Sean Dunne Wesley SCT16 proof#1

Wesley College 2016 Vinnie Murray Cup Champions

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Wesley crowned winners of Vinnie Murray Cup 2 March 2016 17:06

Bill Corrigan, Wesley College, is tackled by Conor Stinson, left, and Adam Corcoran, Castleknock College.

Two late tries from wings Tim Spencer and Alistair Quirke ensured Wesley won The Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Senior Cup final at Donnybrook on Wednesday.

The feeling out process took time as two defences intent on domination forced mistakes and, generally, stifled the best attacking intentions. The first real sign of sizzle came from Castleknock full-back Cathal Lacey’s counter from Adam Curry’s long ball out of defence.He left two in his wake before centre Sean Gibbons let prop Gavin Murray loose down the right. The recycle was clean. The ball was shifted smartly infield only for referee Gareth Crawford to spot a forward pass. There was good news for Wesley at the breakdown where their third penalty there allowed them to work their way forward from another Curry kick.Their props Sam Kenny and Campbell Classon got on the ball and made their presence felt.But, it was captain Curry who saw an opening on the short side and weaved a path to the posts from halfway, kicking out of the last ditch tackle from centre Nicholas Eastmond for a glorious try in the 16th minute.

They looked to further capitalise from scrum-half Bill Corrigan’s lofted ball. Lacey was solid under that one. Castleknock out-half Patrick Murtagh twice tested out the fabric of Wesley’s defence as they got into a rhythm until the ruck proved to be their undoing yet again.There were opportunities on the edges and fullback Lacey flew onto Sean Gibbons flat pass for thirty metres.

The problem was the fine scramble from Wesley, even though they coughed up a penalty for wing Marc Boucher to make it 5-3 in the 24th minute. They were given the chance to move into the lead when Curry rushed up on Murtagh only to be beaten by a spin move and Boucher kicked his second penalty for not releasing at the ruck.

There were a variety of kicks in play, Curry’s clever grubber taken up by Boucher, who lashed a long ball inside the Wesley 22.

There, the Wes’ lineout couldn’t cope and ‘Knock came close to a five pointer. There was consolation from Boucher’s third three for 9-5 in the 29th minute.

Wesley were inclined to tighten up from there, using the forwards to pick-and-go around the fringes to churn out a penalty which scrum-half Bill Corrigan slotted in the 33rd minute.

They were immediately made to defend their castle as Murtagh used decoys to his right to break left. It caused an indiscretion

by Curry, perhaps for an early tackle.

The Wesley captain was binned and Boucher’s fourth penalty made it 12-8 at the interval.

It would be interesting to see how wisely Wesley would employ the wind without the services of Curry for six minutes.

Somehow a ball popped out of a ruck for their centre William Hayden to have a go. It was the foothold they were looking for and Castleknock captain Cathal Birmingham was yellow carded for illegal ruck work close to home.

Wesley took the lineout ad did not stray away from heir close quarter driving game, centre Daniel Gilmer eventually finding the line.

Corrigan’s conversion made it 15-12 in the 42nd minute just as Curry returned to the field.

The conventional wisdom would have been for Curry to use his kicking skills. He took the correct course of action.

It did hand the ball over to Castleknock and they had threats from Murtagh and wing Andrew Hobson.

It took the return of Birmingham to snatch a turnover and the number eight came at a rate of knots to break the line.

The ball was deemed to be knocked-on deliberately. Boucher’s kick was held in the wind for curry to clear to halfway.

It was a chance lost. But, Birmingham and Cian Clancy drove

them on until Corrigan poached a turnover penalty.

It took a thumping tackle from Wesley centre Hayden to put the ball in the hands of Curry and he rifled it for 60 metres.

Birmingham bounced a tackle to make serious yardage and the forwards dug in to heap the pressure on Wesley.

They benefitted from a wayward ‘Knock lineout and Corrigan’s kick made Castleknock start again from outside the 22.

Indeed, Corrigan’s educated left boot moved play to halfway from where centre Nicholas Eastmond broke the line and had to be contained by Curry on the 22.

They came left where Wesley right wing Spencer was waiting to intercept and go the whole way for the clinching try which Corrigan converted for 22-12 in the 68th minute.

Castleknock were on the cusp of something in return when the ball went loose and the counter came at pace for left wing Alistair Quirke to finish it off in style.

At Donnybrook - Wesley College 27 (A Curry, D Gilmer, A Quirke, T Spencer try each; B Corrigan pen, 2 cons); Castleknock College 12 (M Boucher 4 pens).

Wesley: Alexander Ladias-Barlow; Tim Spencer, Daniel Gilmer, William Hayden, Alistair Quirke; Adam Curry (capt), Bill Corrigan; Campbell Classon, Andrew Egan, Sam Kenny, David Motyer, Sean Dunne, Luke Corish, Matthew Guest, Stephen May, Replacements: Conor Kirwan for Dunne 56 mins.

Castleknock: Cathal Lacey; Andrew Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond, Sean Gibbons, Marc Boucher; Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon; Jack Keleghan, James Gibney, Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Cian Clancy, Adam Corcoran, Cathal Birmingham (capt).

