#9 Hugh OSullivan Belvo JCT14

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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).

Belvedere – R Clarke; M Donnelly, C Walsh (P Maher 57), P Smith, D Corrigan Forbes (D Lacey 52); D Hawkshaw, H O’Sullivan; S Osborne, G Murray (A Grennel 50), J Robinson; D Ring, D McKenna (J Crumlish 46, O O’Brien 57); R Byron, C Byrne, M Kearney (capt).

Ref – D Blake (Leinster RR)

Clarke at the double to steer Belvo into decider

Belvedere 22 St Michael’s 13 Tony Ward – Published 12 March 2014 02:30 AM For the second year running it will be a Belvedere/Blackrock final as Belvo got the better of a slicker, but lighter St Michael’s side at Donnybrook.

Michael’s – fired by Darragh Thompson and Dan O’Donovan up front and by impressive, long-passing halves Peter O’Beirne and Harry Byrne – dominated the first half in terms of possession and territory, yet at the end of that opening period they

had only a single Byrne penalty to show for their efforts.

That spoke volumes for Belvo’s first-class defending – and the Great Denmark Street school also had the ability to strike on the counter, particularly through the speedy Rory Clarke and his cutting, clever incisions.

Only once did the black and whites manage to make it into the opposition ‘22,’ but that was all that was needed when full-back Clarke was at the end of a flowing move involving David Hawkshaw and Mark Donnelly for the game’s opening try in the 25th minute.

Winger Dylan Corrigan-Forbes converted, with Byrne’s close-range penalty on the half-hour leaving it 7-3 to Belvo at the break.

In scrum-half Hugh O’Sullivan, Belvo had the game’s most influential player, while in Corrigan-Forbes they possess a place kicker of real substance.

Despite O’Sullivan pulling the strings, though, Michael’s continued to press but could not penetrate the black and white wall.

Corrigan-Forbes and Byrne exchanged penalties, and it was still evenly balanced going into the final quarter, with the Belvo defence plus O’Sullivan’s game management keeping them ahead.

The score that effectively settled the game came in the 49th minute, with the free-running Clarke again the key figure, taking an inside pass and racing impressively for his second try of the game. The pressure stemmed from a really clever clearance kick from O’Sullivan to the corner from well inside his own half.

Out-half Hawkshaw added a third try – an intercept and sprint from half-way – which was converted from the touchline with real conviction by Corrigan-Forbes.

And then, on the hour, Michael’s finally got the try their more rounded play deserved when Chris Carey forced his way over for Byrne to add the extras.

It was much too little far too late as the stronger, more potent unit prevailed to secure a hard-earned place in the final.

Fullback Rory Clarke’s two tries help Belvedere secure Junior Cup final place St Michael’s valiant campaign ends in semi-final defeat at Donnybrook First published: Wed, Mar 12, 2014, 01:00 Belvedere College 22 St Michael’s College 13 A brace of tries by fullback Rory Clarke proved crucial as Belvedere College booked their place in the Junior Cup final following a compelling battle with St Michael’s College at Donnybrook yesterday.

Belvedere, the second-most successful side in the competition’s history with 17 titles to their name, had the chance to get off to a good start with a 35-metre penalty after just two minutes.

Left-wing Dylan Corrigan-Forbes’ kick at goal was firmly struck but rebounded off the woodwork. But St Michael’s, aided by strong work by Harry Byrne and Robbie Dix, immediately showed their resolve and forced their opponents to retreat.

In fact, a fruitful spell inside the Belvo half helped Michael’s to create a three-point chance of their own, and though outhalf Byrne was short of the target from an awkward angle, the Ailesbury Road outfit (who secured the Junior Cup crown as recently as 2012) continued to cause the Belvedere rearguard plenty of headaches.

The deadlock Belvedere eventually weathered this storm, however, and just five minutes before the interval they finally broke the deadlock.

With the pressure on St Michael’s starting to become relentless, Belvo were ready to pounce and the ball was recycled to the right-hand side where the green-booted Clarke provided the necessary overlap and he crossed over with relative ease.

