Terenure turn on the power

TERENURE COLLEGE put the individual parts of their game together in the second half to out-lay and outclass Clongowes Wood College…

TERENURE COLLEGE put the individual parts of their game together in the second half to out-lay and outclass Clongowes Wood College in the Leinster Schools' Junior Cup semi-final at Donnybrook yesterday.

At times in the first half Terenure were almost as impressive, and Mark Duffy's slicing 10th-minute run to the left corner gave Clongowes a hint of what was to come.

Duffy underhit the conversion, but followed up in the 16th minute with a penalty after hem had been hauled down short of the Clongowes line by full back Stephen McGee's brave tackle.

But Clongowes stood, up magnificently to Terenure's greater strength. Prop forward Dylan Redmond struck two superb penalties in the 24th and 28th minutes, and then out-half Philip Treacy conjured up a sweetly-struck dropped goal three minutes into injury time.

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A 9-8 half-time lead must have given Clongowes great encouragement, particularly their pack who had resisted Terenure's forceful rucking, and in turn created a good platform for their own backs.

However, few could have foreseen the total transformation that occurred after the break as Terenure turned in an outstanding second-half display.

Within 10 minutes Terenure had turned a one-point deficit into an 18-9 lead. Prop Tony Byrne started the onslaught with a 32nd-minute try. Duffy converted and added a penalty three minutes later.

Then, the best move of the match which involved free flowing running from the Terenure three quarters and quick racking and driving from the forwards, ended with left wing Donal Murphy going over in the corner.

Thereafter Terenure continually drove Clongowes back and but for Clongowes' steely defence the winning margin could have been even greater.

Barry Flynn scored Terenure's fourth and last try, with Duffy adding his second conversion and two more penalties.