Gonzaga's second wave sweeps Wesley College away

Tomas Noone of Gonzaga College scores his side's fourth try during the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup 2nd Round match between Gonzaga College and Wesley College at Energia Park. 

Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final

Gonzaga College 32 

Wesley College 7 

Gonzaga College produced a strong second half performance at Energia Park to book their place in the last four of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.

Having dug deep to establish a 7-0 interval lead, 25 unanswered points after the break comfortably ensured the passage of the 2019 finalists into the penultimate round.

Included amongst the Gonzaga ranks was bustling back-row Paul Wilson, an All-Ireland minor football championship winner with Meath last August. Impressive opening round triumphs for both his side and Wesley raised expectations ahead of this contest, but a succession of errors made it difficult for either to create attacking momentum.

The deadlock looked set to remain unbroken for the entirety of the first half - until inside centre Jody Browne powered over in the 29th minute for a try that was converted by Stephen McMahon.

Declan Fassbender's men were expected to push on after the break and so it proved. Following excellent build-up play from George Morris and Hugo McLaughlin, Hugh Goddard unleashed a superb pass out wide for Hugo Neville to dot down for an unconverted five-pointer in the corner.

After McLaughlin - taking over place-kick duties from McMahon - added a penalty in the 47th-minute, tries from replacements Oisin Murray and Tomas Noone underlined Gonzaga's credentials. While Wesley were rewarded for their industry with a stoppage-time score from Oran Handley, it was a mere consolation in the end for the Ballinteer school.

Scorers for Gonzaga College: Tries - J Browne, H Neville, O Murray, T Noone; Pens - H McLaughlin (2); Cons - S McMahon, H McLaughlin (2).

Scorers for Wesley College: Tries - O Handley; Cons - J Cazzini.

GONZAGA COLLEGE: H McLaughlin; H Neville, H Goddard, J Browne, O O’Neill; S McMahon, M Sullivan; T Hammond, T Cotter, G Morris; T Murphy, L O’Callaghan; N Maguire, G O’Donnell, P Wilson.

Replacements: O Murray for Sullivan (53), A McVerry for O'Donnell, T Noone for Morris (both 63), A O'Flanagan for O'Neill (65), L McLaughlin for Hammond, T Wyley for Murphy, M Wall for Neville (all 68), M Tyrell for Wilson (70).

WESLEY COLLEGE: M Golden; F Nolan, T Durham, J Fish, J Crooks; J Cazzini, K Moran; S Foulds, R Jones, A Lowry; H Hjelseth, J Walsh; L O’Neill, T Geoghegan, O Handley.

Replacements: C Collins for Walsh (40), C Mitchell Doyle for Golden (53), R Handley for Lowry, R Cockrell for Nolan, S Pedlow for Foulds, L Clinton for Moran (all 63), H Girardi for Fish, M Campbell for O'Neill (both 67).

Referee: D Blake (Leinster Rugby Referees).