Leinster Schools Senior Cup final: FT – St Mary’s College 25 Blackrock College 22
“Joy unconfined for St Mary’s College, with captain Andrew McGouran lifting the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final trophy for the Rathmines school for the first time in 24 years,” Michael Scully writes from Energia Park.
“Paul Neary’s final kick to touch as the clock went into the red unleashed raucous celebrations in the Donnybrook ground. In contrast, the Blackrock College players and their supporters were crestfallen as their three-in-a-row dreams were ended.”
Read the full match report below.
That’s all from me for today, thanks for following along.
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Stay tuned for the full match report which will be with us shortly.
FULL-TIME: St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
As is tradition, the Senior Cup will be presented to winning captain Andrew McGauran by his mother.
That’s after Blackrock receive their runner-up medals, presented by captain Luke Coffey’s mother.
St Mary’s fans celebrate after a try. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
FULL-TIME: St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
St Mary’s College hold on for a three-point win to claim the school’s first Senior Cup title since 2002, denying Blackrock their third successive title.
FULL-TIME: St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
69 MINS: Neary finds touch, St Mary’s with the throw into the lineout inside Blackrock’s half.
St Mary’s run the clock into the red. They send it out the back of the ruck for Neary to kick for touch.
And that’s the final whistle, St Mary’s College get the win.
FULL-TIME: St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
68 MINS: St Mary’s turn it over and send the kick long for Cael McCloskey to manage.
They run it over the halfway but there’s another penalty for St Mary’s.
St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
66 MINS: Blackrock pulled up for not releasing at the breakdown. Great work by St Mary’s frontrow Thomas Quigley just as he’s called ashore.
But the good comes to nothing as St Mary’s are penalised for not throwing straight in the lineout and Blackrock have an attacking platform from the scrum.
St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
64 MINS: Knock-on into touch for Blackrock as they go on the attack.
St Mary’s safely get it away from the scrum but the box-kick clearance goes straight out, bringing it back for a Blackrock lineout.
St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
61 MINS: Another huge turnover for St Mary’s from captain Andrew McGauran.
St Mary’s go through the hands and have advantage. They can’t break through Blackrock’s defence so it’s called back for the penalty and Neary opts to go for the posts.
He slots it over for St Mary’s to retake the lead.
St Mary’s 25 Blackrock 22
58 MINS: Blackrock with a ferocious attacking effort that brings them within five meters of the try line but St Mary’s manage a turnover and kick to clear their lines.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 22
55 MINS: St Mary’s with the throw into the lineout. They bring it to ground and maul. Christle looks to peel off the back but he’s caught by George Eggars.
Mary’s play it wide but Blackrock turnover possession.
Coffey finds touch to give Blackrock a great attacking position inside the St Mary’s 22.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 22
51 MINS: A second high tackle from St Mary’s under pressure gives Luke Coffey a shot at goal.
His kick sails over to bring Blackrock level with 20 minutes to go.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 22
50 MINS: Advantage for Blackrock for a high tackle. Bernard White chances a kick over St Mary’s line but it doesn’t fall well for his runners, spilling out over the line so referee calls it back for the original penalty.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
48 MINS: St Mary’s captain Andrew McGauran wins a turnover at the breakdown. They’re doing well to keep Blackrock at bay but it’s taking it’s toll.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
45 MINS: Huge moment for St Mary’s. Blackrock are piling on the pressure by Mary’s force the turnover for a scrum.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
42 MINS: Coffey plays a beautiful kick forward for Paddy Scally to send the pass out to Bernard White. He runs for the line and has Alex Aschenbrenner in support, but Conor Cantwell buts in a try-saving tackle for St Mary’s.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
39 MINS: Blackrock much stronger under the St Mary’s relief kicks.
St Mary’s on the attack against but they’re penalised at the breakdown for not rolling away.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
37 MINS: First lineout of the half, Blackrock overthrow and tryscorer Christle comes away with it for St Mary’s.
Mary’s earn a scrum just shy of halfway after a Blackrock knock on.
St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
St Mary’s hold the upper hand heading into the second half, but they were in this position last week and didn’t manage to get over the line.
The teams are back on the field now, Blackrock’s Luke Coffey to get us back under way.
HALF-TIME: St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
35 MINS: St Mary’s launch their last attack of the half as the clock ticks into the red.
They’re knocking at the door but are left just short of the line. Three attempts are called short before captain Andrew McGauran finally touches down.
Neary again with the conversion.
HALF-TIME: St Mary’s 22 Blackrock 19
32 MINS: Try for Blackrock.
Bernard White takes the ball to the line but whips a quick pass back to Paddy Scally and Alex Aschenbrenner runs it in.
