Belverder College SJ SCT 2017
Black and white! Belvedere deliver back-to-back Senior Cup titles
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Holders Belvedere up and running in style as they flex their muscles against Andrew’s
Mark Donnelly scored a hat-trick as the Leinster Senior Schools Cup champions ran riot at Donnybrook. Jan 29th 2017, 4:36 Belvedere College 48, St Andrew’s College 7 – Ryan Bailey reports from Donnybrook STIFFER TESTS WILL doubtlessly lie ahead for Belvedere College during their Leinster Senior Schools Cup defence but this was a performance, and result, which sent out a clear signal of intent to those hoping to dethrone them. With eleven of last year’s winning squad still involved, Belvo were always going to carry too much firepower for St Andrew’s and so it proved as they ran in eight tries to record the most emphatic of wins. Fullback Hugh O’Sullivan, who has Ireland and Leinster underage honours, was influential throughout as Phil Werahiko’s charges flexed their muscles in front of a large Sunday afternoon crowd at Donnybrook. There was always the outside chance of an early upset, and Andrew’s would have fancied themselves to catch the holders cold, but it was clear from the outset that Belvo were out to lay down an early marker. The first try came as early as the third minute and the gulf between the teams widened as the game progressed, with Belvo afforded the luxury of giving their squad valuable minutes at the start of what they hope will be a long campaign. To their credit, Andrew’s played their part in an entertaining, free-flowing game and while they will be disappointed to fall at the first hurdle for the second year running, the likes of Stephen Keane, Zola Henry and Peter Sullivan all impressed. Sullivan’s intercept try shortly after the break was the least the Booterstown school deserved for their efforts and it lifted his side and their supporters before Belvo clicked into gear again. It had looked ominous for Andrew’s when Mark Donnelly ran onto Paraic Cagney’s pop pass and burst through the wall of blue and white shirts from close range to set the ball rolling. Belvo set a fierce early tempo and Andrew’s, without scrum-half Adam Larmour due to injury, were unable to deal with the power up front and some direct, and explosive, running. O’Sullivan, who looks to be a fine player, orchestrated proceedings from 15 as well as kicking well from the tee as he finished with 10 points of his own. Belvo’s second score quickly followed and this time it came from deep. From a scrum inside their own half, the 11-time winners exhibited their running game as O’Sullivan cut through and timed the pass perfectly for Cagney to run it home. After settling into the contest after a shaky start, Andrew’s were then architects of their own downfall shortly before the interval as good attacking ball was spilled and Donnelly had the simple task of picking it up and dotting it down under the posts.
Sullivan’s try gave Ian Dumbleton’s side something to shout about but it only spurred Belvo into action again and they displayed a ruthless edge in the final 20 minutes. It was all one-way traffic from there as Andrew’s tired and Belvo took full advantage to stamp their authority back all over this first round tie and secure their passage through to Friday’s draw. Donnelly completed his hat-trick while Oran O’Brien, Ruadhan Byron, Harry Beggy and out-half David Hawkshaw all helped themselves to scores during an error-strewn final quarter. It was far from perfect from Belvo either but their defence is up and running and on this evidence they’re the team to beat again this year.
