Blackrock overcome stubborn Terenure to retain Schools Senior Cup crown

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 14-9 TERENURE COLLEGE

Sami Bishti lifted the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Boys Schools Senior Cup for Blackrock College’s 72nd title at Tallaght Stadium on Monday.

They had to earn it the hardest way.

On the evidence of the previous rounds, the two most physical schools made it to St Patrick’s Day.

As a purple smoke bomb was cleared from the grass pitch, the real fireworks were about to explode into life.

The opening moves were slightly unexpected. Blackrock used the maul as a decoy to break away. Terenure came on the counter for prop Pearse Kelly to have a go from deep. It was all part of the manoeuvres at play.

An early indiscretion by Blackrock offered up a lineout and attacking platform which Terenure used to bring centres Alvaro Swords and Michael Kennedy into the game.

It was quite chaotic. The ball was moved at speed in the name of building momentum. Blackrock edged the kicking contest to deliver a five-metre lineout.

Harry O’Neill’s throw was grabbed by Michael Walsh. The ball was tucked under the arm of hooker O’Neill for a try born out of an eight-men maul to put Blackrock up 5-0 in the eighth minute.

An overthrown lineout invited Terenure’s Ben Blaney to get in behind. Gareth Morgan’s grubber was retrieved by Michael O’Sullivan.

Terenure full-back Geoff O’Sullivan and centre Swords broke tackles but lacked the vital support runners to make their breaks count.

There was also a clear attempt to make Paddy Clancy’s afternoon an uncomfortable one as the Blackrock out-half was targeted for special treatment. A compliment, if ever there was one.

A scrum penalty was Terenure’s way into the game, Gareth Morgan striking from 30 metres to reduce the deficit to 5-3 in the 18th minute.

The work rate of Brian Walsh forced a rushed clearance by Morgan to give Blackrock an opportunity in the Terenure half but their lineout misfired.

Terenure’s confidence to move the ball was impressive. Full-back O’Sullivan provided the cutting edge.

Blackrock’s indiscipline at the ruck was starting to be a problem but their defence remained watertight, forcing a turnover. It looked like it could be turned into points when Artur Smykovskiy blasted through a tackle only for the cavalry to swarm to the ball.

Terenure were in charge of possession to this point of the game. But they could not create an opening of any consequence until ‘Rock infringed at another ruck.

Out-half Morgan set his sights on the target from 30 metres to shoot Terenure into a one-point lead in the 27th minute.

For the first time, Blackrock ramped up the phases to probe left and right where a high tackle gave them a penalty which they kicked towards the corner for a lineout.

The pressure was building but Terenure second row Luke McNiff got a hand to the lineout and the ball was kicked long by Mikey Smyth for James Browne to gather.

Terenure’s in-your-face defence was faring better at meeting ball carriers behind the gain line. Jamie Coleman nudged the ball into touch to send Terenure in with a 6-5 advantage at the break.

Super-human intensity was evident as Terenure mixed running with the box kicks of Coleman, while Blackrock’s Johnny O’Sullivan almost put Bernard White away down the left.

The even nature of the contest made discipline look like the most important factor in coming out on top. This time Blackrock earned a penalty. Once the lineout was secure, White steamed onto the ball.

A hand in the ruck was all Clancy needed to recover the lead from a penalty in front of the posts in the 42nd minute to make it 8-6 to Blackrock.

On the restart, the presence of flanker Smyth caused a knock-on and a high tackle on Geoff O’Sullivan led to a penalty for Terenure but they could not make it count as the lineout was deemed to be crooked.

The agility of Blackrock flanker Michael O’Sullivan on the floor was good for a penalty and position inside the 22 where a forward pass was greeted with joy by Terenure supporters.

The wisdom of running the ball out was called into question when Smykovskiy swooped for a penalty on the 40-metre line which Clancy nailed to pull Blackrock further in front at 11-6 in the 49th minute.

From the restart, Terenure disrupted the possession and piled up the phases to stress a powerful defence.

Playing on penalty advantage, Swords reached for the line for what looked like a try until the officials deemed that Smyth had caused obstruction.

Play was brought back for a Terenure penalty as Morgan slotted his third kick of the day to make it a two-point game in the 53rd minute.

The positive mindset of those in possession was becoming an Achilles heel. When the ball went to ground, Albert Lindner smartly tumbled a kick for a Blackrock 50:22.

Again, ball security became an issue under severe pressure. Terenure came away with the pill. But Lindner snatched an interception.

The scramble defence was laudable, but not squeaky clean. Clancy landed a routine penalty to pull Blackrock further ahead at 14-9 in the 62nd minute.

A scrum penalty on the 40-metre line in the shadow of the stand was taken on by Clancy. It was on target, but it fell short.

A breathless period of rugby finished the game as Terenure’s backs and forwards probed all along the line, replacement Senan Gavin cutting through.

It seemed all of them had a hand in the last attack. Swords, O’Sullivan, Ethan Balamash, captain Ben Blaney and others tested a tremendous defence.

Ultimately, Blackrock had their warriors too in Smykovskiy, the back row of Michael Walsh, Michael O’Sullivan and Brian Walsh, White and O’Sullivan.

They would not be broken.

With the clock more than three minutes into the red, Blackrock finally turned the ball over and kicked it out to end the game.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: Joe Reddan, James Browne, Johnny O’Sullivan, Bernard White, Aiden Vetjens; Paddy Clancy, Albert Lindner; Ben Guerin, Harry O’Neill, Sami Bishti (Capt), Geoff Wall, Artur Smykovskiy, Michael Walsh, Michael O’Sullivan, Brian Walsh.

Replacements: Luke Coffey for Lindner 62 mins; Lorcan Golden for Guerin 68 mins.

Scorers: H O’Neill try; P Clancy 3 pens.

TERENURE COLLEGE: Geoff O’Sullivan; Ethan Balamash, Michael Kennedy, Alvaro Swords, Benny Dohnal; Gareth Morgan, Jamie Coleman; Pearse Kelly, Leo Zelman, Adam Cooper, Luke McNiff, Frank Maher, Josh Mooney, Mikey Smyth, Ben Blaney (Capt).

Replacements: Evan McMonagle for Kelly 45 mins; Senan Gavin for Mooney 56 mins; Cian Hyland for Zelman 58 mins; Niall Fallon for Dohnal 65 mins.

Scorers: G Morgan 3 pens.

Referee: R Jenkinson (Leinster Branch).