Terenure College's victory was emphatic but it camouflaged a wonderfully gutsy and spirited Newbridge challenge that eventually earned the recognition it deserved with two late tries at Donnybrook yesterday.
Terenure produced a very polished display, defying blustery conditions, and hall-marked with some excellent individual performances. The team as a unit gelled well, interchanging the powerful rucking and driving of the forwards with some straight running and decent handling behind the scrum. Terenure spread their resources across the pitch and none was more effective in maximising the return than hooker Brian Blaney. He scored two tries and in doing so demonstrated good footballing ability and pace. The same attributes were evident in scrumhalf Robbie Sparks who crossed for a magnificent solo try while centres Barry Flynn and Donal Dunlop proved very difficult to stop. Right wing Sean King also scored two tries, the first an unopposed canter, the second a nice change of direction. Up front James Keogh, Richard Gernon and Roy McDonnell were prominent while Anthony Kelly's strength ensured a couple of turnovers. However, the game's outstanding performer was arguably Newbridge number eight Jamie Heaslip. Time and again he broke the first tackle before linking intelligently and none deserved his try more.
Darragh O'Shea tried to link with those around him and proved more adept the longer the game progressed. Robert McCabe had a fine game in the centre while Keith Martin won some vital ball out of touch. O'Shea dropped a superb goal after eight minutes and from the restart Newbridge almost swept the length of the pitch but Breffni O'Donnell's pass to John Mulryan went to ground. The remainder of the half belonged to Terenure. Tries from Blaney and a brace from King - David McAllister converted two and kicked a penalty - effectively ended the match as a contest.
By the 51st minute Terenure had introduced four replacements and at that juncture they led 34-3 after further tries from Dunlop and Sparks, the first of which McAllister converted. To their great credit, Newbridge continued to move the ball and were rewarded with tries from Heaslip and scrumhalf Richard Downey, both of which O'Shea converted.
Terenure offered a final rejoinder in injury time when turning over a ball on halfway, rucking quickly and creating an overlap out wide for Blaney to race 30 metres for a fine try. McAllister added the conversion. The portents appear ominous, Terenure are beginning to roll.
Scoring sequence: 8 mins: O'Shea drop goal, 3-0; 10: Blaney try, 3-5; 20: King try, McAllister conversion, 3-12; 24: McAllister penalty, 3-15; 33: King try, McAllister conversion, 3-22. Half-time: 322. 48: Dunlop try, McAllister conversion, 3-29; 51: Sparks try, 3-34; 64: Heaslip try, O'Shea conversion, 10-34; 67: Downey try, O'Shea conversion, 17-34; 70: Blaney try, McAllister conversion 17-41.
TERENURE COLLEGE: M Duffy; S King, D Dunlop, B Flynn (capt), G Crawford; D McAllister, R Sparks; K Mahony, B Blaney, J Keogh; R Gernon, R McDonnell, J Barretto, A Kelly, R Hegarty. Replacements: K Treacy for King (half-time); C McGinn for Hegarty (45 mins); M Mahony for Sparks (51 mins); J A Lee for Keogh (51 mins); K Jones for Duffy (65 mins).
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE: B Kehoe; P O'Flynn, B O'Donnell, R McCabe, J Mulryan; D O'Shea (capt), R Downey; K Neylon, K Martin, J O'Donovan; G Rowan, T Kindregan; W Murphy, J Heaslip, A Wilson.
Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).
