Gonzaga get off to blistering start

Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup: Gonzaga College kick-started their Leinster Schools’ Junior Cup campaign in fine style at Donnybrook yesterday, when a blistering first-half performance helped them towards a comprehensive triumph over Newbridge College.

The Ranelagh school broke the deadlock with an expertly-converted Eoin Barr penalty five minutes in, before a defensive mistake from Newbridge enabled inside centre Max Neville to cross over unopposed from the subsequent attack.

Supremely-executed tries by powerful forward duo Ian O’Grady and Eoin Buggy ensured that Gonzaga held an unassailable 22-0 advantage at the break, and despite developing some promising phases in the Gonzaga ‘22’ upon the resumption, Newbridge couldn’t find their way past a rigid opposition defence.

Barr’s second penalty on 47 minutes effectively eliminated any hope of a dramatic Newbridge comeback, Brian O’Donnell’s five-pointer eight minutes from time completed a 32-0 win.

St Michael’s – the 2012 champions – were also commanding victors in their opening round clash against Wesley College at Templeville Road, as they registered eight tries to finish with a 50-0 winning margin.

There was only two minutes on the clock when winger Ian Walsh secured the Ailesbury Road outfit’s first try and full-back Redmond Kelly added a similar effort on seven minutes.

Influential No 8 Dan O’Donovan added a quick-fire brace for the three-time winners, and another Kelly score, as well as David Ryan’s third conversion, meant the overwhelmed Wesley faced a 31-point deficit on the half-hour mark.

It was a damage limitation exercise for the Ballinteer school in the second period, but Michael’s nevertheless added additional tries through Ryan, Scott Penny and Jay Barron to complete a near-perfect display.

Michael’s will be joined in the last-eight by Castleknock College, who recorded an impressive 21-10 victory over CBC Monkstown at Lakelands.

Monkstown (who are due to face Wesley in the upcoming Fr Godfrey Cup decider) got off to a fine start with an early penalty by James Reynolds, and were taking the game to their north Dublin rivals at every opportunity.

Castleknock held firm in defence, though, and a brace of converted tries gave them a 14-3 cushion.

A sustained period of pressure yielded a third try on 52 minutes, and even though Monkstown responded with a terrific score from second-row Tadgh Quinn, Castleknock were not to be denied.