Castleknock College ... 38 St Gerard's ... 13Castleknock College, last year's runners-up, improved out of all recognition, as the game wore on, to put six tries past a valiant St Gerard's at Donnybrook yesterday.

Early on St Gerard's number eight Burschi Wojnar galloped down the right, sucking in defenders, and scrumhalf Ian Sinnott spun the ball left to centre Simon Nelson, who offloaded to outhalf Kyle Tonetti, who fed left wing Eoin Deveney for a superb unconverted try in the corner.

From then on, Castleknock took a firm grip. Outhalf Brian Collins launched a teasing garryowen that so mesmerised the opposition Mark Sheerin looked certain to score when the ball was recycled but second row Dario Sinagoga somehow got his body between the ball and the floor. Scrumhalf Eric Murphy took a quick tap penalty from five metres out, and twisted his way to the line to make it level.

Then, Murphy went right off a five metre scrum to put wing Aiden Redmond in at the flag for a 10-5 lead and, shortly after, Collins put over the first successful penalty for a 13-5 half-time lead.

Left wing Bryan McKeon sprinted in at the left corner for yet another unconverted try, two minutes into the second-half, followed quickly by a Collins penalty.

Tonetti struck his first penalty before openside Sheerin had a tremendous chip and chase try. Replacement Luke Kavanagh claimed a mauling try for St Gerard's to make it 26-13

Wing McKeon's acceleration from a standing start earned him a second touchdown and centre Daniel O'Connor went over under the posts, for his side's sixth try.

CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE: A Toolin; A Redmond, D O'Connor, R Greally, B McKeon; B Collins, E Murphy; R Murphy, J Lee, S Tighe, D O'Riordan, J Murray, J Quinn, M Sheerin, T Walsh. Replacements: K Cooke for Quinn 45 mins; T McAuley for Toolin (52 mins); C Barry for Lee, A Dolaty for Tighe (56 mins); S Moloney for O'Riordan (59 mins).

ST GERARD'S SCHOOL: S Campbell; C Doherty, S Nelson, M Duffy, E Deveney; K Tonetti, I Sinnott; D Byrne, M Mitton; J Kinsella, D Sinagoga, M Flanagan; N Kruseman, M Rosenstock, B Wojnar. Replacements: L Kavanagh for Kruseman (39 mins); K Ho for Byrne (43 mins); M Tyrrell for Sinagoga (57 mins).

Referee: A Acheson (Leinster Branch).