That\u2019s all from me for today, thanks for following along.<\/p>\n
Message from the Editor on Sport<\/p>\n
![\"Irish](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/O3M6OOU4VRHOHNMW75FBAFW5NY.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Thanks for reading. If you\u2019re interested in Irish sport, becoming an Irish Times subscriber can give you access to all our sportswriting, including live coverage of matches, in-depth analysis, the best writers and columnists and the big interviews with players, athletes and managers.<\/p>\n
At The Irish Times, our journalism is free of any personal, political or commercial control. Unlike most publishers, we have no shareholders to satisfy, no media baron owner in the background telling us what we can and cannot publish.<\/p>\n
We are owned by a Trust that mandates us to uphold a set of public-interest values. Those values describe a worldview that is outward-looking, tolerant, curious, interested in divergent views and attentive to the needs of minorities. Our watchwords are fairness and accuracy. Our goal is to enable you to make informed and independent judgments. And any profit we make goes towards supporting our journalism.<\/p>\n
Ruadh\u00e1n Mac Cormaic<\/p>\n
Editor<\/p>\n
[\u00a0To join Ireland’s biggest community of news subscribers, sign up hereOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Stay tuned for the full match report which will be with us shortly.<\/p>\n FULL-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n As is tradition, the Senior Cup will be presented to winning captain Andrew McGauran by his mother.<\/p>\n That\u2019s after Blackrock receive their runner-up medals, presented by captain Luke Coffey\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n FULL-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s College hold on for a three-point win to claim the school\u2019s first Senior Cup title since 2002, denying Blackrock their third successive title.<\/p>\n FULL-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 69 MINS: Neary finds touch, St Mary\u2019s with the throw into the lineout inside Blackrock\u2019s half.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s run the clock into the red. They send it out the back of the ruck for Neary to kick for touch.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s the final whistle, St Mary\u2019s College get the win.<\/p>\n FULL-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 68 MINS: St Mary\u2019s turn it over and send the kick long for Cael McCloskey to manage. <\/p>\n They run it over the halfway but there\u2019s another penalty for St Mary\u2019s.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 66 MINS: Blackrock pulled up for not releasing at the breakdown. Great work by St Mary\u2019s frontrow Thomas Quigley just as he\u2019s called ashore.<\/p>\n But the good comes to nothing as St Mary\u2019s are penalised for not throwing straight in the lineout and Blackrock have an attacking platform from the scrum.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 64 MINS: Knock-on into touch for Blackrock as they go on the attack.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s safely get it away from the scrum but the box-kick clearance goes straight out, bringing it back for a Blackrock lineout.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 61 MINS: Another huge turnover for St Mary\u2019s from captain Andrew McGauran.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s go through the hands and have advantage. They can\u2019t break through Blackrock\u2019s defence so it\u2019s called back for the penalty and Neary opts to go for the posts.<\/p>\n He slots it over for St Mary\u2019s to retake the lead.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 25 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 58 MINS: Blackrock with a ferocious attacking effort that brings them within five meters of the try line but St Mary\u2019s manage a turnover and kick to clear their lines.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 55 MINS: St Mary\u2019s with the throw into the lineout. They bring it to ground and maul. Christle looks to peel off the back but he\u2019s caught by George Eggars.<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s play it wide but Blackrock turnover possession.<\/p>\n Coffey finds touch to give Blackrock a great attacking position inside the St Mary\u2019s 22.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 51 MINS: A second high tackle from St Mary\u2019s under pressure gives Luke Coffey a shot at goal.<\/p>\n His kick sails over to bring Blackrock level with 20 minutes to go.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 22<\/p>\n 50 MINS: Advantage for Blackrock for a high tackle. Bernard White chances a kick over St Mary\u2019s line but it doesn\u2019t fall well for his runners, spilling out over the line so referee calls it back for the original penalty.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 48 MINS: St Mary\u2019s captain Andrew McGauran wins a turnover at the breakdown. They\u2019re doing well to keep Blackrock at bay but it\u2019s taking it\u2019s toll.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 45 MINS: Huge moment for St Mary\u2019s. Blackrock are piling on the pressure by Mary\u2019s force the turnover for a scrum.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 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\u2019s.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 39 MINS: Blackrock much stronger under the St Mary\u2019s relief kicks.