Blackrock quest for three-in-a-row rolls on with victory over Michael's

Blackrock College will face the winners of Terenure College and St Mary's in the final

Bernard White scored a superb individual try for Blackrock College in their Leinster Schools Senior  Cup semi-final victory over St Michael's. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Conan

Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final: Blackrock College 22 St Michael’s College 17

Blackrock College maintained their quest for a third consecutive Leinster Schools Senior Cup title by narrowly overcoming St Michael’s College in an entertaining semi-final clash at Energia Park in Donnybrook on Monday.

Following a lively start to the action that saw both teams enjoying their share of possession, 72-time champions Blackrock edged in front when scrum-half Luke Coffey knocked over a 10th minute penalty from just outside the ‘22’.

Michael’s had come into this game on the back of an impressive quarter-final triumph against Cistercian College Roscrea and despite initially falling behind, the Ailesbury Road outfit swung the pendulum in their favour as a result of back-row Peter Downey powering over the whitewash for a converted try off a penalty advantage on 14 minutes.

Although this came as a blow for the defending champions, ‘Rock were back in the ascendancy after inside centre Bernard White sprinted through the heart of the Michael’s defence for a superb individual score underneath the posts.

This clinical finish was supplemented by a Coffey bonus strike to ensure ‘Rock led 10-7 at the end of an absorbing opening period. While Michael’s had threatened just before the interval, ‘Rock created additional daylight less than two minutes after the resumption when winger Alex Aschenbrenner was released by James Browne for a neat five-pointer in the left-corner.

Although their fellow south Dubliners brought the gap down to the bare minimum when Harrison McMahon supplied the extras to a powerful Joe Kennedy try on 46 minutes, flanker Patrick Agnew pounced on a loose ball at the opposite end to bag another converted score for Justin Vanstone’s title holders.

An outstanding long-range penalty from McMahon left Michael’s just five adrift moving into the final-quarter, but Blackrock held firm to book a final spot against the winners of Tuesday’s last-four encounter between 2025 runners-up Terenure College and St Mary’s College.

Scorers for Blackrock College: Tries: B White, A Aschenbrenner, P Agnew Cons: L Coffey 2 Pens: L Coffey.

Scorers for St Michael’s College: Tries: P Downey, J Kennedy Cons: H McMahon 2 Pens: H McMahon.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE: C McCloskey; A Vetjens, J Browne, B White, A Aschenbrenner; P Scally, L Coffey; L Magee (L Hill 70), H O’Neill, B Guerin (L Kelly 70); G Eggars, C McCarron; C Power, P Agnew, T Keaveney (L Golden 70).

ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE: M Roche; M McCarthy, S Dunne, M McKenna, E Loo; H McMahon, A Norse; H Boyle, L Loughrey (J Neville 56), C Canniffe (D O’Donohoe 59); P Lynch, J Kennedy; P Downey (S McLaughlin 61 (S Kennedy 68)), H Gallagher, M Berman.

Referee: Sam Holt (LRR).