Christopher Cosgrave Michaels JCT17

St. Michael’s College JCT 2017 gpfoto

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St Michael’s College qualified for the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final with a win over Newbridge College at Donnybrook Stadium on Monday.

St Michael’s qualified for the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup Final thanks to a late surge in their semi-final at Donnybrook.

Newbridge did a great job of staying in touch with their more vaunted opponents, especially when Sam Cahill’s try made it a one-score game midway through the second-half. Initially, St Michael’s were on the front-foot and a high tackle allowed centre Christopher Cosgrave to land the opening three points in the fifth minute.

Newbridge reacted well, full-back Donal Conroy shooting through a gap down the left and fly-half Sam Cahill almost exploiting the short side.

The potent attacking force of the boys in blue was soon apparent as flanker Oscar Hurley carried hard and number eight Jack Boyle completed the job for Cosgrave to convert. When the Kildare boys rushed up in defence, it gave flanker Conor McGroary the chance to cause a turnover on the floor. They looked to play off their scrum, even when awarded a penalty, as Cahill pulled the strings. There was a serious breach by centre Marcus Kiely, followed up by number eight Jack O’Connell to put full-back Donal Conroy one-on-one with full-back Eddie Kelly, who made the tackle.

Newbridge wouldn’t turn back. They wrestled the ball forward through O’Connell and the sniping Cahill again and were patient enough to wait for McGroary to crash over for 10-5 in the 21st minute. They were varying the game wonderfully, scrum-half Cormac King lofting a ball high for Kiely to magnificently field it and Gaire nearly making another line break. The problems came about when St Michael’s moved into gear and right wing Simon O’Kelly was twice on the ball to go close and Boyle was driven back in the last action of the half. The Aylesbury Road school moved smoothly out of their territory from fine interplay out wide, Boyle powering into space. This was met with resilience and the rebooting of Newbridge’s attack, led by O’Connell

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and Kiely, for out-half Cahill to just miss a penalty.

Cosgrave was not able to take a chance from the left to stretch the lead. He need not have worried. Second row Jack Guinane thundered onto the restart from the 22.

The ball was moved left for Boyle to be stopped by Gaire. The recycles came quickly for Boyle to claim his second try, converted by Cosgrave in the 42nd minute.

Newbridge were stung into action. Cahill’s clever use of the boot in behind caught the defence flat-footed and the out-half had the pace to gather on the bounce for a superb try. They were not slow to counter from deep either as Conroy took off for 40 metres.

They just couldn’t escape long enough.

St Michael’s prop Lee Barron burst through the middle and out-half Niall Carroll was there to plunge for the whitewash, Cosgrave’s conversion taking it to 24-10 in the 49th minute. The wearing down process had taken its toll. Full-back Eddie Kelly came on a short ball for the fourth try, converted by Cosgrave, ahead of Kelly surging from his 22 to set up the right position.

A pre-planned move was taken home by Cosgrave just before he converted for the fifth time.

St Michael’s College 38 Newbridge College 10 At Donnybrook – ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 38 (J Boyle 2 tries; C Cosgrave try, pen, 4 cons; E Kelly, N Carroll try each); NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE 10 (S Cahill, C McGroary try each).

We’ll meet again! St Michael’s and Blackrock set for Leinster Junior Cup final replay It was a low-scoring encounter in tough conditions at

Donnybrook this afternoon.

Mar 22nd 2017, 5:17 PM

St Michael’s College 7 Blackrock College 7 ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE and Blackrock College will have to do it all again, after they couldn’t be separated at the end of an engrossing Leinster Schools Junior Cup final at a wet and windy Donnybrook this afternoon.

In a low-scoring affair, Michael’s had taken the lead with a first-half try from Jack Boyle. However, thanks to a 35th-minute five-pointer by Michael Lowey, a replay will now be required to determine the winner of this year’s competition. ust five days on from their school’s Senior Cup defeat to Belvedere College, ‘Rock were eager to end the rugby season on a high. owever, it was Michael’s who broke the deadlock from a ninth minute attack, when influential number eight Boyle powered over the whitewash after receiving the ball in a central position. This was followed by a routine Chris Cosgrave conversion (his 15th in just three games), which offered Michael’s a strong platform to build on for the remainder of the half. Yet, they found themselves on the backfoot for large spells, and disciplined defensive work was needed to ensure they remained in the ascendancy at the midway point. However, ‘Rock eventually restored parity five minutes into the second period — when neat interchange from Ben Brownlee and Shane Murray allowed Lowey to touch down in the left corner. With out-half Adam Dixon superbly splitting the posts from a touchline conversion, the momentum appeared to

be with ‘Rock, but instead it was a determined Michael’s who posed the greater danger heading into the final quarter. They applied serious pressure inside the ‘Rock half, and an attempted close-range drop-goal by Cosgrave was blocked down on 50 minutes. Charlie O’Carroll and Ben Kelly Murphy with Tim . Yet, as the final whistle approached, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between for Michael’s, and they ultimately had to settle for a re-match with the 50-time winners.

