Gonzaga College 14Castleknock College 10
– Ryan Bailey reports from Donnybrook
IT MAY NOT have been the highest quality match of the week, but Gonzaga and Castleknock served up an absorbing Leinster Senior Schools Cup contest which had everyone in attendance on the edge of their seat until the final whistle.
In the end, Gonzaga held their nerve and withstood an almighty Castleknock onslaught to edge a game which ebbed and flowed right until the last kick to book their place in the second round.
A brace of first-half tries from Sean Galvin proved the difference at a rain-soaked Donnybrook but Castleknock will lament a series of missed chances as their promising campaign ended at the first hurdle.
The eight-time winners dominated for large periods, and were camped inside the Gonzaga half for all of the second half, but were unable to make that territory count.
Having trailed 14-3 at the break, Darragh McNally gave his side hope with a little over 10 minutes remaining but Gonzaga, incredibly and heroically, kept the door shut to spark jubilant celebrations at full time.
In arguably the worst conditions of the week, it was understandable that both sides took a while to settle into the contest and the opening exchanges were incredibly scrappy.
Castleknock probably shaded the first quarter and that was reflected on the scoreboard when Cian Egenton dissected the posts with a penalty after nine minutes.
Gonzaga supporters celebrate. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO
Their lead didn’t last long, however.
From the restart, Gonzaga stole possession and from there hit the front. A period of patient build-up was rewarded when winger Galvin crashed over the line after collecting James Kenny’s pop pass.
Gonzaga extended their advantage eight minutes later but it came against the run of play.
Having applied all the pressure down one end, Castleknock were made to pay as they were caught short at the back and exposed when Gonzaga hacked through and the bounce of the ball favoured Galvin.
Moments earlier, the eight-time winners thought they had made the breakthrough of their own. A powerful scrum set the platform and flanker McNally peeled off the back and put the head down.