St Mary’s ease past Wesley to book spot in Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals
Jack Halpin of St Mary’s College scores his side's third try during the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup match against Wesley College at Energia Park. Photo: Dáire Brennan/Sportsfile
ST MARY’S COLLEGE 39 WESLEY COLLEGE 10
St Mary’s were confirmed as the last name into the hat for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final draw after a convincing win over Wesley at Energia Park.
Evan Moynihan, David Leane and Jack Halpin each bagged a brace of tries on a perfect afternoon for rugby.
The Wesley ploy to kick long was immediately undermined by successive counters by Josh Kelly and Paul Neary.
The next time Charlie Hempenstall attempted this tactic, a company of two charged it down to force a penalty slotted by Cillian Jacobs, the hooker, in the seventh minute.
The dancing feet of Max Colbert soon had Wesley hatching plans at the other end, the forwards dictating terms until centre Ferida Spain was given license to twist out of a tackle for a try in the ninth minute.
The scrappy work of Liam Flaherty on the fringes turned St Mary’s defence into attack. Moynihan sliced through a gap to establish a pick-and-go sequence for Leane to scorerthe try, converted by Jacobs.
Wesley were opportunistic at the breakdown, lock Isaac Reid leading the charge, as they worked to slow down Mary’s momentum.
Everything was happening a touch too fast for them. Neary and Moynihan were a blur, Flaherty fighting through contact to make Andrew Stronge’s pass to Halpin a winner for 15-5 in the 23rd minute.
Neary’s precision kick landed in Christopher Maguire’s bread basket, the decision to twice come off his right foot spoiled by the vigilance of David Gilmore.
The Ballinteer boys were kept in the game by their contrary nature at the ruck, captain Rian Handley snatching another penalty there.
A body-shaking hit from Flaherty convinced Wesley to explore another avenue, Moynihan picking up a spilled ball to take off for the third try, converted by Jacobs, for 22-5 at the break.
Wesley could have accepted their fate. That was never likely. A committed chase of the kick-off produced an unexpected option to attack.
The ball was trucked up and moved swiftly by Jack Freyne for Jack Duffy to slip in at the corner flag in the 38th minute.
St Mary’s were quick to stamp out any appearance of a comeback, the forwards working Wesley over for Leane to grind out a result. Jacobs converted.
Replacement Sean Thornton walked onto the field and, immediately, into the action, being held up over the line before Moynihan powered out of a tackle for his second
All the while, Wesley had to absorb the loss of out-half Hempenstall and captain Handley to injury, soon followed by that of Finn O’Neill to the bin for a late tackle.
Somehow Dufy prevented Matthew Morrissey from grounding the ball in the right corner before Halpin flew to the left corner
Wesley were never discouraged, managing to finish the game on attack, getting over the line three times without reward.
Scorers – St Mary’s: E Moynihan, J Halpin, D Leane 2 tries each; C Jacobs pen, 3 cons. Wesley: F Spain, J Duffy try each.
ST MARY’S: J Kelly, C Maguire, Z Hopkins, E Moynihan (Capt), J Halpin; P Neary, A Stronge; G Ewing, C Jacobs, J Molloy, M Egan, P Power, D Leane, L Flaherty, A O’Brien. Replacements: J Christie for Ewing 43 mins; D O’Shea for Power 44 mins; S Thornton for Egan 50 mins; E Kenny for Neary 59 mins; J Gannon for Molloy, M Morrissey for Maguire both 62 mins; E Dillon for Flaherty, A Crawley for Moynihan both 65 mins.
WESLEY: M Colbert; C MacLachlann-Hickey, D Gilmore, F Spain, J Duffy; C Hempenstall, J Freyne; T Burke, R Handley (Capt), J Cullen, I Reid, F O’Neill, H Jones, S McMullin, M Campbell. Replacements: M Wystepek for Hempenstall 38 mins; L L’Estrange for Handley 54 mins; A Quinlan for Jones 55 mins; E Collins for McMullin 58 mins; R Price for Burke 59 mins; E Caddow for Cullen, D Jones for Freyne both 65 mins; A Hamilton for Duffy 66 mins
Referee: P Reidy, Leinster Branch.
BANK OF IRELAND LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS .
Terenure College v St Michael’s College
CBC Monkstown v St Mary’s College
Gonzaga College v Belvedere College
Cistercian College Roscrea v Blackrock College
(Matches to be played on week beginning February 19th)
