Gutsy Roscrea’s late burst stuns Clongowes

Cistercian College Roscrea 24 Clongowes Wood College 18: Cistercian College Roscrea’s quest for a second successive Leinster Schools Senior Cup triumph remains on course, after Brian Diffley’s 61st-minute try helped them to edge a compelling semi-final showdown with Clongowes Wood College, at Donnybrook yesterday.

Roscrea retained eight of the starting line-up from last year’s historic final success, but it was their north Kildare counterparts who drew first blood in this encounter.

After containing an early Roscrea attack, Clongowes were awarded a fourth minute penalty — and centre Benjamin O’Shea made no mistake from a distance of 35 metres.