Clongowes hold on in thrilling climax

Clongowes 19 St Michael’s 13

Misery and joy. Is it ever anything else in schools rugby? Selfless bodies on the line defending in the last play in Donnybrook dramatically earned Clongowes a place in the semi-final of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

As St Michael’s threw everything they had at the winners, who led 19-13 in the dying minutes, it was fittingly a team victory built on discipline and committment.

Clongowes, stretched across the pitch at the fag end as St Michael’s poured their big men in to force a try, held firm by inches, referee Barry O’Keefe finally blowing for a Clongowes ball after countless recycles, crash balls and cramps. The final kick into a baying crowd ended what was a match of passion and swinging fortune.

Clongowes made the most of their chances and territory and in the end they got the rewards from their muscle. On 50 minutes it took 18 recycles and two scrums to finally pull St Michael’s out of shape but it was enough for scrumhalf Rowan Osborne to dart to the right and earn his side better numbers. Right wing James Lappin had the room outside and Jonny Glynn converted for their 19-point tally.

Clongowes opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Playing towards the Old Wesley end, flanker Donal Mongey made the break as his team surged forward. St Michael’s hauled bodies across for big tackles as their opponents recycled half a dozen times, inching forward with each ball. Outside centre Colm Mulcahy finally bullocked his way through with Glynn converting for 7-0.

The first 15 minutes were evenly matched with Michael’s looking to their pack on a number of occasions. On 18 minutes they swept across the pitch from a scrum on the left. A pile of bodies poured over in the corner with loosehead Rory Mulvihill emerging with a smile. The tough conversion was missed as Clongowes led 7-5.

Minutes later, St Michaels’ captain James Ryan lunged towards the Clongowes line from close in and when the referee called it back they opted to kick for a lineout. Wise decision. Securing the ball the pack instantly set up the rolling maul and there was little Clongowes could do. It looked like the entire pack went over, but blindside flanker Barry Fitzpatrick emerged with the ball as Michael’s led 7-10.

Just before the break it was Osborne again in position. A St Michael’s kick that failed to find touch on the right set up a counter attack, Osborne, hugging the touchline, danced down and in through the misshapen defence for a 12-10 Clongowes lead at the break.

As the match swung, a penalty from replacement outhalf Harry Byrne kicked St Michael’s back in front 12-13 after play resumed before Clongowes’ determination and ability to churn out the phases on the Michael’s line earned them the Lappin try and Glynn conversion midway through the second half.

It was enough for the match as players went down with cramping legs, the Clongowes defence refusing to crack.

Scoring sequence -10 mins C McCarthy try, J Glynn con 7-0; 18 mins R Mulvihill try 7-5; 20 mins B Fitzpatrick try 7-10; 28 mins R Osborne try 12-10. Halftime. 41 mins H Byrne pen 12-13; 50 mins J Lappin try, J Glynn con 19-13.

Clongowes: M Sylvester; J Lappin, C Mulcahy, M McDermott; C Murray, J Glynn; R Osborne, N Rinklin, J Molony (c), C Carroll, T Burke, D O'Mahony, W Connors, D Mongey, S McCrohan. Replacements - F Madden for Mulcahy 28 mins; J Moore for Burke 56 mins, E Carroll for C Carroll 66 mins.

St Michaels: M O'Shea; J Kelly, O O'Meara, J Hickey, T Molony; R Cosgrave, D Duggan; R Mulvihill, G Barrett, S Griffen, O Dowling, J Ryan (C), B Fitzpatrick, G Croke, M Deegan. Replacements -H Byrne for Cosgrave halftime. T Killeen for Kelly 61 mins; R Duffy for Mulvihill 66 mins.

Referee: B O'Keefe