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Leinster Schools Junior Cup 2016

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Harrison hat-trick sinks Gerard’s St Gerard’s 12 St Michael’s 44 Published 03/02/2016 | 02:30

A hat-trick of tries from St. Michael’s flying winger Zach Harrison in a blistering three-minute spell eased his side passed St Gerard’s in the first round of the Junior Cup. The contest was over by half-time at which point a far superior Michael’s outfit were 24-0 to the good and there was no let-up in the second half despite two consolation tries from Charles Byrne.

Christopher Cosgrave scored the try of the game after 10 minutes as well as kicking two conversions, while Cian McGettigan, Mark O’Brien and Harrison also dotted down in the first half. Harrison’s two tries in two second-half minutes left the contest beyond any doubt and two further scores from Andrew Smith put the gloss on the scoreline before Byrne’s consolation tries, one of which Ben Watson converted.

St Gerard’s School - S Jackson (P O’Connor 48); J Kennedy (L Lalor 33), H Begley (J O’Donovan 53), T Cahill-Hannigan, O Haydock; B Watson, L O’Reilly (R Bisgood 51); L Concannon (J Finnegan 53), R Byrne, B Farrell; D Ashmore, (N Denvir 17) (M Connolly 53) N Dooley; D Carroll (B Hutchinson 53), O Soper, C Byrne (capt).

St Michael’s College - M O’Brien; A Smith, C Cosgrave (T Gilsenan 41), C McGettigan, Z Harrison (E Kelly 43); N Carroll, R Gilsenan (A Headon 41); J Boyle (B Gallagher 50), L Barron (B Victory 50), J Toland (H McGovern 50); J Fish (O Hurley 41), L Dunne; W Hickey, M Hernan (capt) (C Frankling 38), B Gannon.

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St Michael’s impress on the way to Junior Cup semi-finals 25 February 2016 13:12

By Editor Leinster Schools Junior Cup

Christopher Cosgrave was the star turn in St Michael’s moving on to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup semi-final at Donnybrook on Wednesday.

St Michael’s started out at a rate of knots, testing the fabric of the Nure defence in close and out wide with wing Zach Harrison and centre Cosgrave looking dangerous in possession.

The latter’s outside arc and short ball for full-back Mark O’Brien applied enough pressure to force a penalty which Cosgrave struck in the sixth minute.

From the restart, they were refueled in time for Harrison to blaze away up the left and number eight Ben Gannon to eat up the ground.

It was spoiled by a side-entry into a ruck. It should have provided relief for Terenure. The ball failed to find touch and O’Brien went about countering.

The solid ‘Nure lineout and an over-enthusiastic defensive line from Michael’s offered up the chance to move beyond halfway. They just couldn’t make headway.

Leinster Schools Junior Cup Tight-head Joshua Toland made two crucial charges that splintered Terenure and the ball was spun right for full-back O’Brien to make the line at the second attempt when not held in the tackle.

Cosgrave converted for 10-0 in the 13th minute.

It was more of the same from St Michael’s when

Cosgrave’s timing of the pass was exquisite and prop Jack Boyle’s surge put them close enough until number eight Gannon was good enough to make the posts for Cosgrave to convert in the 19th minute.

Terenure just couldn’t get a grip on the game.

Hooker Levi Vaughan, full-back Matthew McGetrick and centre Ross McInnes took it in turns to break forward without any reward.

They looked to be in trouble again before wing Zach Harrison kicked out on the full from counter-attack ball.

It didn’t take Harrison long to make up for that from another sizzling Cosgrave pass, the centre adding two more from the conversion for 24-0 at the break.

Terenure came out transformed from flanker Sean Daly’s spectacular take of the kick-off. There was intensity to their carrying as centres Alex Dempsey and McInnes and McGetrick made an impression.

They just had problems protecting their ruck ball from the scavengers.

They needed a quick score to make a game of it.

That is why St Michael’s celebrated lock Jonathan Fish’s turnover just as they looked like breaking in defence.

When next ‘Nure tried to move the ball out of defence, Cosgrave was there in a flash to intercept for seven points.

It took the core strength of Vaughan to cause a penalty at a ruck. McInnes took off up the left. Number eight Charlie Harpur gathered in a clean lineout at the back. Conor Neill took the direct route.

It was all to no avail as Cosgrave stepped into his

second interception for a clear run to the line for his conversion to take his personal tally to 23 points.

No sooner was he called ashore than wing Andrew Smith broke a tackle for the sixth try for fly-half Niall Carroll to convert. The remarkably consistent Vaughan was nearly through the middle for ‘Nure, leaving McGetrick to streak away for a consolation try. It got even better when Conor Neill’s pop pass put wing Dan Byrne into the sort of space he needed to beat the defence.

At Donnybrook - ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 45 (C Cosgrave 2 tries, pen, 5 cons; Z Harrison, M O’Brien, B Gannon, A Smith try each; N Carroll con); TERENURE COLLEGE 14 (M McGetrick try, 2 cons; D Byrne try).

ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 45 TERENURE COLLEGE 14 Terenure: Matthew McGetrick; Dan Byrne, Ross McInnes, Alex Dempsey, Eoin Molloy; George Morgan (capt), Brishan O’Brien; Adam Byrne, Levi Vaughan, Sam McCoy, Aaron Deegan, Jack Townsend, Sean Daly, Jack Cooke, Charlie Harpur.

Replacements: Ben Vaughan for Harpur 14 mins - temp; Henry Roberts for Morgan 21 mins; Adam Dunne for McCoy ht; Conor Neill for Dempsey 34 mins; Josh Keegan for A Byrne 47 mins; Niall Dowling for Townsend 48 mins; Luke McNamara for O’Brien 51 mins.

Referee: Barry O’Keeffe, Leinster Branch.

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 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.

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.

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.

Rock extended their narrow lead two minutes after the restart when David Fitzgibbon was on hand to

punish Michael’s indiscipline.

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.

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