Belvedere the team to beat as defending champions battle past Michael’s
The northside school showed their clinical edge and experience in a high-scoring encounter at Donnybrook. Feb 12th 2017, 4:27 PM Belvedere College 29, St Michael’s College 18 – Ryan Bailey reports from Donnybrook THE END SCORELINE probably doesn’t reflect how fiercely-contested this game was but it tells you everything you need to know about Belvedere College as they marched into the Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-finals. The result doesn’t flatter the defending champions but they were certainly pushed all the way by a Michael’s side who will rue a 10-minute period before the break during which they conceded two soft tries. After a frenetic, and scrappy, opening quarter, Belvo seized control thanks to quickfire scores from Hugh O’Sullivan and then Jordan Wilkes with Michael’s playing catch-up from there. The Ailesbury Road school battled valiantly until the death as they attempted to overturn the deficit but David Hawkshaw’s late intercept try settled a titanic tussle. Fullback O’Sullivan was again superb and it was Belvo’s experience which ultimately told in the end as their title defence gathered serious momentum in front of a large crowd at Donnybrook. Phil Werahiko’s men are certainly the team to beat again this year and they’ll take their place in Friday’s draw with every confidence that they can replicate last year’s achievements on St Patrick’s Day just down the road from here. It was a near faultless performance from Belvo as, just like in the first round demolition of St Andrew’s, they showed their ruthlessness in attack while dominating up front. In defence, too, the northside school were peerless and while the pressure eventually told as Michael’s set-up a grandstand finish, their ability to shut the door and then take their chances at the other end was the difference. Michael’s can be proud of their efforts and on another day, the result might have gone their way but they’ll no
doubt look back on a couple of missed chances when handling errors and a lack of patience cost them. As it was, it was Belvo’s day and the celebrations when Hawkshaw read Peter O’Beirne’s pass to race under the posts spoke volumes of how hard they were forced to work for the win. There was an edge to the game throughout as both sides brought a huge physicality to proceedings and even allowing for the awful conditions — driving wind and rain — the rugby on show had those in attendance on the edge of their seat for much of the encounter. Michael’s drew first blood as Harry Byrne slotted over a penalty after his side had earlier come within inches of driving over the Belvo line before a knock on thwarted their advances. At the other end, Belvo were beginning to threaten. Ireland and Leinster representative O’Sullivan was the standout performer in the backline and he created and finished the game’s opening try all on his own. The 11-time winners had been knocking on the Michael’s door when O’Sullivan wasn’t held in the tackle and he showed good awareness and pace to get back up and stroll under the posts uncontested. Minutes later, Belvo had their second. A grubber kick through wasn’t dealt with by Ian O’Kelly and Wilkes was quick to latch onto the loose ball, stab it through and then have the composure to collect and fall over the line. O’Sullivan stretched the lead to 14-3. At this stage, Michael’s were being frustrated by Belvo’s work-rate around the breakdown and time and time again, Max Kearney, Conor Doran and Ruadhan Byron came away with the turnover penalty. Byrne kept his side in touch with another penalty from in front of the posts but Belvo continued the pressure after the interval and got their reward through Byron, who powered over after spotting the gap. With the game slipping away, Michael’s shuffled their pack and the introduction of prop Alex Deegan made an instant difference as he carried hard twice in successive plays to get his side moving. The two-time winners felt they’d got over through hooker Stephen Judge after a driving maul but referee Helen O’Reilly wasn’t convinced as Belvo’s defence stood firm again. The wall of black and white shirts was finally breached from the next play as Michael’s captain Jack Dunne broke through two tackles to bring his side back into the contest. When substitute Rob Russell gathered Byrne’s beautifully weighted kick through to dot down in the corner, Michael’s suddenly found themselves within four points of the holders with 10 minutes remaining. Game on. That was until Hawkshaw swooped to safely secure Belevdere’s place in Friday’s semi-final draw.
Belvedere hold off late Clongowes fightback to book Senior Cup final spot
An early try put the Dublin school in control but Clongowes pushed them all the way. Mar 6th 2017, 5:11 PM Jordan Wilkes crossed the whitewash for Belvedere today. Belvedere College 17, Clongowes Wood College 12 DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BELVEDERE College held off a late surge from Clongowes Wood College at Donnybrook this afternoon, before booking their place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup decider on St Patrick’s Day. Belvo had defeated St Andrew’s College and St Michael’s on their path to the last-four, and they broke the deadlock with 11 minutes gone on the clock. An intelligent reverse pass by out-half David Hawkshaw allowed winger Jordan Wilkes to break over the Clongowes whitewash, and this was followed by a routine conversion by Hugh O’Sullivan. Clongowes were struggling to make an attacking impact, and they fell further behind to an O’Sullivan three-pointer. Yet, just as it was beginning to look extremely ominous for Clongowes, impressive inside centre Ben O’Shea touched down on 29 minutes – after spotting a gap through the heart of the Belvo defence. Despite coming up short from his own conversion attempt, O’Shea had reduced his side’s deficit to five points (10-5) in time for the interval. Yet, 11-time winners Belvo reinforced their superiority after the restart, as powerful lock Oran O’Brien grounded at the end of a period of sustained pressure on the 50-minute mark. A tricky O’Sullivan bonus kick placed them in pole position for a third consecutive final appearance, but the ever-willing Clongowes were determined to finish with a flourish. Prop Arthur Odium was halted underneath the posts, but scrum-half Joe Murphy was in the right place to dot down. An O’Shea two-pointer set up a tense finale but, with skipper Max Kearney leading by example, Belvedere College progressed to face the winners of tomorrow’s game between Blackrock College and Gonzaga College.