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s on the attack against but they\u2019re penalised at the breakdown for not rolling away.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 37 MINS: First lineout of the half, Blackrock overthrow and tryscorer Christle comes away with it for St Mary\u2019s.<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s earn a scrum just shy of halfway after a Blackrock knock on.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s hold the upper hand heading into the second half, but they were in this position last week and didn\u2019t manage to get over the line.<\/p>\n The teams are back on the field now, Blackrock\u2019s Luke Coffey to get us back under way.<\/p>\n HALF-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 35 MINS: St Mary\u2019s launch their last attack of the half as the clock ticks into the red.<\/p>\n They\u2019re knocking at the door but are left just short of the line. Three attempts are called short before captain Andrew McGauran finally touches down.<\/p>\n Neary again with the conversion.<\/p>\n HALF-TIME: St Mary\u2019s 22 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 32 MINS: Try for Blackrock.<\/p>\n Bernard White takes the ball to the line but whips a quick pass back to Paddy Scally and Alex Aschenbrenner runs it in.<\/p>\n Coffey slices the conversion attempt.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 15 Blackrock 19<\/p>\n 32 MINS: Blackrock turn the ball over at the breakdown for the penalty. <\/p>\n Conal Power returns from his yellow card to restore \u2018Rock to 14.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 15 Blackrock 14<\/p>\n 27 MINS: Try for St Mary\u2019s<\/p>\n Blackrock reduced to 13 after they have a second player yellow-carded. From the lineout, St Mary\u2019s set their maul. Joseph Christle breaks off and powers over for his second try of the afternoon.<\/p>\n Neary\u2019s conversion clips the left post on its way over.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 15 Blackrock 14<\/p>\n 23 MINS: Yellow card for Blackrock. Conal Power is sent to the bin for a late tackle. <\/p>\n Neary kicks for the corner.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 8 Blackrock 14<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Coffey converts.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 8 Blackrock 14<\/p>\n 17 MINS: James Whitty wins a turnover from the breakdown for St Mary\u2019s. Neary finds touch and they safely win possession in the lineout. <\/p>\n Daniel Tourish gets a slip pass to break the Blackrock line but they\u2019re forced to play it back infield. Mary\u2019s send a pass out to Chris Maguire on the win who ends up just short of the line. Penalty for St Mary\u2019s for Blackrock going off their feet.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 8 Blackrock 7<\/p>\n 13 MINS: Try for St Mary\u2019s.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s stretch the Blackrock defence and are nearly in at the corner, but the last pass fails them.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s get up at the lineout and they maul over, Joseph Christle with the try.<\/p>\n Neary\u2019s conversion pulls just left.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 8 Blackrock 7<\/p>\n 11 MINS: St Mary\u2019s back on the attack after Blackrock knock on from the restart.<\/p>\n Conor Cantwell nearly breaks through Blackrock\u2019s defence but Blackrock scramble to cover their lines.<\/p>\n Scrum for St Mary\u2019s five meters out for another knock on.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 3 Blackrock 7<\/p>\n 6 MINS: Try for Blackrock.<\/p>\n \u2018Rock 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\u2019s defence. Conal Power breaks the line and passes off to Bernard White to touch down.<\/p>\n Captain Luke Coffey converts.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 3 Blackrock 7<\/p>\n 3 MINS: Great early play from St Mary\u2019s, putting the ball through the hands.<\/p>\n Blackrock penalised as Mary\u2019s break through and Neary signals for the posts. He slots the penalty.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 3 Blackrock 0<\/p>\n 0 MINS: The teams are out and we\u2019re almost ready to get going. <\/p>\n Paul Neary kicks things off for St Mary\u2019s.<\/p>\n St Mary\u2019s 0 Blackrock 0<\/p>\n Blackrock are looking to seal their third successive Senior Cup title this afternoon, while St Mary\u2019s last won the title in 2002.<\/p>\n Five minutes to kick-off.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Blackrock head coach Justin Vanstone had to say after last Tuesday\u2019s draw:<\/p>\n And some thoughts from his St Mary\u2019s counterpart, Kieran Moloney:<\/p>\n The side\u2019s met on St Patrick\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Read the report of last week\u2019s game below:<\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GISVP7CUE4AJWLJ3IMNWFSAMW4.jpg\")
St Mary\u2019s fans celebrate after a try. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"Blackrock](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5M62IHHHFOBAMTP2LKE2J3SVPU.jpg\")
Blackrock fans ahead of the game at Energia Park. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho <\/p>\n
![\"Blackrock's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RCNE3NXO6FH4PKNMO3IEMB53QQ.jpg\")
Blackrock’s Luke Coffey takes a box kick during last week’s final at Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Ben Brady\/Inpho <\/p>\n