LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR LEAGUE FINAL/Kilkenny College 15 Castleknock College 14:WING SIMON Williams pulled his hamstring in striking the winning points for Kilkenny to overcome Castleknock in the Leinster Schools' Senior League final at a freezing Donnybrook last night.
This was a tit-for-tat affair from the moment Kilkenny prop Shane Delahunt burst over for the first try in the 13th minute. Castleknock outhalf Robert Troy, twice, and Williams, once, kicked penalties to leave it precariously balanced 8-6 at the break.
‘Knock looked to take over when their replacement outhalf Eoin Hanlon slotted a penalty for a temporary lead against another response from Williams. Then, replacement Darragh Henry created something out of nothing for fullback Eoghan Quinn to notch a Castleknock try in the 52nd minute. Kilkenny’s never-say-die attitude saw their number eight Ross Deacon power over in the 64th minute and Williams’ conversion slipped them into a one-point lead they held to the end.
CASTLEKNOCK: E Quinn; M Mellett, T Farrell (capt), D Sweeney, S McEntaggart; R Troy, R Gleeson; J Fahy, D Perry, O McKevitt, E Murphy, S Carroll, S Condon, J O’Neill, P Nalty. Replacements: E Hanlon for Troy 34 mins; M Bennett for Fahy, D Henry for Gleeson, K Scanlon for Perry, N O’Riordan for Condon (all h-)t.
KILKENNY: H-R Thomas; T Bulfin, S Sterling, R Bailey-Kearney, S Williams; E Kelly, D Leybourne; G Condell, R Foot, S Delahunt (capt), J Holland-Brennan, G Mullins, H Crowley, M Triggs, R Deacon. Replacements: J Baker for Condell, J Walsh for Mullins (both 60 mins); J Moynan for Crowley (66 mins).
Referee: N Behan (Leinster Branch).
