Terenure College 18 Clongowes Wood College 15
Terenure’s Alvaro Swords broke Clongowes’ hearts with a 66th-minute try in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round at Energia Park on Monday.
Clongwes could not have scripted the opening any better, swarming forward from the kick-off to squeeze a penalty that was immediately sent to the corner. Hooker Conor Keogh hit his mark at the lineout and then got around to take the ball all the way to the line. Joshua Grant landed the conversion.
When Clongowes were slow to roll away at a ruck Geoff O’Sullivan pulled his 37-metre penalty left. Nevertheless Terenure was growing into the game, O’Sullivan soon splitting the posts after a tip tackle in the 18th minute.
Who will start at 10 for Ireland during the Six Nations?
The scavenging skills of Michael Smyth then harvested a penalty for Gareth Morgan to make it a one-point game in the 24th minute.
Clongowes hit back, though, as Arthur Ashmore took centre stage with a barrelling run from outside the 22 for a fine individual try for 12-6 at half time.
Michael Kennedy’s in-to-out arcing break, Sean Gavin’s half-break and the work rate of Cooper gave Terenure territory at the start of the second half.
The Clane school needed relief from all-out pressure and found it from Ross Adams’ poach, tempting Ross Doyle into a long-range penalty for 15-6 in the 54th minute.
A high tackle on Terenure captain Ben Blaney led to a yellow card for Simon Kelly. Leo Zelman connected with Ben Maher at the lineout and got around to stay on the ball for a well-drilled try, converted by Morgan to reduce the deficit to 15-13 in the 61st minute.
All the pressure had to pay off and when Kennedy made the initial dent Swords broke a tackle to show the wheels to make the line for a 18-15 lead in the 66th minute.
[ Ireland v England: TV details, kick-off time and team news for Six Nations openerOpens in new window ]
It was all down to nerve now. Terenure came under pressure in retreat, giving up a penalty which Doyle pushed wide. Straight away a high tackle offered Doyle a shot at redemption from 45 metres, the ball sailing wide again.
It all came down to one last play, Brian McCulloch taking a good angle on to the ball only for Adam Cooper to snatch a penalty on the floor to end the game.
Terenure: G O’Sullivan; E Balamash, M Kennedy, A Swords, N Fallon; G Morgan, J Coleman, P Kelly, C Hyland, A Cooper, J Mooney, F Maher, M Smyth, S Gavin, B Blaney (Capt). Replacements: E McMonagle for Kelly 27 mins - temp; L Zelman for Hyland, L McNiff for Mooney both 44 mins; J Greally for Fallon 61 mins.
Clongowes Wood: F Kehoe; R Adams, J Grant, R Doyle; T Strickland; H O’Sullivan-Sexton, T Walsh; M Doyle (Capt), C Keogh, L Murtagh, S Kelly, M Smyth, J White, J Benson, A Ashmore. Replacements: T Devitt for Ashmore 47 mins; O Worth for O’Sullivan-Sexton, M O’Sullivan for Keogh both 64 mins; B A McCulloch for Strickland 65 mins.
Referee: P Reidy, Leinster Branch.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to the Counter Ruck podcast for the best rugby chat and analysis
