Belvo #4 Conor McCaffrey low res

Belvedere College SCT 2015

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Sports Photography

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#4 Conor McCaffrey (VC)

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Belvedere have too much for Monkstown at Donnybrook Belvedere College 42 CBC Monkstown 14 Centre James McKeown was the highlight-reel hero with a hat-trick of tries as Belvedere completed the final four in the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup at Donnybrook.

CBC would have taken note of the exploits of Clongowes Wood and Roscrea in overturning St Michael’s and Blackrock, respectively, in what has been the year of the underdog. But, they could never really land a significant blow at Donnybrook on Friday until it was way too late.

Belvo’ launched a series of impressive raids that yielded tries for wing Seán Long, centre McKeown (2) and outhalf Conor Jennings as they moved ruthlessly 32 points clear by the interval.

There was a clear impression that they would not go the way of other favourites and the quality of their handling belied the greasy conditions on a mild, wet afternoon.

They were swift to switch the play from one side of the field to the other to make use of their speed men with Long particularly impressive cutting in off the wing and McKeown as a consummate support runner.

It was merely a matter of McKeown completing his set of three and Hugo Sexton completing the half dozen by sliding over in injury-time.

In between, brave CBC did manage to find some sort of rhythm to their play, mainly through the maul. There was plenty of commitment and enthusiasm from captain Hugo O’Neill, prop Alex Holmes, hard-hitting centre Ben Mahon and number eight Joe Halwax.

They owned the final quarter and stitched together two tries by Halwax and replacement Seán Tinney, both converted by centre Mahon.

In the immediate aftermath, Belvedere were drawn against Clongowes in the first semi-final on Tuesday March 3rd, while Leinster League finalists Newbridge and Roscrea will duel it out the next day, both back at Donnybrook.

Belvedere: H O’Sullivan; E Cleere, J McKeown, D Monaghan, S Long; C Jennings, G O’Kelly; M Sweeney (capt), A Hynes, E Molloy, C McCaffrey, B Egan, J Iredale, M Kearney, T de Jongh. Replacements: O McGrath for

O’Kelly 2 mins – temp; O McGrath for Long 43 mins; F Dillon-Kelly for Molloy 44 mins; S McNulty for Kearney; J Kenny for McCaffrey both 50 mins; H Sexton for McKeown 51 mins; C Galvin for Iredale 57 mins; D McCaffrey for Hynes 65 minutes.

O’Sullivan at the double as Belvedere lay down marker Gonzaga College 5 Belvedere College 32 (Leinster Schools Snr Cup) Of the ‘big four’, Belvedere College have generally been regarded as the outsiders but yesterday’s five-try blitzing of Gonzaga suggested the northsiders will be right in the hunt for the title.

Scrum-half Hugh O’Sullivan, who was excellent throughout, scored two tries as Belvo brushed aside the challenge of a ‘Zaga side who were no match for the physicality and intensity that their opponents brought.

Led by the outstanding centre partnership of Sean Long and particularly James McKeown, Belvo were keen to put the ball through the hands early on and their relentless pressure eventually paid off when Tom De Jongh forced his way over from close range.

Conor Jennings added the extras and did the same four minutes later after McKeown brilliantly danced his way past four defenders.

O’Sullivan intercepted a looping pass to streak 40 metres clear on the stroke of half-time to put Belvo into a commanding 19-0 lead.

It took Belvo just five minutes of the second half to add their fourth try as Long capped a fine individual display with a try.

‘Zaga hit back with what was a mere consolation when Harry Brennan was on hand to finish off an excellent move that he had started himself.

Belvo would have the final say, however. Jennings kicked a penalty before O’Sullivan got over for his second of the afternoon.

Tougher tasks lie ahead for Belvo, but an impressive early marker has been laid down.

Belvo survive late Clongowes blitz in classic to reach final Clongowes 26 Belvedere 27 With 53 minutes on the clock, Belvo, who were in complete control and threatening to run riot, led 27-5 but few would have predicted what transpired in the closing stages.

Belvo haven’t lifted the cup since 2008 and haven’t reached a final since then, but they will never get a better chance to end that drought.

The Dublin school dominated the first half and went into the break 15-0 in front after an error-strewn Clongowes performance.

Oscair McGrath ensured that Belvo’s early pressure counted when he crossed for a try in the corner after eight minutes.

Conor Jennings brilliantly kicked the touchline conversion before capitalising on a defensive error by Michael Silvester to score a try of his own.

Belvo had several chances to punish Clongowes even further but they had to settle for just one other Jennings penalty before half time.

When Eoin Cleere finished off a sweeping team move eight minutes after the restart it looked like curtains for Clongowes, but Donal Mongey gave his side a glimmer of hope with a try.

Belvo responded immediately and substitute Dan McCaffrey’s converted try made it 27-5 to put his side on the brink of the final.

McCaffrey, however, was sent to the sin bin shortly after and Clongowes took full advantage with three tries in a blistering seven minute spell.

Rowan Osborne spotted a gap in the defence and darted over the whitewash and while Fionann Madden added the extras, time was very much against his side.

Three minutes later captain John Molony burrowed his way over from close range and suddenly the Kildare crowd were in full voice and the players believed that the seemingly impossible was on.

Madden again converted and did the same after James Lappin intercepted a wayward pass to score from 70m. The comeback was well and truly on now.

With five minutes left, Clongowes pushed for that crucial score but Molony’s sin- binning put an end to their hopes as Belvo held on for a dramatic victory.

BELVEDERE have made the Leinster Senior Cup final for the first time since they last won it back in 2008 when they held off hard-charging Clongowes Wood 27-26 in a thriller on Tuesday afternoon in Donnybrook Stadium.