Replacements: Carl Keogh for Keleghan, Josh Connolly for Salmon both 47 mins; Michael Corcoran for Gibney 52 mins; Connor O’Brien for Stinson, Darragh McNally for Clancy, Jack Rafter for Hobson all 60 mins.

Referee: Gareth Crawford, Leinster Branch.

Preview: Vinnie Murray Senior Cup Final 29 February 2016 09:00

“We do have a good pack. There is size there and our set-piece works well. It will need to in the final.”

The secret to this success is to keep the players ticking over without letting them go stale or overheating their preparation.

“That is our role as coaches to find that happy balance,” he added.

“I think at this stage of the season it is just about sharpening and maintaining rather than developing anything.”

The Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Schools Senior Cup final will take place Wednesday 2nd March in Donnybrook Stadium, KO 3pm.

Jamie McGaley, Castleknock College, in action against Daniel McHugh, Wilson’s Hospital.

The much anticipated Bank of Ireland Vinnie Murray Schools Senior Cup final will pit the 2013 winners Wesley against last year’s losing finalists Castleknock.

In fact, Wesley have their name on the Cup twice, sharing the title with The King’s Hospital in its’ inaugural year of 2002.

They were back to take it outright when right wing Andrew Scanlan’s three penalties trumped two by St Gerard’s scrumhalf David Baker back in 2013.

“We’ve been building. We’ve been growing,” said Wesley coach Patrick Collins.

“Although we didn’t get the results we wanted in the Leinster League, we actually were always within touching distance in the losses we had.

“We knew we had ability. It was just about making sure we could get it to click. At times, we have done that.”

The ultimate goal of advancing in the Senior Cup was torn away in the first round when they were close enough (19-10), but not good enough.

“Against Gonzaga, it was always going to be 60-40 that it was going to be them rather than us.”

In one way, it cleared the path for Wesley to concentrate fully on their most achievable purpose, to win the Vinnie Murray Cup. “Obviously, we have a goal to meet. You don’t go into a final to lose or just take part,” said Collins.

Similarly to Ireland, Wesley’s game plan revolves around their astute out-half, the physically imposing Adam Curry.

“We have built the team around Adam to some degree,” added Collins.

“He is a bright boy and an excellent leader and tactician. He is the brain on the pitch, as it were.

It has allowed Castleknock to build their game and their confidence from wins over a fine St Conleth’s outfit, De La Salle Churchtown and Wilson’s Hospital.

This is a valuable competition honoured by the values pushed by the former Clongowes Wood and Ireland Schools coach Vinnie Murray.

“We give the Vinnie Murray the full respect it deserves,” stated Flavin.

“It is named after a man who did a lot for Leinster and Irish rugby. We will be giving it everything we have.”

Castleknock Director of Rugby Adrian Flavin has a serious job of work on his hands to drive the traditional northside powerhouse back into the highest echelons of the game.

Their gradual decline led them to accept their fate when regraded to the Vinnie Murray. It nearly paid dividends last year when they came up just short 20-15 of The King’s Hospital in their first appearance in the final.

They could have as many as six starters back from that day, led

by Captain Cathal Birmingham.

They were given a sight of the summit when encountering a rampant Blackrock College in the first round of the Senior Cup “Listen, when you play against Blackrock, you are going to be under pressure from the off,” said Flavin.

“That does replicate that atmosphere and the scenarios you will face in any final competition.

“Our boys have experienced that and it will stand to them. It was a very tough game against Blackrock and Wesley will be tough as well.

“It was good that the players were exposed to that environment.”

In hindsight, it could well be better for ‘Knock that they did not qualify from the Leinster Senior League for the Senor Cup directly, thereby bypassing what has been a beneficial and winning experience in the Vinnie Murray to this point.

“When it came to the last day of the League, we could have finished third, fourth or fifth in our section. While we didn’t qualify automatically for the Senior Cup, we were not far off it.”

Castleknock (Possible): Cathal Lacey; Robert Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond, Sean Gibbons, Marc Boucher; Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon; Jack Keleghan, Michael Corcoran, Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Cathal Bermingham (capt), Darragh McNally, Cian Clancy.

Wesley (Possible): Alex Barlow; Tim Spencer, Daniel Gilmer, William Hayden, Alistair Quirke; Adam Curry (capt), Bill Corrigan; Campbell Classon, Andrew Egan, Sam Kenny, Luke Corish, David Motyer, Ben Whitehead, Matthew Guest, Stephen May. PATH TO THE FINAL: CASTLEKNOCK: First round: bt St Conleth’s College 27-25; Quarter-final: bt De La Salle Churchtown 46-12; Semi-final: bt Wilson’s Hospital 32-5.

WESLEY: First round: drew a bye; Quarter-final: Wesley bt St Fintan’s High School 15-10; Semi-final: Wesley bt Skerries CC 24-10

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Wesley SCT 2016 Alexander Ladias-Barlow; Tim Spencer, Daniel Gilmer, William Hayden, Alistair Quirke; Adam Curry (capt), Bill Corrigan; Campbell Classon, Andrew Egan, Sam Kenny, David Motyer, Sean Dunne, Luke Corish, Matthew Guest, Stephen May, Conor Kirwan, Ben Whitehead, gpfoto my photos, your story gpfoto@ymail.com +353 (087) 2424123 Š All rights reserved