Newbridge College 10 CBC Monkstown 7:A SPARKLING display from free-running Newbridge College was just about enough to account for a talented CBC Monkstown in a fine Leinster Schools Junior League final beneath the floodlights at Donnybrook last night.
The spirit of the occasion was set when Newbridge ran the ball along their line from the kick-off. It was reciprocated by CBC. They never passed up a chance to move the ball into space.
Their outhalf Seán Kearns looked to bring his outside backs into the game with sharp passing, while Newbridge seemed more capable of springing forward through their individual brilliance.
The Kildare school slipped ahead when secondrow Tom Treacy strode majestically out of defence to stretch the cover. Number eight Tom Brady was in the right place at the right time to take the ball the rest of the way home for a 5-0 lead in the 12th minute.
Ten minutes later Newbridge surged from the halfway line, outhalf Mark Sutton speeding past tacklers and getting around in support to receive the ball again and race into the left corner.
To restore confidence, Monkstown needed some reward for their positive approach. They had no problem winning the ball, but using it properly was a different matter against a solid defence.
The tempo was relentless. Monkstown did all they could to reel in the leaders, having the better of it at the breakdown where Dylan Haney and Brett Keaveney were a nuisance.
A succession of penalties conceded by Newbridge gave CBC the territory they were looking for and fullback Cormac Cullinane ducked inside a tackle for an injury-time try, converted by Kearns.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: C Healy; P Kyne, J Howlett, J O’Neill, N Delahunt; M Sutton, B Finan; J Phelan, C Doyle, H O’Donnell (capt), T Treacy, S Treacy, C Nugent, M O’Connor, T Brady. Replacements: C Conlon for S Treacy (49 mins); J Deane for Brady (51 mins); T Higgins for T Treacy, T Brady for O’Connor (both 64 mins); P Ryan for O’Neill, N Fleming for Healy (both 67 mins); T Dunne for O’Donnell (69 mins).
CBC MONKSTOWN: C Cullinane; K Wolfe, M Courtney (capt), S Smyth, J Halwax; S Kearns, B Mahon; G Byrne, C Cunningham, K Patterson, J O’Connor, C McDonald, B Keaveney, D Haney, J McGrath. Replacements: J Toale for Mahon (55 mins); J Thorne for Halwax, M Hallam for Haney (both 65 mins).
Referee: P Dennehy (Leinster).