Belvo’s start breaks Clongowes’ hearts This time they got out to a dream start by rocking Clongowes with two tries in the space of a minute from Oscair McGrath and Conor Jennings.

It seemed everything that could go wrong for the Clane school did with some of this down to the physical pressure they were operating under.

A Jennings penalty and Eoin Cleere’s try made it 20-0 by the 44th minute.

Even when Clongowes Donal Mongey closed in on a try from a maul, Belvo’ rebounded for Dan McCaffrey to leave it 27-7 in the 54th minute.

Suddenly, Clongowes clicked for quickfire tries by Rowan Osborne and Jonny Moloney to eat into the leeway.

Amazingly, it was back to one when centre James Lappin intercepted for a stunning converted try before the clock eventually beat them.

Cistercian College Roscrea 18 Belvedere College 11 Title number one. Cistercian College, Roscrea, they who dwell 250 yards inside the Offaly border with north Tipperary, powered their way to the Leinster Schools senior cup in front of a crowd of

7,950 at the RDS. It was deserved, if a little jittery, as this well coached band of brothers brought a three-year odyssey to its fitting conclusion.

For long stretches it looked like Belvedere’s cerebral decision makers, particularly scrumhalf Hugh O’Sullivan, would out-fox their notably bigger opponents.

The Navan teenager shredded Roscrea’s short side defence after just eight minutes to put winger Seán Long over. The execution was coldly accurate as number eight Tom de Jongh picked off a wheeling scrum, fed O’Sullivan who dashed between two defenders before a perfect left to right pass.

In a second half change by Belvedere coach Phil Werahiko, O’Sullivan ended up at fullback. This seemed like a tactical error, that is, until we saw what Gregory O’Kelly could do from the base.

Roscrea were all over the place in the opening half hour, making at least three uncharacteristic handling errors as everything seemed a little rushed. That was until outhalf Alan Tynan calmed matters when clipping the ball over Belvedere’s rushing defensive line to force a five-metre scrum.

Up stepped big Dan Trayers. A backrow cum lock destined to end up in a provincial academy, Trayers scooped from the scrum before powering through Max Kearney and Conor Jennings while dragging De Jongh over the line with him.

Just as he did against Newbridge in the semi-final replay.

Tim Foley had already landed a penalty and while he missed that two-pointer his 75 per cent conversion rate was a dramatic improvement from this year’s winning captain. It mattered.

Belvedere, however, squared matters by half-time with a Jennings penalty that seemed ridiculously harsh on Roscrea. There was at least three Belvedere players off their feet at the ruck but referee Dudley Phillips saw it differently from point-blank range.

Belvedere, rank outsiders this season, but with most of their players returning in 2016, sensed their rare opportunity. Flanker Jess Iredale made four rumbling carries around another Jennings penalty that put them 11-8 ahead.

That was when Roscrea, as a collective, refused to lose just their fourth ever final appearance. They are a well coached side by Pieter Swanepoel, maintaining an impressive shape under pressure which ensured their most damaging carriers – Trayers, props Liam Walsh and Dylan Murphy, Fineen Wycherley– took ball to the line to create space for the backs to exploit.

Also, Mattie Keane, their openside, had another huge game before injury forced him ashore.

Daniel Keane’s try on 47 minutes essentially settled the contest.

It came off a slick skip pass by Foley to the game’s outstanding runner, fullback Tim Carroll, who deftly drew the last Belvedere defender before putting his winger over.

Foley converted and added a penalty on 55 minutes.

That was the last score but it shouldn’t have been. With three minutes remaining Belvedere, brave to the end, broke clear via a careering O’Kelly. His offload went to ground but Kearney scooped it up and was mere inches from the whitewash when felled by Brian Diffley’s heroic hand trip.

The ball broke free. Scrum five Cistercians.

The only stain on this captivating contest was the heavy handed work of match stewards as Roscrea fans attempted to get on the field afterwards. Leinster argued they are tenants at the RDS and avoiding injury was their main aim. A few young men, trying to embrace friends as the Roscrea team ran towards them, will have bruises this morning though. It all felt avoidable but insurance premiums dictate that the pitch invasions are seemingly a thing of the past.

That and the always condescending Public Address announcer demanding the crowd heed his every word stuck in the craw.

But it won’t have a long-lasting impact on Roscrea’s rapid ascent to the top of Leinster schools rugby. Not that this an overnight success.

They reached the 2011 final, losing heavily to an excellent Clongowes Wood side, while survivors from the 2013 semi-final played key roles here.

Men like Carroll, Rob Wharton and of course Trayers. Without the big number eight Roscrea wouldn’t have beaten Blackrock or Belvedere. Every player contributed when squeezing past Newbridge.

All cup winners know it is the sum of the parts that always matters. Sure, Diffley was only playing because of injury to Simon Meagher.

The champions sang ‘Stand By Me’ on the pitch afterwards.

Fitting.

SCORING SEQUENCE – 9 mins: S Long try, 0-5; 20 mins: T Foley pen, 5-3; 32 mins: D Trayers try, 5-8; 35 mins: C Jennings pen, 8-8. Half-time. 45 mins: C Jennings pen, 8-11; 48 mins: D Keane try, 13-11; T Foley con, 15-11; 56 mins: T Foley pen, 18-11.

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Mike Sweeney Fionn Dillon-Kelly Andrew Hynes Conor McCaffrey Brian Egan Jesse Irdale Max Kearney Tom de Jongh

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Hugh O’Sullivan Conor Jennings Oscair McGrath Sean Long James McKeown Hugh Sexton Eoin Cleere Eoin Molloy gpfoto

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Sports Photography gpfoto@ymail.com +353 (087)24 24 123

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Jack Clarke James Kenny Robert McGreevy Greg O’Kelly Declan Monaghan Daire Boylan Cian Galvin