Gavin Mulin Rock SCT16 proof#1

Leinster Schools Senior Cup 2016

Blackrock College SCT

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Nine tries shared out as Belvedere see off Blackrock in Leinster schools rugby classic

Belvedere now face St Michael’s at the semi-final stage.

Feb 22nd 2016, 5:02 PM 17,074 Views 7 Comments Share322 Tweet Email4 Belvedere College 35 Blackrock College 29 BELVEDERE BOOKED THEIR spot in the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after beating Blackrock in a game that will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it in Donnybrook this afternoon.

The match provided the near-capacity crowd with 64 points, 9 tries and one nail-biting finish in a breathless encounter. Belvedere will only have 10 days to recover as they come up against St Michael’s in the semi-final on 3 March.Belvedere opened the scoring after just four minutes when good play out wide saw Conor Jennings cross the line to give the northsiders a 5-0 lead.Blackrock’s response was quick and impactful. Hugo Burke grounded the ball after Blackrock’s maul proved too much to handle for the Belvedere defence.

A superb conversion from the touchline by James McGowan saw Blackrock leading 7-5 with 12 minutes on the clock. Belvedere’s Caelan Doris tackled by Hugh

sin bin for what looked like a late tackle and at this stage it looked like Blackrock may run away with the quarter-final as Burke crossed the line again.

Blackrock’s Patrick Patterson tackled by Max Kearney and Paraic Cagney of Belvedere Source: Gary Carr/INPHO Despite another sweet connection from McGowan the conversion was missed to leave the score 19-8.

Belevedere with a man down knew they couldn’t afford Blackrock to extend their lead any further and another penalty reduced the gap to eight.

Things were to get better for Belvo after a superb cross-field pass allowed Peter Maher to touch the ball down in the corner. Jennings scored the conversion as McNulty returned to the field.

Conor Jennings kicks a conversion for Belvedere College Source: Gary Carr/INPHO The gap was just one, 19-18, but Belvedere felt like they had the momentum. The allotted time for the first-half had elapsed but both sides refused to kick the ball into touch, to the detriment of Blackrock.

James McGowan kicked the ball straight to Belvedere’s Hugh O’Sullivan and the full-back charged his way through the Blackrock defence before offloading to Peter Maher, who grounded the ball after powering past two Blackrock defenders.

Jennings missed the conversion but Blackrock would have been kicking themselves for going in 23-19 behind at half-time.

A simple conversion followed and the gap was four, 30-26.

Blackrock were unable to respond and with 12 minutes remaining, the influential David Hawkshaw crossed the line for to put Belvedere 35-26 up with 10 minutes on the clock after the conversion was missed.

Blackrock won a penalty almost immediately and McGowan reduced the gap to just six points. With less than five minutes remaining Blackrock knew a converted try would book their place in the semi-final.

When they were awarded yet another penalty, they opted to go for touch instead of a kick at goal, but they failed to significantly threaten Belvedere’s line in that period of play.

Belvedere managed the final couple minutes admirably in their own 22 which cued scenes of joy and despair at the final whistle.

A game fitting for the final, both players can leave the field as heroes. Belvedere will only have 10 days to recover as they come up against St Michael’s in the semi-final on the 3rd of March.

Belvedere College scorers: Tries: Peter Maher x2, Conor Jennings,Tom De Jongh, David Hawkshaw Conversion: Conor Jennings x2 Penalties: Conor Jennings x2 Blackrock College scorers: Tries: Hugo Burke x3, Conor Dean Conversion: James McGowan x3 Penalties: James McGowan

Blackrock and Belvedere can’t be separated after absorbing Senior Cup clash O’Sullivan of Belvedere Source: The pace of the game was relentless and an excellent Conor Jennings penalty restored Belvedere’s lead.

Both sides continued trying to carve out openings with the ball in-hand and the slick passing nearly paid off but for some crunching tackles.