Black and white! Belvedere deliver back-to-back Senior Cup titles after edging Blackrock
PetMar 17th 2017, 3:56 Blackrock College 3 , Belvedere College 10 Ryan Bailey reports from the RDS IT TOOK A while to get going, but when it did, this Leinster Senior Schools Cup final delivered everything we were expecting
as Belvedere College, the defending champions, claimed backto-back titles in the most dramatic of circumstances. It was a brutally physical encounter from start to finish at the RDS with little to separate the two sides but, in the end, Peter Maher’s first half score was the difference as Belvo secured a 12th title. Phil Werahiko’s side did all the damage in the opening period and they showed incredible resolve thereafter to hold firm and close the door on Blackrock’s late rally. The 68-time winners never really got going, and it was a great shame they were unable to produce the type of performance which had seen them power into the final, as conditions made it difficult for both teams in front of a large St Patrick’s Day crowd. Even still, Blackrock pushed hard and came within inches of forcing the tie into extra time right at the death but the wall of black and white shirts held firm on their own line to seal a hard-fought victory. David Hawkshaw was hugely influential once again for the Great Denmark Street school while captain Max Kearney led from the front alongside his back row unit of Conor Doran and Ruadhan Byron. It wasn’t the type of game we know these two sides can produce but so often these big occasions are decided by the smallest of margins and, on the day, it was Belvo who managed the conditions to prevail.
Charlie Ryan rises highest to claim a line out ahead of The first half was riddled with handling errors and a succession of turnovers with a gusting wind and incessant rain making it difficult for the game to flow with any sort of structure. Indeed, it wasn’t a great spectacle and scoring opportunities were few and far between with individual errors costing Blackrock as they failed to get any sort of stranglehold on the game. With the wind at their backs, Belvo settled the quicker and soon began to dominate proceedings with half-backs Paraic Cagney and Hawkshaw pulling the strings behind a powerful pack. It took until the 21st for any real meaningful action to develop with both sides exchanging early blows in midfield during an otherwise scrappy opening quarter. With Hawkshaw’s influence growing, Belvo started asking
questions of the ‘Rock defence and after building the phases in opposition territory, the out-half ’s clever grubber kick in behind engineered the game’s opening score. Tom Roche appeared to have had the danger covered but he failed to gather cleanly under his posts and then lost his footing on the greasy surface to allow Maher to dive on the loose ball. Hawkshaw had done something similar a few minutes earlier on this near side as he used the space in behind to force Blackrock back towards their own line. It was incredibly smart rugby and it would prove to be the spark the contest needed. O’Sullivan added the extras and, five minutes later, his sweetly-struck penalty extended Belvo’s lead to 10-0 at the break. Blackrock made a change on the wing for the second half, Ross Deegan replacing Tom Maher, and they came out of the blocks quickly, as Patrick Patterson’s penalty finally got them on the board. A response from ‘Rock was inevitable but Belvo’s hardworking backrow, led by Kearney, denied them the type of go-forward ball they used to cause serious damage in the previous rounds. For the first time in the campaign, ‘Rock found themselves behind and they were then left without John Farley and Charlie Ryan for the remainder of the game with both succumbing to the brutally physical nature of the contest. Justin Vanstone’s side pushed hard in the second period, searching for a way to claw themselves back on the scoreboard, but Belvo were resilient in defence and closed the door every time ‘Rock threatened to force their way through. It wasn’t until the last play of the game that ‘Rock found themselves within striking distance but Belvo weren’t to be denied as Kearney and O’Sullivan, fittingly, got their hands under the ball to spark jubilant celebrations. “We’ll see you on O’Connell Bridge,” Kearney proclaimed to the Belvedere supporters during his post-match speech. The Leinster Senior Schools Cup is staying on the Northside. Belvedere scorers: Tries: Peter Maher, Conversions: Hugh O’Sullivan [1 from 1] Penalties: Hugh O’Sullivan [1 from 1] BELVEDERE COLLEGE: 15. Hugh O’Sullivan, 14. Mark Donnelly, 13. Peter Maher, 12. Cian Walsh, 11. Jordan Wilkes (23. Sam Barry 43), 10. David Hawkshaw, 9. Paraic Cagney; 1. Cillian Molloy (18. Joseph Haughey 64), 2. Anthony McDonnell (16. Conor Byrne 61), 3. Jake Robinson, 4. Grellan Murray, 5. Oran O’Brien (19. David Hill 61), 6. Conor Doran, 7. Max Kearney (captain), 8. Ruadhan Byron. Replacements not used: 17. Sam Osborne, 20. John Meagher, 21. Ted Walsh, 22. Jonathan Bell.
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