Powerade Leinster Senior Cup Title For Blackrock

Blackrock College scored three converted tries on their way to a fully
deserved 24-9 victory over Clongowes Wood College at Lansdowne Road. And
while the final scoreline hardly did the losers any credit for a wonderfully committed
display they cannot have any qualms about the outcome of this game.

Clongowes led 9-3 mid-way through the second half but once Rock got their noses
in front there was only ever going to be one winner.

In the opening half Clongowes enjoyed the advantage in both possession and
territory. Outside of full-back Robert Kearney, the liveliest of the
Clongowes backs was centre, Dan O’Connor whose opening break after ten
minutes took play from outside the Clongowes 22 to the Blackrock equivalent
and send out a clear warning that there was more to the Clongowes attack than
just their number 15.

The first real chance came the way of Clongowes after 11 minutes when number
14 Richard McElwee pinned his ears back and made good headway down the
right. He really should have passed inside where the support was to provide
the opening score. However Rock were penalised and Kearney tapped over the penalty
to give the underdogs the lead.

They increased that to six in the 16th minute when Kearney lashed over another
penalty after a period of Clongowes pressure.

Six points behind at the break, and never mind any allowance for injury, Blackrock
had the use of the wind in the second half.

They reduced the deficit after just 3 minutes when out-half David Barnett
judged the wind perfectly to land a penalty from the right of the posts (6-3).

Clongowes continued to defend tenacously and when Barnett attempted chip was
blocked down it set up the field position for Pierce Casey to land a
drop-goal into the wind (9-3).

There followed a period of intense Blackrock forward pressure which eventually
yielded a try from captain Diarmuid Laffan after a series of drives at
the Clongowes line and Barnett converted to put the favourites in the lead with
11 minutes of normal time remaining.

They put the outcome beyond doubt with less than three minutes to go when
Michael Kavanagh finished off a good move foe his side’s second try,
Barnett again obliging with the conversion as Blackrock headed for their 64th
title.

The final scoreline was given a flattering hue when Conor O’Daly scampered
over for his side’s third try.

Blackrock College: D Nyhan; M Kavanagh, L Fitzgerald, J Power, V Artemiev;
D Barnett, D Madigan; G Walsh, C Culliton, S Snell, M Cantrell, R O’Hara, D
Laffan, G Flanagan, D O’Reilly capt.

Clongowes Wood College: R Kearney; R McElwee, F McFadden, D O’Connor,
K Stafford; P Casey, L Ronan; D Halpin, M Jacobs, P Crilly, T Sheils, D Fagan,
B Coyle, P Lennon, P O’Meara capt.
Replacements: James Rooney, Simon Kelly, Hugh Hackett.

Referee: Alan Lewis.

Full Details at: www.leinsterrrugby.ie