Corrigan-Forbes’ conversion to this score was expertly-converted but St Michael’s responded well and a routine stoppage-time penalty from Byrne ensured they were within touching distance at the interval.

Gavin Knaggs’ charges were certainly not lacking in terms of endeavour and industry at any stage but, despite enjoying another dominant period after the restart, they failed to make their possession count and Belvedere extended their advantage thanks to a 42nd minute Corrigan-Forbes penalty.

Byrne managed to cancel out this score with a similar contribution at the other end midway through the second half. However when Clarke was put through for his second touchdown following terrific approach play from Mark Donnelly 11 minutes

from time, the writing was on the wall for St Michael’s.

A breakaway try via outhalf David Hawkshaw added further gloss to the proceedings for Belvo. St Michael’s registered a deserved Chris Carey try before the finish but it proved scant consolation for them as Belvedere advanced to the March 23 decider.

BELVEDERE COLLEGE: R Clarke; M Donnelly, C Walsh, P Smith, D Corrigan-Forbes; D Hawkshaw, H O’Sullivan; S Osborne, G Murray, J Robinson; D Ring, D McKenna; R Byron, C Byrne, M Kearney. Replacements: A Grennell for Murray, P Maher for Smith (both 52 mins), J Doorley for Byron, C Doran for Walsh (both 59 mins), O O’Brien for Ring (61 mins).

Donnelly shines as Belvo advance Clongowes Wood 3 Belvedere 29 Published 27 February 2014 02:30 AM An impressive five-try performance from Belvedere College blitzed Clongowes at Donnybrook yesterday.

Two tries from winger Mark Donnelly set Belvo on their way to a resounding victory. The Kildare school opened the scoring through a long-range Tom Monaghan penalty.

Cian Walsh then got in for the first of five tries but Dylan Corrigan-Forbes was unlucky with the conversion as it struck both posts before going wide.

Hugh O’Sullivan then created a try for David Hawkshaw on the stroke of half time.

Corrigan-Forbes added the conversion to put his side into a 12-3 interval lead.

Belvedere added their third try shortly after the restart when Donnelly streaked clear for the first of his two tries.

An outstanding individual break from O’Sullivan, who ran from his own ‘22’ before touching down under the posts, pushed Belvo further ahead with Corrigan-Forbes again converting.

Donnelly rounded off the scoring with 10 minutes remaining with another breakaway try. Corrigan-Forbes was wide with his conversion.

Donnelly’s late try swings see-saw battle Belvedere College 15 Gongaza College 12 Published 08 February 2014 02:30 AM Mark Donnelly swooped for a dramatic late try to send Belvedere into the Beauchamps Leinster Schools Junior Cup quarter-finals at Donnybrook.

Belvo’ scrum-half Dylan Corrigan-Forbes launched a huge penalty for the lead in the 11th minute ,which was quickly wiped out by Gonzaga’s No 8 Jack McVeigh from the back of a maul for 5-3 in the 15th minute.

There was a real to-and-fro to this contest as each side took it in turn to dominate the ball.

Gonzaga had to take some of their own medicine when Belvedere hooker Sam Osbourne crashed over from a maul for Corrigan-Forbes to convert.

The Gonzaga pack fought back by showing nice control from another maul, this time moving it for right wing Brian O’Donnell to take an inside pass from fly-half Michael O’Kennedy and he cut through the defence, the latter converting for a 1210 lead at the interval.

The prominence of the maul should not be confused with the overall spectacle, with width and angles onto the ball generally the most chosen route forward.

Belvo’ threatened through full-back Hugh O’Sullivan, Donnelly and centre Roy Clarke, while Gonzaga defended tenaciously, turning over ball on the floor through openside Conor Gleeson and prop James Veale.

It all came down to a blistering attack from Belvedere, spinning the ball right for Donnelly to repel two tacklers and place the ball exquisitely on the whitewash.

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