Leinster Junior Cup Quarter-final/Blackrock College 22 Belvedere College 10: Hot favourites Blackrock College absorbed Belvedere's pressure and hit back with two second-half tries to join Castleknock, Newbridge and Gonzaga in the final four of the Powerade Leinster Junior Cup at Donnybrook yesterday.
Centre Niall Myron is the most comprehensive tackler in this competition. He was the leader of a Belvedere physical assault that left Blackrock nursing more than bruises early on. They were diligently destructive at the breakdown.
Secondrow Greg Slattery was a beacon at the lineout, and out-half Shane Doyle looked to kick for position.
For all that, Blackrock looked the more creative bunch. Left wing Paddy Costello was bundled into touch five metres from the line, and blindside Ed Taite was just beaten to a blockdown by Doyle.
The discipline of both sides was something to marvel at, and Belvedere fullback Richard Sheridan did not get the first penalty chance of the match, an almost impossible effort from halfway, in first-half injury-time.
Blackrock began to generate continuity to their play, and referee Andrew Adams called them back twice for forward passes that were marginal at best.
When Belvedere attempted to run the ball out of defence in the 40th minute, Blackrock were waiting. Scrumhalf Paul O'Shea fed hooker Tom Parsons and his strength and pace took him to the line. Centre Brendan Macken converted from the right.
It would take something special for the holders to get back into it. Myron's penalty following a massive maul made it 7-3, only for Macken to respond with a drop goal immediately.
The back three of Calum Rowden, Liam McHugh and Costello set a target for Macken to finish on the right. The conversion brought his personal tally to 12 points.
Outhalf Brian Kingston followed up his blockdown for the third try, and the exemplary Myron raced away for a consolation try and conversion.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE: C Rowden; L McHugh, B Macken, K Curran, P Costello; B Kingston (capt), P O'Shea; C Walsh, T Parsons, D Fawsitt, J Kelly, P Kilcoyne, E Taite, J Murphy, C Barry. Replacements: D Buckley for Walsh (h-t), C Carroll for Kilcoyne (55 mins).
BELVEDERE COLLEGE: R Sheridan; D Murray, N Myron, B Woods, D O'Riordan; S Doyle, C O'Shea; A D'Arcy, C O'Flynn, P Gilsenan, A Sheridan, G Slattery, B Geraghty, D Casey, C O'Brien (capt). Replacements: K O'Brien for D'Arcy (46 mins), M D'Arcy for Woods (52 mins), G Farrelly for A Sheridan, H Nolan for O'Riordan, R Irwin for Casey (all 55 mins), D Carrig for Gilsenan (56 mins), B Murphy for Doyle (58 mins).
Referee: A Adams (IRFU).
CONNACHT SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP - Semi-final (at Ballina): Sligo Grammar 16 (P Hunt try, S Gillespie 3 pens, con), Clifden CS 12. (W Gibbons 4 pens).
