Schools' Rugby / St Gerard's School 36 Skerries CC 3: St Gerard's School made light work of Skerries CC in the quarter-final of the Vincent Murray Senior Cup at Donnybrook yesterday.
They will now face this year's surprise package, St Patrick's, Navan, in the last four.
The six-try victory also guarantees them a first-round tie against The King's Hospital in the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup. The winners of that tie will play one of the pre-tournament favourites, Blackrock or St Mary's College.
The Bray school's superiority was evident from the sixth minute when flanker Zach Desmond forced his way over for the first try after an attacking lineout. It was another 15 minutes before Kevin Durkan's pass put Simon Nelson in for the second. Alan Power added the extra points.
Skerries resisted the St Gerard's advances for the remainder of the first-half and Owen Keane even added a penalty from all of 45 metres. However, the full back missed an easier chance in injury time to leave it 12-3 at the interval.
Any thoughts the north Dublin school harboured of a comeback were eradicated when the impressive Durkan was driven over by his pack near the corner after 47 minutes. It was fine display of power, especially considering their captain and Leinster schools representative, Tony O'Kane, had to retire with a shoulder injury.
Tries number four and five followed in quick succession with Power finishing off a blindside move, before Durkan claimed his second. Power finally added another conversion with his third attempt from the touchline.
There was still time for another try as centre Robbie Morrison made the initial break and showed good strength to fend off the cover.
SCORERS: St Gerard's Schol - A Power 3 cons, try; K Durkan 2 tries; Z Desmond, S Nelson, R Morrison try each. Skerries CC - O Keane pen.
ST GERARD'S: G Fahey; C Gildea, R Morrison, S Nelson, E Deveney; A Power, S Monahan; T O'Kane (capt), G Sinnott, N Bitove, R Lee, S Duffy, D Byrne, Z Desmond, K Durkan. Replacements: C McDermott for O'Kane (43 mins); E Hayde for Deveney (54 mins).
SKERRIES CC: O Keane; B O'Connor, E O'Mahony, J Gavin, D Daly; S Dempsey (Capt), T Hanratty; S Halpin, G Sambrooks, G Duffy, J Glennon, D Coffey, C Pierce, D Crowell, P Matthews. Replacements: C Scully for Halpin (43 mins); R O'Connor for B O'Connor (53 mins); G Dennis for C Pierce (60 mins); J Whitney for Gavin (69 mins); S Canning for Daly (70 mins).
Referee: S Kennedy (ARLB).
