Sport

Gildea glides home

Schools' rugby,  Leinster Senior Cup, Section B first round / St Gerards College 12 Gonzaga College 6 : St Gerard's College …

Thu Jan 15 2004 - 00:00

Schools' rugby,  Leinster Senior Cup, Section B first round / St Gerards College 12 Gonzaga College 6: St Gerard's College took inspiration from left-wing Cian Gildea, their two-try hero, to surprise Gonzaga College at Donnybrook yesterday.

Gonzaga outhalf Michael Boland's calmly-taken penalty preceded heavy St Gerard's pressure.

When second-row Sam Duffy nicked the ball at a loose ruck, Gonzaga were short on numbers down their right flank. The St Gerard's scrumhalf Stephen Monahan put openside Zach Desmond into space.

Desmond drew the defender and released Gildea, who evaded Thomas Toomey's tackle for the opening try. Centre Alan Power converted.

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Gonzaga responded immediately but Toomey's chip through for John Comiskey was headed off by Gildea. Shortly after, Boland's second penalty in the 32nd minute left it 7-6 at the break.

Gonzaga made three substitutions on, or just after, half-time. Second-row Gavin Dunne made them more competitive at the lineout and scrumhalf Greg Cooney added punch around the fringes, but St Gerard's stood up to the physical challenge.

Midway through the half, Power blocked Boland's kick, the ball flew back and full back Mark Kelly scrambled to clear his lines. But, the danger had not gone. Centre Robbie Morrison surged through the middle, forwards Kevin Durkan and Desmond kept the ball alive and outhalf Kyle Tonetti released Gildea for his and St Gerard's second try in the 56th minute.

Gonzaga threatened down the left wing through Shane Hanratty in injury time but Monahan and then full back Gerard Fahey kicked St Gerard's out of danger.

SCORERS: St Gerard's College - C Gildea 2 tries; A Power con. Gonzaga College - M Boland 2 pens.

St Gerard's College: G Fahey; E Deveney, R Morrison, A Power, C Gildea; K Tonetti, S Monahan; T O'Kane (capt), G Sinnott, N Bitove, R Lee, S Duffy, D Byrne, Z Desmond, K Durkan. Replacement: B Wojnar for Duffy.

Gonzaga College: M Kelly; J Comiskey, T Toomey, A Peacock, S Hanratty; M Boland, F O'Rourke; J Gethings, R O'Byrne (H Murphy 65), R Upton, E Tuite, A Brennan (capt), P Hennessy, D O'Shea, T O'Dea. Replacements: C O'Keane for Comiskey; G Dunne for O'Shea; G Cooney for O'Rourke; H Murphy for O'Byrne.

Referee: C O'Brien (Leinster Branch).