Blackrock muscle past St Michael's in Senior Cup semi-final

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 22-17 ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 

An edge in power pushed Blackrock into their fifth Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Boys Schools Senior Cup final in a row in a cauldron at Energia Park on Monday afternoon.

It was easier to let loose an aggressive streak in defence than be cold-blooded and clinical in attack as both backs rows and midfields looked to make their presence felt. 

The game was played out between the 22-metre lines as the kicking contest evolved and St Michael’s tried to outflank ‘Rock’s rush defence. 

Blackrock were feeding off scraps, out-half Paddy Scally blocking full-back Max Roche’s kick through at the line.

The heavier ‘Rock runners were keen to exploit their advantage in weight, a ruck infringement encouraging Luke Coffey to opt for the posts from a penalty and slot the lead points in the 10th minute.

St Michael’s wing Matthew McCarthy pierced the defence on the left to create an overlap on the right, which ended in a penalty for Ben Guerin lifting a leg above the horizontal.

From a five-metre lineout, there was heavy hitting on the fringes, ‘Rock holding out as long as possible until Peter Downey reached the line to score the opening try of the game. Harrison McMahon’s conversion put St Michael’s up 7-3 in the 15th minute.

A misjudged kick put the St Michael’s forwards in an offside position. It was their turn to lean into pack power until they lost their feet at a ruck.

An overthrown lineout was retrieved by ‘Rock hooker Harry O’Neill to set in motion a barrage of carriers that ended in being held up over the line. 

Scally, playing on advantage, kicked beautifully to the corner, where the St Michael’s lineout was sound. A failure to find touch from a penalty came back to haunt them. 

St Michael’s were caught napping when a ‘Rock attack broke down and a momentary pause was all Bernard White needed to ghost through untouched from 40 metres. Coffey converted the try to put Blackrock ahead again at 10-7 in the 24th minute.

A sensational spin and acceleration by Roche was backed up by prop Conor Canniffe’s rumble and Myles Berman’s line until Louis Magee ripped the ball away.

Still, when the dust settled, St Michael’s had a lineout. But again, they could not collect as O’Neill came away with the ball to bring the half to a close.

In a game of inches, it took two delightful offloads from Cael McCloskey and Aiden Vetjens to release Alex Aschenbrenner for a superb try in the 37th minute.

Now two scores clear, Blackrock could double down on the pressure game, knowing St Michael’s might have to push the percentages. 

But there was no sign of panic as McMahon tumbled a kick inside the ‘Rock territory, where O’Neil’s throwing was on target. A scintillating break by McCarthy and surges by Myles Berman and McMahon created enough pressure to set up a five-metre lineout.

St Michael’s hammered in the runners for second row Joe Kennedy to make the line for his side’s second try, McMahon glancing the conversion in off the left upright to reduce the gap to 15-14 in the 46th minute.

Immediately, McCloskey shot through on the right and frontfoot carries allowed Paddy Agnew’s low centre of gravity to make all the difference as he crashed over for a quick reply try. Coffey converted to restore the eight-point gap.

When Blackrock conceded a penalty for not rolling away, McMahon pointed to the posts and struck with confidence from 44 metres to make it a one-score game again at 22-17 in the 52nd minute. 

There was just more meat in the Blackrock carries as they forced a five-metre scrum and came direct where Haydn Gallagher completed a miraculous move for a penalty.

A crossfield kick by Scally put White in the open to find Vetjens, whose pass was forced forward by Eoin Loo.

St Michael’s were hanging on by a thread. They needed a break to play in the right area of the field. Roche and McCarthy looked like the best options.

When they finally won a high ball by Andrew Norse, O’Neill clamped down for a crucial penalty on the floor.

St Michael’s were running out of road. The lineout failed to deliver, and O’Neill came away with the ball yet again. 

There was one last chance. They tried all they knew, Berman sprinting up the tramline, Roche and McCarthy putting on the footwork until Aschnebrenner’s agility at the ruck ended the game and sent Blackrock to the final, where they will face the winner of tomorrow’s other semi-final between Terenure College and St Mary’s College.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: Cael McCloskey; Aiden Vetjens, James Browne, Bernard White, Alex Aschenbrenner; Paddy Scally, Luke Coffey (Capt); Louis Magee, Harry O’Neill, Ben Guerin, George Eggars, Cian McCarron, Conal Power, Paddy Agnew, Tom Keaveney. 

Replacements: Lucas Hill for Magee, Lorcan Golden for Keaveny both 68 mins; Luka Kelly for Guerin 69 mins. 

Scorers: B White, A Aschenbrenner, P Agnew try each; L Coffey pen, 2 cons.

ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: Max Roche; Matthew McCarthy, Sam Dunne, Matthew McKenna, Eoin Loo; Harrison McMahon, Andrew Norse; Herbie Boyle, Luke Loughrey, Conor Canniffe, Philip Lynch, Joe Kennedy, Peter Downey, Haydn Gallagher, Myles Berman (Capt). 

Replacements: Josh Neville for Loughrey 56 mins; Dan O’Donohoe for Canniffe 57 mins; Setanta McLaughlin for Downey 61 mins; Sam Kennedy for McLaughlin 67 mins. 

Scorers: P Downey, J Kennedy try each; H McMahon pen, 2 cons. 

Referee: S Holt, Leinster Branch.