FOLLOWING the precepts that had proved so successful in the semi final, Terenure College once more revealed the resilience to withstand pressure and the capacity to capitalise on opportunity in the final of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup at Lansdowne Road yesterday.

Terenure thus regained the trophy they last won in 1993, when they also defeated Clongowes in the decider. It was Terenure's eighth senior cup win, and a great double beckons as the college will also contest tomorrows junior cup final.

Two tries by Terenure in a hectic spell between the 63rd and 68th minutes proved decisive. The manner in which they were scored was a tribute to Terenure's application and ability to profit when opportunity presented itself.

While it is a singular achievement in itself to get to the decider of this competition, for Clongowes it was the great disappointment of losing in the final for the fourth time since 1993. It will add to their level of frustration that they failed to turn possession, a pronounced territorial superiority and penalty opportunities into tangible reward in the initial period.

Despite that, Terenure deserved to win a final that was never less than intense, interesting and, until the closing minutes, in the balance. It will not go down as one of the more memorable deciders, yet it was a great win for Terenure.

Their defence was broken just once in the first half, during which they absorbed almost non stop pressure. They went behind to a fine try from Clongowes scrumhalf Bobby Quigley in the 17th minute.

It is a measure of Terenure's unquenchable spirit and dedication of purpose that, within two minutes, in their first attack of the match, they hit back to take the lead.

That was a crucial score, for the indications in the opening 20 minutes were that Clongowes were going to take command. The response was Terenure's declaration of intent. The three players involved in the creation, execution and scoring of the try were all outstanding in the Terenure team scrum half Barry Healy, number eight Jamie Jenkinson and outside half John English. Healy and Jenkinson combined to create the opening for English, who scored the try and then kicked a great conversion.

He had a most productive afternoon and contributed 12 points. Yet Healy made an immense contribution to his side's success. When the team was under pressure, he relentlessly harassed his opposite number, Quigley, kicked extremely well out of defence and fed his partner, English, when it was opportune.

He played a significant part in the creation of two of his side's three tries, and then crowned a great display by scoring the third in the 68th minute and was the assurance that the cup was destined for Terenure.

In many respects the scoreline is remarkable. With the match in the 63rd minute, the score stood at 10-8 to Terenure and was on a knife edge. Clongowes outside half, Ciaran Finane, who had dropped an excellent goal just before half time to give his side an 8-7 interval lead, was inches wide with a drop goal attempt in the 56th minute and then wide again a minute later.

Terenure had regained the advantage seven minutes after the break when English kicked a penalty.

English's kicking was in sharp, contrast to that of Clongowes. They missed no fewer than five chances in the initial period.

David Hourihane, who had kicked so well in the semifinal, was wide with three penalties and a conversion attempt, while Gordon D'Arcy was also wide with a penalty chance.

But while Terenure spent most of the first half in defence, working relentlessly to counter Clongowes in the ruck and at times having to concede penalties to do so, in the second period they saw more of the ball and were more composed than their opponents. Healy and English were content to kick for position and they did it well.

Clongowes had two excellent lineout ball winners in Peter Callanan and Des Dillon, and a tireless worker in flanker Ian, Sheey as they dominated in that initial period. But Terenure held them in the mauls and offered a steadfast defence when Clongowes attacked through the backs.

D'Arcy was dangerous when he joined the attack, but the Terenure defence held firm. It was breached only once in the first period when Quigley broke on the short side after a scrum to score his try.

Then came Terenure's rapid response with the try and conversion from English before Finane dropped his goal to give Clongowes that one point interval lead. It should have been more. Yet with the wind at their backs to come in the second half, Clongowes must have felt at the break that they could put the opposition away.

Terenure played well and with great effect in the second period. The pack as a unit countered Clongowes, captain David Blaney made a significant contribution and Cormac Long and Dermot Quinn invariably won their lineout ball.

After English kicked Terenure into the lead for the second time in the 42nd minute, it was Blaney who struck for a vital try in the 63rd minute. Quinn won a lineout as the prelude to the assault. English converted and Terenure led 17-8.

Then Healy seated his outstanding performance with an interception near half way. He set off down the left flank, had support from Cormac Long, took the return pass and scored wide on the left.

As is their tradition, Clongowes did not surrender and in the third minute of injury time got a try when centre Rory McEneaney scored out on the right. This time Hourihane kicked a splendid conversion, but those seven points did no more than after the statistical entry in the record book.