 2014 02:30 AM Blackrock’s Junior Cup team matched their senior brethren and moved to within one match of completing successive Junior and Senior Cup doubles for the first time since 1986/87 in a comprehensive seven-try victory at Donnybrook.

And whether it is Belvedere or St Michael’s next up (they meet in the second semi-final tomorrow), on this emphatic evidence it is going to take some effort to prevent this Williamstown squad from retaining the U-16 title.

You could not but feel for Terenure when, quite apart from going behind to tries touched down by Andrew Savage (five minutes) and fellow front-row Stephen McLoughlin (nine minutes), the first converted by Peter O’Reilly, they almost immediately lost their skipper and playmaker in chief Mark Fabian to injury.

Not 10 minutes in, 12 points down and minus their captain, the writing for ‘Nure was on the wall.

With gifted individuals in skipper Andrew Murphy and Patrick Patterson, wearing eight and nine respectively and at the heart of almost everything creative, there is certainly the basis of another cup winning ‘Rock unit.

Not for a minute am I suggesting anything foregone but certainly they are made of the right stuff.

By the 13th minute they had landed a third try, created and finished by the irrepressible Patterson in a flowing move off the base of the scrum involving powerhouse Murphy and speedy full-back James Moriarty.

Terenure battled back and scored on their first incursion deep into ‘Rock territory as replacement out-half Jake Moore nailed a penalty to narrow the gap to 14. But that was as good as it got, as a deft offload by Carl Delaney created the opportunity for Reece

Plumtree, O’Reilly and Murphy to set Liam Turner racing in for the fourth try and a 22-3 half-time lead.

Terenure gave as good as they got in the third quarter before a sweetly delivered pass from loosehead Alan Francis set the impressive Plumtree racing clear for try number five, with O’Reilly adding the extras.

Further tries from Turner and John Gallagher, the first converted

by O’Reilly, completed the scoring and with it the warning from the reigning champions that this title is not going to be given up easily.

Hat-trick hero Murphy leads ruthless ‘Rock into last four

Blackrock College 53 CUS 0 Leinster Junior Cup Quarter Final Cian Tracey – Published 28 February 2014 02:30 AM Blackrock College eased their way into the last four with a crushing nine-try defeat of CUS at Donnybrook.

After only leading by 12-0 at the break, Blackrock scored seven second-half tries in an emphatic performance. Skipper Andrew Murphy was outstanding, and his hat-trick helped his side to a resounding victory.

Murphy grabbed the first of his tries after just eight minutes, which Peter O’Reilly converted. Ross Deegan touched down for ‘Rock’s second try before the break, and after that the game was over.

Blackrock were rampant after half-time and scored four tries inside 10 second-half minutes. Murphy sealed his hat-trick with two well-taken efforts while Alan Francis and Johnny Fairley scored a try each. O’Reilly added two conversions to put his side into a 36-0 lead.

Scrum-half Patrick Patterson, James Moriarty and Carl Delaney completed the annihilation.

Leinster and Munster Junior Cup round-up

Blackrock Col 37 CBC Monsktown 0 Updated 07 February 2014 02:45 AM Blackrock College prevailed in this south Dublin derby at Donnybrook.

Monkstown struggled to pose a significant threat.

Carl Delaney and Reece Plumtree’s tries had Blackrock 15-0 up and in control at the break. Patrick Patterson and Peter O’Reilly crossed over to wrap it up in the second half.

Blackrock College – J Moriarty; J Gallagher (E Bleakley 55), L Turner (T Roche 47), R Plumtree, R Deegan; P O’Reilly, P Patterson; A Noble (A Francis 35), S McLoughlin (J McShane 47), A Savage, C Ryan, C Delaney (M Carroll 40), C Reilly (M Campbell 47), J Fairley (J Byrne 55), A Murphy

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