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Hard-Working Blackrock Rewarded With Leinster Crown

Hard-Working Blackrock Rewarded With Leinster Crown

Jordi Murphy played a captain’s role as Blackrock College became Powerade Leinster Schools Senior Cup champions for the 66th time in their history, beatin Terenure College 18-9 in a very competitive final at the RDS.

2008/09 POWERADE LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP FINAL: Tuesday, March 17

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 18 TERENURE COLLEGE 9, The RDS

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Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Andrew Conway, Brian Kingston; Con: Brian Kingston; Pens: Brian Kingston 2
Terenure College; Pens: James Thornton 2; Drop: James Thornton

Terenure College fell at the final hurdle as Blackrock College, led by inspirational captain Jordi Murphy, scored a deserved triumph in Tuesday’s Leinster Senior Cup final at the RDS.

Despite the best efforts of Terenure out-half James Thornton, whose game-reading and clever kicking kept his side in the game, Blackrock prevail and scored the only tries of the afternoon through full-back Andrew Conway and out-half Brian Kingston.

Territorially, Blackrock were dominant in the opening half but they only had six points to score for their efforts by half-time.

Kingston opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty, which was quickly followed up a smartly-struck drop goal from his opposite number Thornton.

Blackrock centre Brendan Macken was a consistent threat to the ‘Nure defence, with his good angles of running and powerful hand-off.

Terenure were very committed in the tackle but the Blackrock pack cranked it up a notch before half-time, setting up a try-scoring chance for winger Calum Rowden whose grubber kick was carried over the end-line by Terenure full-back James O’Donoghue.

The ‘Nure forwards dug deep and defended manfully before handing a late penalty to Kingston who duly obliged from in front of the posts.

Conway increased his influence on the restart with a snappy break and a couple of phases later, he was over for the game’s first try after good work in the build-up from Macken and Rowden.

Kingston missed the conversion and Terenure managed to soften the concession of the try with a well-hit penalty from Thornton.

However, Blackrock held the attacking edge and some quick-thinking from flanker Richard Liddy, who burst into space while referee Dudley Phillips played advantage for a ‘Nure knock on, teed up try number two.

Number 10 Kingston was up in support and he plunged through a gap in the defence before racing clear on a 40-metre burst all the way to the whitewash.

Kingston added the conversion for good measure, making it 18-6 to ‘Rock.

Terenure tried their best to mount a comeback – Thornton struck his second penalty and lock Cathal Deans went close to crossing the ‘Rock line after gathering a crossfield kick from Thornton.

There was no stopping Blackrock though, with skipper Murphy tirelessly leading by example and showing superb rucking skills. Hooker Patrick Kilcoyne also made his presence felt on another memorable day for the Williamstown school.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: A Conway; L McHugh, B Macken, K Curran, C Rowden; B Kingston, P O’Shea; D Buckley, P Kilcoyne, A Lyons, J O’Beirne, J Murphy (capt), D Fawsitt, R Liddy, C Barry.

Replacements used: C Fitzpatrick for Curran (64 mins).

TERENURE COLLEGE: J O’Donoghue; C Kelly, R Williamson, D O’Dowd, H Moore; J Thornton, K O’Neill; P McCormack, S Reid, R Burdock, R Duke (capt), C Deans, A Clarkin, C Shanahan, E Joyce.

Replacements used: N Casey for O’Neill (59 mins), S Doherty for Clarkin (61), B Mooney for Burdock (63), M Hyland for O’Dowd (65), G O’Doherty for Shanahan (69).

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Leinster)