#9 christopher rolland rock jct16 proof

Leinster Schools Junior Cup 2016 gpfoto

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Comerford’s early try key to Rock’s fourth title in a row Blackrock 8 St Michael’s 3 Leinster Schools Jnr Cup Final Cian Tracey Published 17/03/2016 | 02:30

They were, however, gifted three points on the stroke of half-time. Rolland booted the ball into touch thinking that the referee was going bring the half to an end but there was still time for the lineout and after Rock conceded a penalty Christopher Cosgrave stepped up to knock over the kick.

For the fourth successive year, the Leinster Junior Cup will reside in Blackrock College but they made hard work of their victory against a dogged St Michael’s side.

Rock extended their narrow lead two minutes after the restart when David Fitzgibbon was on hand to punish Michael’s indiscipline.

Amazingly, Rock kept up their record of not having conceded a single try in this season’s competition and although questions were asked of their resolute defence, they came up with the answers on each occasion.

In their four games in this year’s Cup, Rock conceded just 18 points but they could have put yesterday’s final to bed had their attack been more clinical.

Niall Comerford was on the field for just 15 minutes but that was all he needed to etch himself into the history books as his stunning try proved to be the difference.

Rock won clean ball off their own scrum and Chris Rolland went down the blindside and fed Comerford who had darted off his wing to score.

The winger picked up an arm injury while scoring and although it was cruel luck that he was forced off, he had made a telling impact.

Guilty Michael’s bounced back well but time and time again they were guilty of making sloppy mistakes when they got into the Rock 22.

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Cosgrave had the chance to again cut the gap but he dragged a long-range penalty wide of the posts and Michael’s hopes weren’t helped when they lost their influential prop Joshua Toland to injury.

Rock upped the tempo with their hugely impressive No 8 Ed Brennan carrying well all game. They should have sealed the win with 10 minutes left on the clock but full-back Ross Barron opted to go himself rather than pass to Richard O’Farrell who would have surely scored in the corner.

Michael’s launched one final charge into Rock territory but brilliant work at the breakdown by Ben Wallace brought a halt to their momentum.

In many ways it was fitting that the final decisive moment was an excellent piece of defending from a side that were by far and away the best in this year’s competition.

Blackrock College - R Barron; N Comerford (R O’Farrell 15), T D’Arcy, G Jones (capt), B White; D Fitzgibbon, C Rolland; L Marshall (T Handrick 50),

B Wallace, L Mion; S O’Brien, J Corless; M Flynn, J Loscher, E Brennan.

St Michael’s College - M O’Brien; A Smith, C Cosgrave, C McGettigan, Z Harrison; N Carroll, R Gilsenan; J Boyle, L Barron, J Toland (H McGovern 34); J Fish, L Dunne; W Hickey, M Hernan (capt), B Gannon.

Indo Sport

Outstanding ‘Rock will take some stopping in Junior final Blackrock College 38 Belvedere College 6 Tony Ward

Revenge was sweet and unforgiving as Blackrock made good the Senior loss to the same opposition with a comprehensive victory in this second Junior cup semi-final at Donnybrook yesterday.

And on this impressive evidence St Michael’s are going to have their work cut out preventing the red-hot favourites making it four under-16 titles in a row. Belvo gave it their best but from loosehead Liam Marshall to fullback Ross Barron and right through the replacements this is a ‘Rock group without an apparent weakness.

Right from the off with Ben Wallace, John Corless and Ed Brennan leading the way control at the breakdown was relentless with Luke Mion crashing over under the posts for a patient and well-worked early try converted by their impressive out-half and goal-kicker David Fitzgibbon.

John Meagher and Fitzgibbon then exchanged penalties as Belvo settled to the enormity of the task. Donnacha Donnelly’s athleticism out of touch was as effective as it was eye-catching. That and a powerful defensive performance kept ‘Rock at bay and just 10-3 ahead at the break.

However, within minutes of the restart the writing was on the wall as the back three of Barron, Niall Comerford and Ben White began to see more quality possession.

Both wings and the full-back refused to die with the ball.

A timely pass from Tim D’Arcy to Barron following a sweeping backline move paved the way for try number two. Fitzgibbon landed the massive conversion from the touchline for a 17-3 lead. Despite the rising tide Belvo never folded and Cailean Mulvaney landed a massive

penalty in the 38th minute to narrow the gap but that was as good as it got. Four minutes later and a decisive break from the talented Fitzgibbon resulted in Wallace, Mion and the electric Jack Loscher handling for the latter to side-step his way over the line for try number three. Fitzgibbon again added the extras. The same player was again centrally involved when paving the way for Corless courtesy of the free-running Barron to crash over next to the posts with the out-half again converting. The powerful Brennan then added the icing in the final minute with try number five for Charlie Reilly to complete the scoring. On this impressive evidence they look nigh on unstoppable.

BLACKROCK - R Barron (R O’Farrell); N Comerford, T D’Arcy, G Jones (Captain), B White; D Fitzgibbon (C Reilly), C Rolland (S Dunne); L Marshall (T Handrick), B Wallace (K McQuaid), L Mion; S O’Brien (C O’Neill), J Corless; M Flynn, J Loscher, E Brennan.

the break before David Fitzgibbon’s penalty made it 8-6 on the half-hour mark. Blackrock were driven on by No 8 Ed Brennan and Wallace as the physical toll began to tell on the valiant Pres defence, in which centres Jack Gallagher an Jordan Mortell showed great resilience. It was not enough against Rock’s finely tuned pack with Wallace picking up tries as the tail-gunner to two mauls in the 36th and 49th minutes on either side of Comerford’s second effort.

They ran the clock down from there as replacement Charlie Reilly closed it out with the 58th-minute penalty. Blackrock - R Barron; N Comerford, T D’Arcy (J Freeman 56), G Jones (capt), B White; D Fitzgibbon (C Reilly 56), S Dunne (C Rolland 50); D McKeon (L Marshall 44), B Wallace (T Handrick 56), L Mion, J Corless, C Duffy (S O’Brien 7), M Flynn (C O’Neill 54), J Loscher (K McQuaid 56), E Brennan.

Irish Independent

Pres Bray - S O’Dowd; C Mulvaney, J Mortell, J Gallagher (P Ford 58), J Pyper; M O’Gara (capt), B Murphy (R Houlden 55); K Sredojevic (C Lacy 37), D Maloney (R Dobra 54), C Magee, C Lawless, R McDonald, S Graham, C McNulty, C McKay.

Comerford keeps Rock on course for fab four Blackrock Col 28 Pres Bray 6 Leinster Schools Junior Cup Quarter Final Hooker Ben Wallace and winger Niall Comerford scored two tries each as Blackrock booked their place in the Junior Cup semi-final at Donnybrook yesterday.

The Williamstown school are hunting down a fourth consecutive title at this level and they looked odds-on to breeze though when Comerford evaded more than one tackle on his way to a try in the 10th minute. Pres then started to take control through the scavenging of their back-row Sam Graham, Callum McNulty and Ciaran McKay and outhalf Mick O’Gara turned possession into points with penalties in the 15th and 18th minutes.

They were looking a good bet to take that advantage into

Ref - T Townend (Leinster) Indo Sport

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