Sean Kearns book

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Oliver tour de force drives Blackrock to retain crown

Blackrock 22 Clongowes 17 Tony Ward – Published 17 March 2014 02:30 AM To Blackrock the cup and with it a record extending to a 68th title, but to Clongowes a lion’s share of the plaudits for making this another final to remember.

It was slow to get going, but once it did we were treated to precisely what we expected – another riveting rip-roaring contest in which the marginally better team on the day, but most complete in the competition overall, eventually emerged victorious.

The Williamstown school started with the advantage of what seemed a significant wind in the early stages and immediately set up camp deep in Clongowes territory.

But despite ‘Rock dominating field position for most of the opening half hour, the purple and white’s control at picking, popping and driving close to the fringe of scrum, ruck and maul– with Rowan Osborne the catalyst – kept the eventual victors at bay.

SENSIBLE Simple and sensible tactics from Clongowes almost saw them make it through to the break without conceding a point, despite having their line crossed twice in the opening quarter.

First, following a Sean Kearns kick to the corner and a Conor Oliver line-out take and drive, the referee deemed the ball to have been held up with Oliver (the game’s outstanding individual) at the heart of this and most everything ‘Rock tried for the rest of the afternoon.

And then in the 12th minute Tristan Brady, Kearns and Jack Power (another to leave his stamp all over this final) seemed to have paved the way for Zach O’Hagan to cross for the opening try in the corner, but referee Gary Conway rightly referred to the TMO who deemed the final pass forward.

Clongowes appeared caught in a vicelike grip, but their superb scrambling and scavenging defence, plus Fergal Cleary’s sensible use of the grubber, ensured the frustration built even further for the defending champions. Then, in the blink of an eye, two brilliant Blackrock tries.

The first came on the half-hour mark when another Kearns’ kick to the corner and attempted follow-up maul was repelled, only for the livewire Oliver to steal away almost unnoticed up the blindside for a cleverly executed opening try. Kearns converted from close to the touchline and within minutes added a second. In a pre-rehearsed move, Power shifted from the right side of the field to left following a scrum in midfield and it was his side-step and timely offload to the supporting Hugo Keenan that presented the opportunity for the latter’s twinkling footwork to see him in. This left them with a hard-earned 14-point lead.

Then, within a minute, on a very rare sortie into ‘Rock territory Alan Hughes slotted a penalty from close to the 10-metre line for a very welcome psychological boost for Clongowes going in at the break.

No sooner had the game resumed than the influential Cleary (following another discussion with the TMO) was awarded his side’s opening try to the right of the posts. Hughes converted and, at 14-10, it was game on.

In the 52nd minute it got even better still for Clongowes when James Lappin, Hughes, Cillian Burke and Cian O’Donoghue interchanged passes for the latter to race in. Hughes again converted for a three-point lead (17-14), having trailed by 14 just a minute before half-time.

But cometh the hour in a cracking contest and following a Kearns penalty in the 56th minute to level it up, Nick Timoney was accredited the touchdown following another athletic Oliver line-out take and driving maul.

But there was still one huge contribution to be made by the ‘Rock defence, when, on their own line in the final minute, again it was the irrepressible Oliver competing for possession and in the process completing a final cup-sealing act.

The perfect 10 from 10 record in finals between the schools was complete and the ‘Rock reaction at the final whistle said it all Timoney leads way as ‘Rock keep double dream alive Blackrock 34 Newbridge 14 Tony Ward – Published 03 March 2014 02:30 AM BLACKROCK remain on course to record back-to-back junior and senior titles after they deservedly overcame an energetic and hugely committed Newbridge in perfect conditions in Donnybrook.

In the end, 20 points separated the teams, but for significant periods – most particularly the third quarter – the reigning champions were rattled as the Kildare school upped the ante.

Newbridge’s Mark Sutton and his immediate opposite, Tristan Brady, provided their respective backlines with the type of quick service upon which three-quarter lines prosper.

But it is the forwards who ultimately determine results and, despite the Newbridge maul having the ‘Rock eight in trouble early on, the foundation for this success was put in place by Jeremy Loughman, Nick Timoney and the rest of the ‘Rock pack.

Joe D’Arcy’s penalty two minutes in gave the outsiders a great start, but within five minutes, ‘Rock provided a taste of the fare to follow. With the maul proving a problem and the Newbridge defence squeezing tight, they chose to exploit the outside channels.