Blackrock were next to cross the line when Conor Dean, whose penalty in the original match secured the replay, showed he had just as much physical power as mental strength by shrugging off several Belvedere defenders for the game’s third try.

Another McGowan conversion gave Blackrock a sixpoint lead.Belvedere’s Senan McNulty was sent to the

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Blackrock’s Charlie Ryan with Brian Egan of Belvedere Just three minutes into the second-half, Blackrock re-took the lead when Belvedere once again had no answer to Blackrock’s powerful maul and Hugo Burke was the beneficiary for the third time.

The superb kicking display continued and McGowan extended the lead to three. Belvedere were not prepared to lie down and they were in again 10 minutes later.

Tom De Jongh’s strength circumvented the tackles of five Blackrock defenders to charge himself to the line.

A Conor Dean penalty in the 65th penalty ensured the quarter-final went to a replay.

Feb 10th 2016, 5:44 PM 10,903 Views 3 Comments Share6 Tweet Email

Blackrock’s Gavin Mullin with Hugh Sexton of Belvedere College.

Blackrock College 10 Belvedere College 10 BLACKROCK AND BELVEDERE must meet again after playing out a gripping 10-10 draw in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup in the competition’s headline quarter-final.

Blackrock started brightly and were awarded a penalty just a couple of minutes into the game but it was

missed by full-back James McGowan.

The south Dublin side continued to dominate the match and got the first score of the game when Luke Gaffney made the most of an opening in the Belvedere defence to set Richie Dunne free for the first try of the game. McGowan converted from under the posts to give the favourites a 7-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for Belvedere to get back into the quarter-final. Conor Jennings, who missed two penalties earlier in the game, successfully scored from a much simpler third attempt.

Jennings would go on to miss a fourth penalty before half-time, meaning Belvedere trailed by four points at the break.

Belvedere carried their forward momentum into the second-half and nearly scored form a superb counter-attack from their own half in the 38th minute, but it was somehow kept out by a terrific Blackrock defence.

They were, however, to be rewarded for their pressure when David Hawkshaw overpowered three Blackrock defenders to cross the line and give Belvedere the lead for the first time in the game. The conversion by Jennings extended the gap to three and set up a tense finale.

Belvo had the opportunity to extend their lead to six points after they were awarded a penalty with 12 minutes to go. Instead of kicking for goal, they opted for the corner, conscious of the several failed attempts in the first-half. No score resulted from the play and their lead remained three points.

That decision perhaps proved costly as with five minutes to go, Blackrock were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Conor Dean showed nerves of steel to kick the ball over the bar to tie the scores at 10-10.

The second-half was a battering affair, as both teams still tried their best to carve open opportunities with free-flowing rugby, and the outcome remained uncertain right until the final whistle.

Neither side looked happy with the draw, but they can both sleep easy tonight, knowing they are still in the competition.

The replay has been scheduled for 3pm on Monday, 22 February in Donnybrook.

Blackrock College scorers: Tries: Richie Dunne Conversion: James McGowan Penalties: Conor Dean Belvedere College scorers: Tries: David Hawkshaw

Conversion: Conor Jennings Penalties: Conor Jennings Blackrock College: James McGowan, Patrick Patterson, Gavin Mullin, Liam Turner, Conor Kelly, Conor Dean, Luke Gaffney, Emmet Burns, Stephen McLoughlin, Richie Mouatt, Colm O’Flaherty, Charlie Ryan, Richard Dunne, John Fairley, Caelan Doris (Captain).Replacements: Hugh Egleston, Charlie Connolly Giuseppe Coyne, Jack Gardiner, Hugo Burke, Paul Cullen, Alejandro Alonso, Dan Power.

Belvedere College: Hugh O’Sullivan, James McKeown, Conor Jennings, Hugh Sexton, Peter Maher, David Hawkshaw, Paraic Cagney, Daniel McCaffrey, Cian Galvin, Conor Walsh, Hugh Fenlon, Brian Egan (Captain), Senan McNulty, Max Kearney, Tom DeJongh.

