CASTLEKNOCK College's of glory in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup was swept on an early tide of New pressure in this quarter clash at Donnybrook yesterday.
Earlier in the season, Newbridge hinted at their current strength in winning the Leinster League.
On four minutes, a double dummy scissors near halfway by Newbridge outhalf, Geordan Murphy, had the Castleknock defence clutching at fresh air. Fullback Paul Noble received from Murphy. His outside break stretched the Castleknock to breaking point. Only desperate tackling prevented Noble, and then right wing Niall Welsh, from the line. But this merely delayed the inevitable.
The resulting five metre scrummage, scrum half, Jim Ferris, peeled right, acting as a decoy, for the back row to rumble left in a well rehearsed move. Newbridge's strength and momentum was too much for the Castleknock defence, and second row Eric Behan rose from a ruck of players to claim the try. Murphy converted. Then he added a quick fire penalty after Castleknock captain, Paul Grimes, strayed offside.
Then Newbridge's flanker, Brian Flanagan, burrowed his way over the left corner after good approach play. At this stage second row Jonathan Downey and number eight Cathal Whelehan were monopolising possession.
Later on, Castleknock's John Duffy began to nullify their influence, but it was far too late. Castleknock hadn't time to regroup before live wire scrum half Ferris was put in by Whelehan after Newbridge had forced yet another scrum close to the line. Newbridge led 20 nil after as many minutes, and although both sides threatened their respective opposition thereafter, neither managed to bother the scoreboard.
While Geordan Murphy was behind all Newbridge's moves scrum half Ian Murphy dictated Castleknock's ways and means. The simple difference was the former had the time and space, if only because of his outhalf position, to make the more telling contribution, as the latter was always pressurised by an alert back row.
In fact, the second half deteriorated into an often times bad tempered affair, in which any one of four or five players could have received their marching orders, on separate occasions. Referee David Tyndall showed admirable restraint, and no little common sense, in calming both sides. And while others lost their composure, Geordan Murphy kept his head and played his side out of trouble when required.
Newbridge now advance to the semi final, where they will meet either Clongowes Wood or the High School.
