Roscrea topple Belvedere in rain-soaked Senior Cup first round clash

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA 18-8 BELVEDERE COLLEGE

Cistercian Roscrea were full value for an upset win over Belvedere in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Boys Schools Senior Cup first round at rain-soaked Energia Park on Monday afternoon.  

A ball out on the full by Jonathan Garrihy from the kick off was a sign of the impact the weather could have on this game. From a scrum, Roscrea moved to the blindside where Killian Hurley and Harry Finlay made enough ground to draw a penalty.

The lineout was secured by Alex Ryan. The pack used textbook technique at the maul for hooker Ronan O’Neill to claim the try in the third minute.   

A Belvedere block on out-half Hurley led to a series of drives, led by captain Harry Goslin, that ended with centre Cathal O’Mara’s blitz defence causing a knock on. 

Full-back Ronan Sullivan kicked long for a healthy gain of ground with the benefit of the wind. The difficulty of the conditions was apparent from the basic errors. 

A pulverising burst by Roscrea’s Jamie Walsh was followed by a high ball, which forced a spill out of out-half Garrihy.

Scrum-half Aaron Moloney tickled a grubber down the short side to earn a lineout, which malfunctioned under pressure from James Travers. 

Ruck pressure produced a penalty for Roscrea straight in front of the posts, gratefully accepted by Moloney to open up an eight-point gap in the 13th minute. 

The collisions were coming hard and fast from Roscrea as O’Neill, Ryan and Walsh led a dominant defence. 

Belvedere number eight Paul Dunne broke free for 30 metres, kicking infield where centre O’Mara came to the rescue.   

A high tackle by James Miller allowed Belvo’ to plumb the corner for a lineout, but they could not make it count.  

Roscrea’s commitment to play almost came at a cost when O’Mara’s chip in the shadow of the posts bounced awkwardly for both schools.

The ball resembled a bar of soap as Roscrea’s midfield came up hard and forced the mistake. 

Full-back Sullivan countered from the collection of Garrihy’s grubber and Moloney’s whipped pass to Harry Finlay, who was supported by O’Neill’s sharp line.

Alex Ryan stole a lineout. James Miller charged on. A penalty was the decision for a side entry. Moloney opted for the posts but his effort pulled low and left from 42 metres in the horrible conditions.   

Belvo’ winger Isaac Soden broke a tackle and Garrihy tested a backpeddling Keelan Dunne but Sullivan’s left-footed kick put Ros’ in the right area with a lineout on the 22.

Walsh beat the gainline again. The optimism to move the ball was admirable as O’Mara and Sullivan handled well until Harry Goslin conquered a ruck for a penalty.

Belvedere’s direct style of play earned two penalties, the second sent to the corner for the big boys to come at a rate of knots until O’Neill shook the ball free to keep the score 8-0 at the break.   

Winger Finlay retained the restart for Roscrea. Sullivan chipped over the top for Jack Hayes to gather on his way to within five metres, where Soden made the tackle.  

When David Barr corralled Keelan Dunne, Walsh was on the premises to pick and drive through bodies for the try to make it 13-0 in the 37th minute.   

Not content to sit on the lead, Roscrea looked for more than they had. Sullivan was safe at the back. Moloney’s box kick was a weapon. 

Suddenly, Belvedere were on the frontfoot. Travers took the lineout. Hooker Alex Liddy was the one to ground the ball at the back of the maul, with his try closing the gap slightly to 13-5 in the 49th minute 

Another ball from the base by Moloney was good for a scrum. The refusal to kick on the greasy surface was not the pragmatic approach.

Ronan McCann’s speed into the open was backed by a penalty for side entry, Garrihy brilliantly landing a penalty from 43 metres in the 54th minute.  

Roscrea had an immediate shot at a response, Walsh dropping the ball at a maul that was travelling menacingly. 

A lovely backline move was upended by the technique of Eugene Isong for Garrihy to kick long for position. 

However, Moloney’s exquisite passing gave the receivers a split-second more on the ball to keep on playing.

A lineout on the Belvedere five-metre line was snapped up by replacement Aodhan Carroll for the forwards to pummel away until it was shifted for Finlay to make the corner for the try, leaving the score 18-8 in the 64th minute.

They just had to see it out from there. Not so fast. Belvedere came like a train. Sullivan intelligently pulled Liam Canny over the line to earn a drop out.

Openside Miller completed a terrific turnover. Belvedere delivered a scrum penalty. Lineout was the option.    

It all came down to Roscrea’s two most influential figures. Walsh stole the throw and Moloney cleared to touch.  

CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA: Ronan Sullivan; Keelan Dunne, Cathal O’Mara, Jack Hayes, Harry Finlay; Killian Hurley, Aaron Moloney; Sean Nolan, Rónán O’Neill, Henry Maher, Alex Ryan, 5 Jamie Walsh, Culan Kehoe, James Miller, Ruben Flynn.

Replacements: Oscar Doody for O’Neill, Aodhan Carroll for Maher, Sean Stone for Dunne, all 45 mins; William Powell for Nolan 54 mins; Ollie Finn for Kehoe, Michael Griffin for Flynn both 60 mins. 

Scorers: H O’Neill, J Walsh, H Finlay try each; A Moloney pen. 

BELVEDERE COLLEGE: Fionn McMahon; Isaac Soden, David Barr, Dylan Lord, Rory O’Farrell; Jonathan Garrihy, Charlie Dowse; Ryan Grant, Alex Liddy, Harry Goslin, James Travers, Shaun Mitchell, Ronan McCann, Alexander Clarke, Paul Dunne. 

Replacements: Conor Quinn for Grant, Eugene Isong for Mitchell, both 40 mins; Liam Canny for Dowse, Josh le Bon for McMahon, both 63 mins. 

Scorers: A Liddy try; J Garrihy pen.

Referee: M Enderby, Leinster Branch.