Bailey-Kearney stars in Kilkenny’s victory

Bray 3 Kilkenny College 10

In a tense opening period, the influential Bailey-Kearney crossed the whitewash in emphatic style just before the break, ensuring that the boys from the Marble County took a 5-0 cushion into the second half.

The Wicklow school were still in the reckoning after the restart, eventually opening their account with a penalty from out-half Diarmuid Masterson.

Unfortunately for Bray, though, Masterson was wide of the mark with two more place kick attempts (one shaved the upright), and Kilkenny made the most of these missed opportunities with a second Bailey-Kearney try 50 minutes in. It proved enough to see home.

KILKENNY COLLEGE: H Rhys-Thomas; S Williams, S Sterling, R Bailey-Kearney, T Bulfin; B Ridgeway, C Miller; J Baker, C Ruddock, J Paton, G Hastings, C Hanbidge, E Horan, M Triggs, R Stanley. Replacements: J Holland-Brennan for Hanbidge (45), S Pim for Horan (60).

PRES BRAY: J Keating; C Martin, D Henderson, J Curran, D Cassidy, D Masterson; D Molloy, J Carney , L Barrett, C Pearse, M Thompson, J Hayes, J Walsh, L O’Flynn-Martin, H Armstrong. Replacements: C Byrne for Carney (52), M Burton for Walsh (52), J O’Connor for Molloy (60).