Coffey slices the conversion attempt.
St Mary’s 15 Blackrock 19
32 MINS: Blackrock turn the ball over at the breakdown for the penalty.
Conal Power returns from his yellow card to restore ‘Rock to 14.
St Mary’s 15 Blackrock 14
27 MINS: Try for St Mary’s
Blackrock reduced to 13 after they have a second player yellow-carded. From the lineout, St Mary’s set their maul. Joseph Christle breaks off and powers over for his second try of the afternoon.
Neary’s conversion clips the left post on its way over.
St Mary’s 15 Blackrock 14
23 MINS: Yellow card for Blackrock. Conal Power is sent to the bin for a late tackle.
Neary kicks for the corner.
St Mary’s 8 Blackrock 14
21 MINS: Try for Blackrock. James Browne snatches the ball from the back of the ruck and breaks the line. He sends the pass to Alex Aschenbrenner who powers over.
Coffey converts.
St Mary’s 8 Blackrock 14
17 MINS: James Whitty wins a turnover from the breakdown for St Mary’s. Neary finds touch and they safely win possession in the lineout.
Daniel Tourish gets a slip pass to break the Blackrock line but they’re forced to play it back infield. Mary’s send a pass out to Chris Maguire on the win who ends up just short of the line. Penalty for St Mary’s for Blackrock going off their feet.
St Mary’s 8 Blackrock 7
13 MINS: Try for St Mary’s.
St Mary’s stretch the Blackrock defence and are nearly in at the corner, but the last pass fails them.
St Mary’s get up at the lineout and they maul over, Joseph Christle with the try.
Neary’s conversion pulls just left.
St Mary’s 8 Blackrock 7
11 MINS: St Mary’s back on the attack after Blackrock knock on from the restart.
Conor Cantwell nearly breaks through Blackrock’s defence but Blackrock scramble to cover their lines.
Scrum for St Mary’s five meters out for another knock on.
St Mary’s 3 Blackrock 7
6 MINS: Try for Blackrock.
‘Rock play it out of the own 22 through winger Rhys Keogh. They play it back infield and go through the phases to test St Mary’s defence. Conal Power breaks the line and passes off to Bernard White to touch down.
Captain Luke Coffey converts.
St Mary’s 3 Blackrock 7
3 MINS: Great early play from St Mary’s, putting the ball through the hands.
Blackrock penalised as Mary’s break through and Neary signals for the posts. He slots the penalty.
St Mary’s 3 Blackrock 0
0 MINS: The teams are out and we’re almost ready to get going.
Paul Neary kicks things off for St Mary’s.
St Mary’s 0 Blackrock 0
Blackrock are looking to seal their third successive Senior Cup title this afternoon, while St Mary’s last won the title in 2002.
Blackrock fans ahead of the game at Energia Park. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
Five minutes to kick-off.
Here’s what Blackrock head coach Justin Vanstone had to say after last Tuesday’s draw:
And some thoughts from his St Mary’s counterpart, Kieran Moloney:
The side’s met on St Patrick’s Day last week when a late try from Cian McCarron for Blackrock, converted by captain Luke Coffey, ended things at square on 24 points apiece.
Read the report of last week’s game below:
Hello, and welcome along to The Irish Times live blog for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final replay between Blackrock College and St Mary’s College.
Last Tuesday’s final ended in a draw at Tallaght Stadium. This time around, the sides meet at Energia Park, where kick-off is at 2.30pm.
We’ll have live updates from the game in Donnybrook, followed by a match report after the final whistle.
Blackrock’s Luke Coffey takes a box kick during last week’s final at Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Here’s how the sides line out:
ST MARY’S COLLEGE: Josh Kelly; Christopher Maguire, Conor Cantwell, Daniel Tourish, Nicolas Sheehan; Paul Neary; Jack Fogarty; Thomas Quigley, Joseph Christle, David Kenny; James Whitty, Max Egan; Eoin Farrell, Andrew McGauran (capt), Sean Thornton.
Replacements: Will Blake, Jake Barrett, Ben Harmon, Eoghan Brady, Robert Flaherty, Rory Noonan, William Kelly, Cian Gilbourne.
BLACKROCK: Cael McCloskey; Alex Aschenbrenner, James Browne, Bernard White, Rhys Keogh; Paddy Scally; Luke Coffey (capt); Louis Magee, Harry O’Neill, Ben Guerin; George Eggars, Cian McCarron; Conal Power, Patrick Agnew, Geoffery Wall.
Replacements: Lucas Hill, Lorcan Golden, Luka Kelly, Daniel Rogan, Donnacha Walsh, Harry Clancy, Stephen Moloney, Aiden Vetjens.