Newbridge College through to fourth consecutive Leinster Schools final
Jack Garvey celebrates his try for Newbridge College during their victory over Cistercian College Roscrea in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior League Division 1A semi-final at Energia Park. Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Newbridge College are through to the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior League Division 1A final for a fourth consecutive year thanks to their win over Cistercian College Roscrea today (Wednesday, December 3rd) in Energia Park, Donnybrook.
Roscrea's physically bigger pack imposed themselves throughout the game, but a performance plagued by handling errors cost Roscrea massively.
Newbridge had the upper hand in the set piece and used their scrum, lineout and maul as hugely effective weapons in both attack and defence.
Other important points of difference were the wonderful kicking out of hand from fly half Michael Kenny and winger Luke Kelly, as well as the quick-thinking and x-factor flare of full back Johnny Martin and scrum half Max Rainbow, son of Kildare Senior Football Manager Anthony Rainbow.
These two schools have enormous pedigree in this competition. Newbridge are three-time winners (1996, 2013, 2014), shared the trophy with Clongowes Wood in the Covid-hit 2020 season, and reached the last three consecutive finals, losing to Gozaga College each time.
Roscrea share the distinction of being the competition's second-most successful school along with St Gerard's of Bray, who Newbridge beat in the quarter-finals. Both schools have four Division 1A titles, with Roscrea winning in 95, 02, 06 and 15.
There were 17 minutes on the clock before Newbridge opened the scoring. Johne Murphy's side won a penalty 25 metres from the Roscrea goal, but declined the points in favour of a kick to the corner. The gamble paid off when Jack Garvey won the lineout and returned the ball to his hooker, Brion Donagh, who dotted down at the back of very impressive driving maul.
Newbridge were reduced in numbers three minutes later when Rainbow was sent to the sin bin - his second yellow card in as many matches.
Roscrea brought a huge amount of physicality to the game, but a half full of unforced errors prevented them from troubling the Newbridge 22 as the Kildare school led 5-0 at half time.
The handling errors that cost Roscrea in the first half were evident again after the break as two tries were squandered in the space of five frantic minutes.
Newbridge, on the other hand, only needed a sniff of the 22 to carve out a score as they went over for their second try 12 minutes into the half when Kenny picked out a lovely pass to Jack Garvey and the big, dynamic lock galloped all the way in to score in the corner with a finish any centre would be proud of. Kenny slotted a sublime kick from the touchline to put Newbridge 12-0 ahead.
It took an hour's rugby, but Roscrea did finally get on the scoreboard, and did so in style, with centre Harry Finlay popping the ball off to his full back, allowing Ronan Sullivan to dance over the line. Scrum half Aaron Moloney added the conversion to leave his side five points adrift with ten minutes remaining.
But the Offaly school were their own worst enemies, getting pinged for crossing directly from the restart, with Kenny punishing the infraction with a well-struck penalty to put Newbridge eight points up.
Errors continued to blight the closing stages for Roscrea, and their problems were confounded when Newbridge scored a third try late on. A brilliant kick from Kenny secured a five-metre lineout and after a few pick-and-go attempts from the forwards it was Ryan Conroy who dived over in the corner, completing the double for the Newbridge locks.
Kenny has shown himself to be an accomplished kicker and again landed his conversion from out on the touchline.
Roscrea brought the game to an end with substitute Michael Griffin going over in the corner, also off a driving maul, but it was a mere consolation as they finished ten points adrift as referee Euan O'Riordan sounded the final whistle.
Newbridge will return to Energia Park for the final next Wednesday, December 10th.
Johnny Martin; Achille Crosato, Brian McCarthy, Tom Martin, Luke Kelly; Michael Kenny (1 pen, 2 cons), Max Rainbow; Ruairi Harrington, Brion Donagh (1 try), Jamie Bohan; Jack Garvey (1 try), Ryan Conroy (1 try); Cillian O'Donovan, Jonathan Fardy, Saul Brewster.
Eoghan Hearne, Finn Majury, Paddy White, Culainn Dunleavy, Bobby Flanagan, Harry Mahon, Adam Kennedy, Finn Keogh.
Ronan Sullivan (1 try); Keelan Dunne, Jack Hayes, Harry Finaly, Sean Stone; Killian Hurley, Aaron Moloney (1 con); Sean Nolan, Oscar Doody, William Powell; Alex Ryan, Jamie Walsh; Oliver Finn, James Miller, Culan Kehoe.
Rónán O'Neill, Aodhán Carroll, Stephen Fogarty De Vere, Oisin O'Shea, Michael Griffin (1 try), Sam Gallahue, Daniel Bowe, Cathal O'Mara.
Euan O'Riordan
