Leinster Rugby vs Cardiff Rugby

CUS and St Andrews
to meet in Vinnie Murray
Cup decider
BY DES BERRY
The Bank of Ireland Leinster
Schools Vinnie Murray Senior
Cup Semi-Finals took place in a
double-header at Energia Park on
Tuesday.
There was also a place in the Leinster
Senior Cup First Round at stake as well,
CUS and St Andrew’s accounting for St
Fintan’s and Temple Carrig, respectively.
CUS 46
ST FINTAN’S HIGH SCHOOL,
SUTTON 17
Holders Catholic University School
will take all the beating in the
final.
They put eight tries past competitive St
Fintan’s to earn a Senior Cup First Round
crack at Cistercian College, Roscrea
at Lakeland’s Park on Friday week
(February 3rd).
St Fintan’s love of width paid early
dividends when full-back Finn McDonald
could have put Joshua Hansen in on the
left and Shane Patterson did put Conor
Toomey over on the right in the third
minute.
CUS were on the verge of hitting back
immediately when they were turned over
close to the whitewash.
No matter, they came again, the centre
combination proving the difference as
Sean Byrne sent Rian Treacy hurtling to
the line, Niall Cox converting for 7-5 in
the ninth minute.
They wasted no time in threatening again
until Lucas Maguire had the ball ripped
away by Robert Harvey and Jack Grant
couldn’t connect with Senan Campbell on
the overlap.
The speed of ball for CUS was troubling
the defence. Quick passes put wing Sean
Turner on the outside, Treacy’s support
earning a second try for the centre in the
28th minute.
When Dylan McNeice broke the gain
line, the recycle came at speed for
Campbell to claim a try for 17-5 at
half-time.
The Leeson Street school took greater
command with a Conall Lohan-Kilraine
finish from close range.
St Fintan’s were causing problems when
they got into their flow, Tadhg O’Connor-
O’Hehir finding the line in the 44th
minute.
But, CUS always had an answer,
sweeping up the left for scrum-half
Charlie O’Byrne to touchdown for 27-10
in the 47th minute.
However, the Sutton school was back
for more soon enough, flanker Tadhg
O’Connor-O’Hehir grounding for his
second, Oscar McCormack converting.
The back and forth continued as
replacement Eoghan O’Reilly sliced
through the cover for the clinching score.
Sean Turner picked off a lovely individual
effort, chipping and gathering his kick,
and Eamon McNicholas closed the show,
Cox adding the extras to both.
SCORERS
CUS – R Treacy 2 tries; S Campbell, C
O’Byrne, C Lohan-Kilraine, E O’Reilly, S
Turner, E McNicholas try each; N Cox
3 cons.
ST FINTAN’S – T O’Connor-O’Hehir 2
tries; C Toomey try; O McCormack con.
CUS – Jack Grant; Senan Campbell,
Rian Treacy, Sean Byrne, Sean Turner;
Niall Cox, Charlie O’Byrne; Aidan
Walsh, Lucas Maguire (Capt), Conall
Lohan-Kilraine, Dualta Larkin, Oliver
Manks, Hugh Quigley, Ruben Maguire,
Dylan McNeice.
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