Replacements: Sam Osborne, Cillian Molloy, Jesse Iredale, James Kenny, Jake Robinson, Brian Gibbons, Fergus Flood, Fiachra Smith.

Referee: Dermot Blake 53 and easy for Blackrock – and up next it’s a mouthwatering showdown against Belvo Rock full-back James McGowan scored 25 points in a one-sided affair.

Jan 29th 2016, 5:11 PM 11,971 Views 17 Comments Share Tweet Email4

Blackrock College 53-8 Castleknock College BLACKROCK COLLEGE GOT their Leinster Senior Schools Cup campaign off to a flying start in Donnybrook putting 53 points past Castleknock.

But the schools superpower now face a fierce test after they were pitted against rivals Belvedere College in the quarter-final draw.Castleknock’s entry onto the scoreboard after 15 minutes with the score 6-3, spurred Rock into action with impressive blindside flanker Richard Dunne a battering ram in rocks armoury.Four minutes after knock entered the scoreboard, Dunne was over for the first try of the day after Knock had held up James McGowan and Conor Kelly on the line.

The record winners then went about their business

in typical rock style, the pack winning their first real battle of the day on 31 minutes with John Fairley touching down after the maul surged home.

The southsiders where in control and began to turn the screw, going over for a third time straight from the restart, James McGowan having expertly converted.

McGowan turned provider with an excellent chip pass between the Castleknock defensive line for Conor Kelly to sprint onto and touchdown beneath the posts.McGowan converted his third of the day with Conor Stinson alert defending preventing another rock score as they lead 27-3 at the break.

Full-back McGowan got his name on the try scoring list three minutes into the second half, Rock went across the pitch, McGowan finding a gap in the corner before converted his own try.

Rock certainly weren’t finished with Gavin Mullin sprinting home on 49 minutes as Rock emptied the bench, proving hunger within the panel, replacement Emmet Burns powering over six minutes later.

Castleknock looked crushed as rock went across the pitch again with Patrick Patterson’s touching down in the corner with eight minutes remaining, McGowan fluffing the conversion leaving him nine from 11 on place kicks for the day.

Cathal Lacey found space to run in a consolation try on 65 minutes, but it was deservedly Blackrock’s day as they look to live up to their favourite tags for this year’s Leinster Senior Schools cup.

Blackrock tries: Dunne, Fairley, Kelly, McGowan, Mullin, Burns, Patterson; Conversions: McGowan (7); Penalties: McGowan (2).

Castleknock tries: Lacey; Penalties: Boucher Blackrock College: James McGowan, Patrick Patterson, Gavin Mullin (Ferdia Power 53), Liam Turner, Conor Kelly (Burns Emmet), Conor Dean, Luke Gaffney, Richie Mouatt, Stephen McLoughlin (Paul Cullen 44), Charlie Connolly, Colm O’Flaherty, Charlie Ryan, Richard Dunne(Hugo Bourke 44), John Fairley (Jack Gardiner 48), Caelan Sweetman-Doris (Captain) (Hugh Egleston 53)

Replacements not used: Giuseppe Coyne, Alejandro Alonso Castleknock College: Cathal Lacey, Robert Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond (Jamie McGaley 65), Sean Gibbons, Marc Boucher, Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon, Jack Keleghan (Carl Keogh 53), Michael Corcoran (James Gibney 28), Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Cathal Birmingham, Adam Corcoran, Cian Clancy (Josh Connolly 50) Replacements not used: Alex Doyle, Daniel Treacy, Darragh McNally, Cian Egenton Referee: Paul Haycock

53 and easy for Blackrock – and up next it’s a mouthwatering showdown against Belvo Rock full-back James McGowan scored 25 points in a one-sided affair.

