Miller time at last as Saints gain revenge

COACHED by former Ireland star Eric Miller, St Gerard’s exacted speedy revenge on Roscrea for their Schools Senior Cup semi-final defeat by winning an absorbing Leinster Senior League final at Donnybrook yesterday.

The winners had to do it the hard way though, going behind to tries from Roscrea captain Conor Finn and outstanding lock Rory Moloney in the ninth and 15th minutes, in addition to a single conversion and penalty from out-half Bill Duggan.

The turnaround had most to do with St Gerard’s ability to make the most of the two gilt-edged opportunities that came their way as well as their out-half Steve Crosbie’s 10-point contribution from placed balls.

The comeback began with two Crosbie penalties just before the break to leave it 15-6, with St Gerard’s to feel the benefit of a strong wind at their backs in the second period.

Scrum-half Conor O’Rourke then showed an electric turn of pace to slash open Roscrea’s defence and grab the crucial second try.

Crosbie expertly converted both of those efforts to ensure Duggan’s penalty for Roscrea was not enough to close the gap.

ST GERARD’S SCHOOL: D Simmonds; J Desmond, C Shiel, R Martin, S Smith; S Crosbie (capt), C O’Rourke; S King, R O’Brien, O O’Neill, H Wojnar, J Prendergast, S Hackett-Delaney, D Symes, J Conan.

Replacements: J Roberts for Hackett-Delaney (h-t), K Carroll for Prendergast (56), D Murray for O’Neill (67).

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE, ROSCREA: P O’Dwyer; C Brennan, S Layden, C Finn (capt), M Mellotte; B Duggan, G Gallagher; O Heffernan, D O’Dwyer, C Farrell, A McGrath, R Moloney, A Henderson, E Quirke, C Moloney.

Replacements: G Fallon for Heffernan (35), D Kirwin for O’Dwyer (58), R Enright-Mooney for Henderson (62).

Referee: B McNiece (Leinster).