St Gerard's edge out Pres Bray in Senior Cup derby clash

It took a 51st-minute try by Adam Moore to separate these rivals in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Boys Schools Senior Cup first round at Energia Park on Wednesday afternoon. 

This had all the spice of a local derby as two familiar foes went at it hammer and tongs from Harry Dunne’s kick off in far more favourable conditions than the previous two days. 

St Gerard’s went from one end to the other, prop Rian McCowen ploughing through contact and Ronan Kelly knifing beyond the first line for a sizzling 70-metre run, halted by Luca Nolan’s brilliant back-tracking tackle. 

The recycle was quick enough to give the captain, Sean Costigan, a walk-in try in the fourth minute.

Costigan carried energetically using two fends and a magical offload. Out-half Dunne’s big boot put St Gerard’s on the five-metre line.

A nicely worked lineout with Costigan rising high was manoeuvred into a maul, which was somehow held up over the line.

Pres’ were showing signs of indiscipline as three quick penalties offered easy access for the running of Kelly and Costigan, the latter brilliantly turned over by scrum-half Sean McDonald. 

Suddenly, it was St Gerard’s leaking penalties in reaction to a steady maul, handing over a lineout five metres from glory. 

Number eight O’Dowd clutched the throw to trigger a slew of hard carrying forwards, second row Matt McGovern powering in for Robert Brennan Tkacz to convert to give Pres’ a 7-5 lead in the 22nd minute.

When St Gerard’s rush defence dealt comfortably with the problems in front of them, Nolan put the ball in behind and won the race to the devilish grubber to score his side’s second try. Brennan Tkacz converted to put Pres’ a two-score lead at 14-5 in the 27th minute.

An obstruction on Dunne opened a window of opportunity which St Gerard’s used to motor a maul, bringing loose forwards Jack McGovern and Costigan onto the ball at speed.

The back division’s patience was rewarded when prop Rian McCowen pulled back a pass and wing Kyle Harte dived in at the left corner to score in the 31st minute.

Dunne spotted a hole to gallop forward. The ball movement ended with full-back Luca Montenuovo Esente, who was smashed by centre Liam Mooney.

Still, the running game of St Gerard’s was impressive as Costigan, Kelly’s dancing feet and McGovern all made contributions to putting McCowen over for a try, converted by Dunne to give them a 17-14 advantage at the break. 

Pres’ pressed the action. Loosehead prop Lawless was prominent. The backs fumbled in midfield. Kelly intervened and set Malachy Kenny off on a zig-zag breakout.

A high tackle on McDonald allowed Brennan Tkacz to make it 17-all in the 41st minute.

Thunderous carries by Matthew Fitzpatrick and McGovern were neutralised by Joe Byrne’s work on the floor. 

A mesmerising attack in which Kelly shone more than once was undone by a knock on as Pres’ scramble defence swarmed to the ball.

Unfortunately, out-half Dunne was forced off with an injury to leave St Gerard’s short of their primary playmaker.

Montenuovo Esente moved into ten and immediately put Kelly away on a slalom surge that was stopped by Brennan Tkacz.

St Gerard’s kept on coming as McGovern and Patrick Lawlor made dents and openside flanker Moore blasted through tackles for the try, converted by Montenuovoe Esente for 24-17 in the 51st minute. 

They came hunting for the decisive score that would put Pres’ in a bind. Kelly hit the line at pace. McGovern and Costrigan showed strength on the ball.

The problem for Pres’ was that this was all taking place far away from where they wanted to be. McDonald took a chance with a grubber that turned into a penalty. 

A stupendous ankle tackle by Shane Kyne snuffed out the danger posed by Nolan. Hart popped up in midfield.

Fitzpatrick, McGovern and Costigan came hard and ensured Pres’ did not get another chance to make them sweat.

ST GERARD’S SCHOOL: Luca Montenuovo Esente; Malachy Kenny, Ronan Kelly, Luca Clopin, Kyle Harte; Harry Dunne, Ciaran O’Brien; Rían McCowen, James Callan, Patrick Lawlor, Patrick Hanley, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Seán Costigan, Adam Moore, Jack McGovern. 

Replacements: Shane Kyne for Dunne 49 mins; Ciarán Harrington for McCowen 55 mins; Ruairi Phillips for O’Brien 57 mins; Niklas Leddy for Hanley 64 mins.

Scorers: S Costigan, K Harte, R McCowen, A Moore try each; H Dunne, L Montenuovo Esente con each.

PRESENTATION COLLEGE BRAY: Robert Brennan Tkacz; Joe Byrne, Liam Mooney, Phelim Doyle, Aaron Elmes; Luca Nolan, Sean McDonald; Marc Lawless, Eoin Croysdil, Harry Graham, Dan Corrigan, Matt McGovern, Rory Hussman Byrne, Rory Wrafter, Alex O’Dowd.

Replacements: Eli Denver for Graham 44 mins; Rhys Pearce for Corrigan 50 mins; Max Tully-Walsh for Hussman Byrne 57 mins; Connor James for Elmes 60 mins; Ethan O’Neill for Doyle 65 mins.

Scorers: M McGovern, L Nolan try each; R Brennan Tkacz pen, 2 cons. 

Referee: R Shaughnessy, Leinster Branch.