Jan 29th 2016, 5:11 PM 11,971 Views 17 Comments Share Tweet Email4 Conor Kelly scored one of Blackrock’s seven tries.

Blackrock College 53-8 Castleknock College BLACKROCK COLLEGE GOT their Leinster Senior Schools Cup campaign off to a flying start in Donnybrook putting 53 points past Castleknock.

But the schools superpower now face a fierce test after they were pitted against rivals Belvedere College in the quarter-final draw.Castleknock’s entry onto the scoreboard after 15 minutes with the score 6-3, spurred Rock into action with impressive blindside flanker Richard Dunne a battering ram in rocks armoury.Four minutes after knock entered the scoreboard, Dunne was over for the first try of the day after Knock had held up James McGowan and Conor Kelly on the line.The record winners then went about their business in typical rock style, the pack winning their first real battle of the day on 31 minutes with John Fairley touching down after the maul surged home.

The southsiders where in control and began to turn the screw, going over for a third time straight from the restart, James McGowan having expertly converted.McGowan turned provider with an excellent chip pass between the Castleknock defensive line for Conor Kelly to sprint onto and touchdown beneath the posts.McGowan converted his third of the day with Conor Stinson alert defending preventing another rock score as they lead 27-3 at the break.

Full-back McGowan got his name on the try scoring list three minutes into the second half, Rock went across the pitch, McGowan finding a gap in the corner before converted his own try.

Rock certainly weren’t finished with Gavin Mullin sprinting home on 49 minutes as Rock emptied the bench, proving hunger within the panel, replacement Emmet Burns powering over six minutes later.

Castleknock looked crushed as rock went across the pitch again with Patrick Patterson’s touching down in the corner with eight minutes remaining, McGowan fluffing the conversion leaving him nine from 11 on place kicks for the day.

Cathal Lacey found space to run in a consolation try on 65 minutes, but it was deservedly Blackrock’s day as they look to live up to their favourite tags for this year’s Leinster Senior Schools cup.

Blackrock tries: Dunne, Fairley, Kelly, McGowan, Mullin, Burns, Patterson; Conversions: McGowan (7); Penalties: McGowan (2).

Castleknock tries: Lacey; Penalties: Boucher Blackrock College: James McGowan, Patrick Patterson, Gavin Mullin (Ferdia Power 53), Liam Turner, Conor Kelly (Burns Emmet), Conor Dean, Luke Gaffney, Richie Mouatt, Stephen McLoughlin (Paul Cullen 44), Charlie Connolly, Colm O’Flaherty, Charlie Ryan, Richard Dunne(Hugo Bourke 44), John Fairley (Jack Gardiner 48), Caelan Sweetman-Doris (Captain) (Hugh Egleston 53) Replacements not used: Giuseppe Coyne, Alejandro AlonsoCastleknock College: Cathal Lacey, Robert Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond (Jamie McGaley 65), Sean Gibbons, Marc Boucher, Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon, Jack Keleghan (Carl Keogh 53), Michael Corcoran (James Gibney 28), Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Cathal Birmingham, Adam Corcoran, Cian Clancy (Josh Connolly 50) Replacements not used: Alex Doyle, Daniel Treacy, Darragh McNally, Cian Egenton Referee: Paul Haycock

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Blackrock College SCT 15. James McGowan 14. Patrick Patterson 13. Gavin Mullin 12. Liam Turner 11. Conor Kelly 10. Conor Dean 9. Luke Gaffney 1. Richie Mouatt 2. Stephen McLoughlin 3. Charlie Connolly 4. Colm O’Flaherty 5. Charlie Ryan 6. Richard Dunne 7. John Fairley 8 Caelan Sweetman-Doris (capt) 16. Hugh Egleston 17. Burns Emmet 18.

Giuseppe Coyne 19. Jack Gardiner 20. Hugo Bourke 21. Paul Cullen 22. Alejandro Alonson 23. Ferdia Power

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