Michael’s earn historic victory

IT WAS neither a classic nor a game for the purist, but that won’t matter to St Michael’s College who created history in Donnybrook yesterday by lifting the Leinster Schools Senior Cup for the first time, a feat that sparked emotional after-match scenes.

It was low-scoring but taut, raw and intense where few try-scoring opportunities were created inside the red zone. Amazingly, only fleetingly did either team force their way near the try-line in a defence-orientated encounter, decided by Noel Reid’s two first-half penalties, and, on the turnover a combination of heroic and highly disciplined defence by the winners when they had to play into the elements.

Michael’s triumph was one for the romantic: once upon a time the Ailesbury Road college was a feeder-school for the famed Blackrock College, but yesterday’s coronation sees them elevated amongst the elite, having landed their first title at the fourth attempt, and atoning for last year’s heartbreaking 14-12 defeat to Blackrock.