Mary’s pip Terenure to win first Leinster Junior Cup in 27 years

Nic Sheehan of St Mary’s College lifts the trophy after his side's victory in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Junior Cup final match between St Mary's College and Terenure College at Energia Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Leinster Schools Junior Cup final: St Mary’s College 10 Terenure College 8 

St Mary’s College were crowned Leinster Schools Junior Cup champions for the first time in 27 years with a tense final victory over local rivals Terenure College at Energia Park yesterday.

Despite being under intense pressure for large stretches of the contest, a first-half try by Tom O’Keefe - supplemented by a conversion and penalty from William Kelly - was enough to get Mary’s over the line. Terenure were seeking to bridge a 14-year gap to their last triumph at the junior grade, but even though a Daniel McKenna try offered them hope, they ultimately fell short in this quest.

While they dominated possession for the majority of the opening quarter - and held a temporary numerical advantage when Mary’s lock James Whitty was yellow carded - ‘Nure found it difficult to break down their stubborn Rathmines counterparts.

Mary’s also became more of an attacking threat as the half progressed and ultimately edged in front in the 22nd minute. Whitty had returned from the sin-bin in time to gather Reuben Montague’s line-out delivery and following an intricate pass by the latter, Mary’s winger O’Keefe crossed over for a deadlock-breaking try.

Terenure's Ewan McGinty is tackled by Nicolas Sheehan and James Whitty of St Mary's

Full-back Kelly followed up his bonus strike for this score with a successful long-range penalty on 28 minutes, before ‘Nure finally opened their account deep into first-half stoppage-time when loosehead prop McKenna supplied the finishing touches to a set-piece move.

While Tommy Smyth’s subsequent conversion attempt was wayward, the Mary’s cushion had been reduced to five points (10-5) in time for the interval.

In a similar vein to the opening period, ‘Nure were in control of the ball on the resumption and were constantly keeping their neighbours on the back foot. Following much persistence, the gap was eventually shortened to two points just past the third-quarter mark when ‘Nure centre Smyth knocked over a routine close-range penalty.

This set up a nerve-filled finale in the Donnybrook venue, but with their defence proving relentless in their desire to keep the Terenure attack at bay, Mary’s held out for their seventh Junior Cup title - and their first since a 1997 final success over the same opposition.

Scorers for St Mary’s College: Tries - T O’Keefe. Pens - W Kelly. Cons - W Kelly.

Scorers for Terenure College: Tries - D McKenna. Pens - T Smyth.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE: W Kelly; C Dunphy, D Manzor, C Bishop, T O’Keefe; N Sheehan, J Fogarty; J Barrett, R Montague, T Quigley; J Whitty, D Kenny; E Farrell, F Nangle, E Brady.

Replacements: S Egan for Whitty (55), G Fagan for Barrett (67).

TERENURE COLLEGE: C McGettrick; S Ringwood, N Fallon, T Smyth, A Smyth; E McGinty, A Kenny; D McKenna, A Searson, R O’Brien; O McEntee, F Maher; A Dillon, M Smyth, S Gavin.

Referee: M Forrestal (LRR)