Vinny Murray Cup: A dramatic injury-time try from Fionn Carr, grandson of the great cyclist Con Carr, gave Newbridge a place in this year's Vinny Murray Cup semi-final in a thrilling game played at Portlaoise yesterday.
Newbridge dominated the opening exchanges with David Aherne converting two early penalties. The same player dropped a wonderful goal after 35 minutes but Kilkenny produced an excellent second quarter.
Two well-taken tries by Andrew Hancock and a conversion by John Jenkinson, who also added a penalty, saw Kilkenny actually easing into a half-time lead of 15-9.
Five minutes into the secondhalf Aherne added his third penalty but Kilkenny replied with a penalty from John Jenkinson.
That was to be Kilkenny's last score, however, and in fact, neither side would score again in normal time as all the drama of the second half was packed into the three minutes of injury time.
Firstly, Gary Delahunt scored a great try for Newbridge in the 70th minute but, when Ahern failed to convert, it appeared as if Kilkenny would hold on for victory.
However, a minute later a magnificent run by Fionn Carr from deep in his own half saw him charge over the Kilkenny line for a dramatic winning try.
When David Ahern added the conversion, Newbridge's revival was complete.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: G Delahunt; R Kerrigan, S Roe (capt), F Carr, M Neylon; D Aherne, S Cleare; C Doyle, R Mulryan, R Berney, S Griffin, M Kindregan, B Shanahan, N Barton, B O'Shea. Replacements: D Miley for R Berney (half-time), B O'Grady for Doyle (40 mins), M Healy for S Roe (65 mins).
KILKENNY COLLEGE: P Zerafa; I Watchhorn, T Bergin, D Dunne, A Hancock; G Jones, P Condell; C Thackaberry, P Horan (capt), M Hendy, J Jenkinson, P McCorry, J Harper, I Condell, R Connor.
Referee: M Flanagan (Carlow).
St Saran's, Ferbane, advanced to the quarter-finals of the Connacht Senior Cup by virtue of a very hard-fought 16-0 win over St Muredach's in Ballina yesterday. St Saran's had tries from Kevin Lally and Aidan Keenaghan while Aidan Wynne converted two penalties.