OUTSIDERS Zack O’Hagan’s incursion into the line on the opposite wing provided the extra man for Sean Kearns and Jack Power to set him loose for the Newbridge line. Eight minutes later and it was Kearns, Joey Carberry and Power combining for the latter to race in, with out-half Kearns supplying the extras from the left.

D’Arcy clawed the lead back to six after his second successive penalty in the 20th minute.

The contrast in tempo at this stage was marked, with Kearns’ long passing creating mayhem in the Newbridge defence. Ultimately, it paid dividends, with Hugo Keenan managing to link up with Carberry and Power (for his second try) and Kearns converted for a 19-6 lead at the break.

The best of Newbridge was about to come as the Toms – Brady and Treacy – led the fightback. The lock was like a contortionist when taking a line-out four minutes in before Jimmy O’Brien and Jake Howlett provided the link for full-back Niall Delahunt to crash over. The ‘Rock were rattled as D’Arcy aded a penalty.

They weathered the storm, before individual sorties from Timoney and Keenan lifted the siege. Skipper Timoney (57) and winger O’Hagan (60) then put the game beyond doubt. Kearns converted O’Hagan’s try and also landed a penalty (65).

Saints have no answer to ‘Rock’s Power surge The Williamstown school made it through on the back of a really impressive forward performance despite St Michael’s looking the more likely in the early stages. Their initial surge of intensity was sparked by a trademark Adam Leavy man-and-ball tackle in the opening minutes.

That bout of pressure was rewarded when Matthew Gilsenan struck his first successful penalty of two just nine minutes in. It was imperative last year’s beaten finalists scored first but the lead was short-lived when Sean

Kearns, with a massive penalty from close to halfway, levelled it eight minutes later.

For the next 10 minutes, the sides battled through bright sunshine, gusting wind and heavy snow before a break in the elements coincided with the play of the half. It came just five minutes before the break when the ‘Rock pack, and specifically hooker Hugo Keane, managed a strike against the head for impressive No 8 Nick Timoney to run at Michael’s midfield.

From the resultant quick-won ball, all-action scrum-half Tristan Brady fed Kearns going left. His delivery to Jack Power enabled the outside centre draw the last defender with Hugh Keenan the beneficiary, squeezing in at the corner. Gilsenan completed the scoring with his second successful penalty and the final kick of the opening half for an 8-6 lead at the interval to ‘Rock. Kearns redressed that balance when landing his second penalty and taking the lead back out to five.

Then coming up to the hour mark came the game’s defining moment when following another pragmatic Kearns kick to the corner, the ‘Rock pack rumbled individually and collectively and in the process exerted a prolonged period of forward control. Michael’s were now in a proverbial vice-grip as Timoney, Jeremy Loughman and Conor Oliver carried up to and over the gain-line at almost every opportunity. It was from one such ball-handling phase that Brady, Kearns and Power in that order managed to tag on the try-scoring play with Power this time providing the final touchdown at the Wesley end.

At 16-6, and in the tricky if variable conditions, there was no way back for last year’s beaten finalists. ‘Rock may not rule Leinster just yet but on this evidence Peter Smyth’s charges are well on the way once again O’Connor powers ‘Rock forward BLACKROCK COLLEGE 31 CBC MONKSTOWN 3 ZPublished 05 February 2014 02:30 AM Tries in either half from powerhouse No 8 David O’Connor set the foundations in Donnybrook as Blackrock College got the defence of their Senior Cup title off to a perfect start with a commanding win over CBC Monkstown.

A rematch of last year’s decider against St Michael’s College is now on the horizon in the quarter-finals.

Having endured a shaky start, Blackrock broke the deadlock courtesy of a 13th-minute try from O’Connor and, with out-half Sean Kearns contributing five points from his trusty right boot, ‘Rock took firm control of the game.

A persistent Monkstown finally opened their account with a three-point effort from full-back Ben Mahon after 19 minutes, but thanks to further

converted tries from captain Nick Timoney and Cian O’Dwyer, the 67-times champions held an unassailable 24-3 cushion at half-time.

O’Connor grabbed his second try 13 minutes into the half, supplemented by Kearns’ fourth conversion, as an impressive Blackrock easily secured their progress.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE – J Power (O Brady 68); Z O’Hagan (J Cullen 56), J Carberry, I Kinsley, H Keenan; S Kearns (C Dean 54), T Brady; D Fitzpatrick (M Reidy 69), H Kean (J Horan 64), J Loughman (R Casey 69); C O’Dwyer (J McGowan 68), J Dwan (E Fanning 54); C Doris, N Timoney, D O’Connor.

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