St Michael’s scorers:Tries: Jack Power Conversions: Chris Cosgrave [1 from 1] Blackrock scorers: Tries: Michael Lowey Conversions: Adam Dixon [1 from 1]

Blackrock denied five in a row as Michael’s claim Leinster Junior Cup It’s the Ailesbury Road school’s first title at the grade since 2012.

Mar 29th 2017, 5:19 PM

seven days earlier but although ‘Rock were seeking an historic fifth consecutive final win at this grade, they ultimately couldn’t rein in the challenge of their south Dublin rivals. Michael’s had broken the deadlock with just under nine minutes gone on the clock, as talismanic outside centre Chris Cosgrave crossed over after racing on to his chipped kick towards the ‘Rock whitewash. He subsequently added the extras to his own five-pointer, before ‘Rock opened their account 10 minutes later with a routine Adam Dixon penalty.

However, Michael’s issued a further blow to ‘Rock’s chances in first-half stoppage-time, when Jack Boyle drove over on the left wing to give his side a 12-3 interval lead. A wayward place-kick effort from Dixon let them off the hook after the restart, before Michael’s increased the tempo of their play. Fly-half Niall Carroll finished off a sweeping move across the ‘Rock line for his side’s third try of the day, and this helped Michael’s to open the floodgates. After breaking at pace at the beginning of the final quarter, Cosgrave claimed an outstanding seven-point salvo. This left ‘Rock with a mountain to climb, and in spite of a hard-earned try from their industrious number eight Liam Heylin on 50 minutes, another exceptional Michael’s attack ended with winger Zach Harrison dotting down on the left flank. Replacement Seb Lowe claimed a second try for ‘Rock deep into time added on but it wasn’t enough to deny Michael’s their first junior crown since 2012

Michael’s dazzle in Donnybrook as ’Rock roll over

Blackrock’ Sam Small and Adam Dixon tackle Oscar Hurley of Michael’s.

St Michael’s College 31 Blackrock College 17 Daire Walsh reports from Donnybrook ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE produced a stunning performance at Donnybrook this afternoon to secure the Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at the expense of Blackrock College in a replayed encounter. The sides had finished on level terms (7-7) at the same venue

Replay sees Blackrock denied fifth consecutive final win in Leinster Schools Junior Cup St Michael’s College 31 Blackrock College 17 St Michael’s College produced a stunning performance at Donnybrook on Wednesday afternoon to secure the Leinster Schools Junior Cup title at the expense of Blackrock College in a replayed encounter. The sides had finished on level terms (7-7) in the same venue seven days earlier, but although ’Rock were seeking an historic fifth consecutive final win at this grade, they ultimately couldn’t rein in the challenge of their south

Dublin rivals. Michael’s had broken the deadlock with just under nine minutes gone on the clock, as talismanic outside-centre Chris Cosgrave crossed over after racing onto his own chipped kick towards the ’Rock whitewash. Bonuses: He subsequently added the bonuses, before ’Rock opened their account 10 minutes later with a routine Adam Dixon penalty. However, Michael’s issued a further blow to ’Rock’s chances in first-half stoppage time, when Jack Boyle drove over on the left wing to give his side a 12-3 interval lead. A wayward place-kick effort from Dixon let them off the hook after the restart, before Michael’s quickly increased the tempo of their play. Fly-half Niall Carroll finished off a sweeping move across the ’Rock line for his side’s third try of the day, and this helped Michael’s to open the floodgates. Salvo: After breaking at pace at the beginning of the final quarter, Cosgrave claimed an outstanding seven-point salvo. This left ’Rock with a mountain to climb, and in spite of a hard-earned try from their industrious number eight Liam Heylin on the stroke of 50 minutes, another exceptional Michael’s attack ended with winger Zach Harrison dotting down on the left flank. Replacement Seb Lowe claimed a second try for ’Rock deep into time added on at the end of the contest, but it wasn’t enough to deny Michael’s their first junior crown since 2012.

Scorers St Michael’s College: C Cosgrave 2 tries, 3 cons; J Boyle, N Carroll, Z Harrison try each.

Blackrock College: L Heylin, S Lowe try each; M Moloney 2 cons; A Dixon pen.

St Michael’s College: E Kelly; S O’Kelly, C Cosgrave, T Gilsenan, Z Harrison; N Carroll, J Woods; L Barron, C Booth, J Power; S Woods, J Guinane; O Hurley, W Hickey, J Boyle.

Replacements: H McWade for Gilsenan (39 mins), J Egan for Hurley (43 mins), B Quigley for Power (45 mins), Senan O’Shea for O’Kelly (56 mins), C Casey for S Woods, J Gali for J Woods (both 57 mins), C Baird for Booth, B Cuddy for Barron (both 58 mins).

Referee: B MacNiece (LRR).

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