Blackrock College claimed their 70th Leinster Schools Senior Cup title with a dominant victory over Gonzaga College at the RDS.
Replacements: T Noone for O’Donnell (42), O Murray for Sullivan (44), L McLaughlin for Cotter (55), O O’Neill for Finlay (59), T Wyley for Murphy, M Tyrrell for O’Callaghan (64), A McVerry for Hammond, A O’Flanagan for Neville (both 65). Replacements: M Yarr for Brigg (27-33), J Molony for Tonge (h-t), J Angulo for Jackson, T O’Riordan for Holmes, W Fitzgerald for Coffey, M Aschenbrenner for Walsh (all 66), Yarr for G McCarthy, A Andersson for P McCarthy, C O’Shaughnessy for Quirke (all 68). Scorers for Blackrock College: Tries - H Cooney (2), L Molony, E Walsh, A Quinn, G McCarthy, M Yarr; Cons - Z Quirke (5), C O’Shaughnessy. Pens - Z Quirke.
Seven tries, including two by centre Hugh Cooney, saw Blackrock past second-time finalists Gonzaga at the RDS.
Yet the sin-binning of captain Gus McCarthy forced ‘Rock on the back-foot for an extended spell and a re-energised Gonzaga pounced in his absence. Diligent defence from Gonzaga briefly kept them at bay, but when Andrew Quinn capitalised on some loose play deep inside enemy territory, he confidently burst over for ‘Rock’s fourth try of the proceedings. Having shaken off some early cobwebs, the Williamstown school were expected to push on from here and take charge of the contest.
Blackrock College proved far too strong for Gonzaga at The RDS, this afternoon, to clinch their 70th Leinster Senior Schools Cup title.
The final scoreline was harsh to Gonzaga, as they put in a great effort in defence and attack. Obviously, Gonzaga are a quality side as we knew they would be, you could see how much danger they caused with ball in hand." Gonzaga had never won the Senior Cup before, and this was their second final in four years.