Terenure stand firm

Favourites Terenure held out for a narrow win over Blackrock in a frantic Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round tie at Donnybrook.

Blackrock started confidently and forced a penalty which Jack O’Carroll landed in the 9th minute. But Terenure bounced back in the 23rd minutes, with Colin Jones scampering in for a try which Stephen O’Neill converted. Blackrock spurned a penalty opportunity for an attacking lineout and the drive ended with flanker Paddy Hinkson going over for a try. O’Carroll added the extras for a 10-7 lead.

But that advantage was cancelled by an O’Neill penalty to leave the sides level at the break.

The introduction of Tim Schmidt, son of Leinster coach Joe, at scrum-half added zip to Terenure and they took the lead when flanker David Doyle barged over. Dardis converted to put Terenure 17-10 clear. But the sin-binning of Terenure prop Tiernan Creagh meant a dramatic conclusion as Blackrock attacked in waves and Shane McDonald’s try left two between them. But Terenure weathered the storm.

TERENURE: B Dardis; F Bagnall, H Brewer, C Jones, T O’Brien; S O’Neill, C Weakliam; S Borza, A Roche, T Creagh, R Somerville, M Murphy, N O’Sullivan, P Thornton, N Lalor (c).

Replacements: D Hynes for Roche, D Doyle for Lalor (ht); P Smith for Jones (47 – temp); T Schmidt for Weakliam, P Smith for O’Brien, (55); A Somerville for R Somerville (59); C Trenier for O’Sullivan (68).

BLACKROCK: K O’Leary (c); C McMahon, H Heavey, P Robb, C Dodd; G Tynan, J O’Carroll; C Kilcoyne, F Bolger, O Jager, J Burke, G Thornbury, P Hinkson, D O’Flynn.

Replacements: D Murphy for O’Carroll (ht); S McDonald for Dodd (55); S Coughlan for Hinkson (59).

Referee: K Beggs, Leinster Branch.