HOLDERS TERENURE are still on track for back-to-back Leinster Junior Cup titles following this stern examination by committed Clongowes Wood at Donnybrook yesterday.

If Clongowes were to make an impression, they would have to do it early. That is exactly what happened when hooker Dylan Donnellan sped away from all-comers on the back of turnover ball in the second minute. Outhalf William Lappin added the conversion.

It suddenly filled their players with confidence. They took no prisoners in the tackle area and it didn’t hurt them when the ball seemed to bounce their way. But there is plenty of experience in this talented Terenure squad. Slowly, they began to build their game around the talismanic presence of their number eight Harrison Brewer.

The flow of play was interrupted when hooker Donnellan popped up again from a slick front of the lineout exchange to steam forward, leading to an attack that was eventually ended when centre Daniel O’Sullivan was taken down.

This was the signal for the ’Nure maul to start to motor, given further impetus by the hard-charging prop Silvio Borza and the searing pace of right wing Neil O’Connor. It was all Clongowes could do to hold on.

From a lineout, the holders went to their maul again, gaining a penalty, dispatched by centre Stephen O’Neill, for encroaching by the Clongowes backline in the 27th minute.

Then, the triple threat of Borza, O’Neill and Brewer ate into the yardage to create the opening down the left for wing Tom O’Brien to outstrip the cover for a try that O’Neill converted for the lead (10-7) just before the interval.

It was just the tonic for the champions and they upped the ante, thereafter, O’Brien flashing down the sideline before Borza plunged in under the posts for O’Neill to add the extras.

The Purple Whites were not finished. They moved the ball smoothly through the hands of eye-catching centres Jack Murphy and O’Sullivan, backed up by Donnellan and excellent number eight David Doyle, their captain.

Lappin made it a one-score game from a penalty in the 58th minute. A swift attack put replacement Conor Bracken-Price within five metres of glory. But, it was not to be, O’Neill closing the door with his second penalty at the death.

TERENURE COLLEGE:R Church; N O'Connor, S O'Neill, R Carroll , T O'Brien; J Lynch, G Clarkin; S Borza, J Carroll, K Colgan, M Murphy, R Somerville (capt), N O'Sullivan, P Thornton, H Brewer. Replacements:J McCormack for Carroll (15 mins, temp), S Caffrey for O'Sullivan (18 mins), H Nwankwo for Carroll (54 mins),

CLONGOWES:C Burke (C Bracken-Price 23); A Jeffers, J Murphy, D O'Sullivan, A Linnane; W Lappin, P Maher; D Garty, D Donnellan, J Inglis, M White, O Hassett, S Quinlan, A Dudeney, D Doyle (capt). Replacements:M Jones for Quinlan (48 mins), C Gillick for Inglis, I Brady for White (both 68 mins)

Referee:B Montayne (Leinster Branch).