Schools Rugby 2018-19

[mildlyinterested]

the big one later today at 3pm.

[mildlyinterested]

St. Michaels College
15. Andrew Smith(6th); 14. Edward Kelly(5th), 13. Chris Cosgrave(5th), 12. Simon O’Kelly(5th), 11. Mark O’Brien(6th); 10. Niall Carroll(5th), 9. Robert Gilsenan(6th); 1. Jack Boyle(5th), 2. Lee Barron(5th), 3. Fionn Finlay(6th), 4. Stephen Woods(4th), 5. Jonathan Fish(6th), 6. Jack Guinane(5th), 7. Mark Hernan (6th/capt), 8. William Hickey(5th)

Blackrock College
15. Chris Rolland(6th), 14. Niall Comerford(6th), 13. Ronan McGoldrick(6th), 12. Gavin Jones(6th), 11. Ben White(6th), 10. David Fitzgibbon(6th), 9. Matthew Cullen(5th); 1. Luke Mion(6th), 2. Stephen Dunne(6th), 3. Hugo O’Malley(5th), 4. Mark Morrissey(5th), 5. Joseph McCarthy(6th), 6. Sean O’Brien (6th/capt), 7. Jack Loscher(6th), 8. Ed Brennan(6th)

[backrower8]

St. Michaels College
15. Andrew Smith(6th); 14. Edward Kelly(5th), 13. Chris Cosgrave(5th), 12. Simon O’Kelly(5th), 11. Mark O’Brien(6th); 10. Niall Carroll(5th), 9. Robert Gilsenan(6th); 1. Jack Boyle(5th), 2. Lee Barron(5th), 3. Fionn Finlay(6th), 4. Stephen Woods(4th), 5. Jonathan Fish(6th), 6. Jack Guinane(5th), 7. Mark Hernan (6th/capt), 8. William Hickey(5th)

Blackrock College
15. Chris Rolland(6th), 14. Niall Comerford(6th), 13. Ronan McGoldrick(6th), 12. Gavin Jones(6th), 11. Ben White(6th), 10. David Fitzgibbon(6th), 9. Matthew Cullen(5th); 1. Luke Mion(6th), 2. Stephen Dunne(6th), 3. Hugo O’Malley(5th), 4. Mark Morrissey(5th), 5. Joseph McCarthy(6th), 6. Sean O’Brien (6th/capt), 7. Jack Loscher(6th), 8. Ed Brennan(6th)

Thanks. That's 12 x 6th years against 6 x 6th yrs for Michael's who also have a 4th yr (in the row). Last time I remember that was James Ryan packin down with Ross Molony in the 2013 'Ringrose final'. I don't suppose you have the subs profile as well?

[mildlyinterested]

St. Michaels College
15. Andrew Smith(6th); 14. Edward Kelly(5th), 13. Chris Cosgrave(5th), 12. Simon O’Kelly(5th), 11. Mark O’Brien(6th); 10. Niall Carroll(5th), 9. Robert Gilsenan(6th); 1. Jack Boyle(5th), 2. Lee Barron(5th), 3. Fionn Finlay(6th), 4. Stephen Woods(4th), 5. Jonathan Fish(6th), 6. Jack Guinane(5th), 7. Mark Hernan (6th/capt), 8. William Hickey(5th)

Blackrock College
15. Chris Rolland(6th), 14. Niall Comerford(6th), 13. Ronan McGoldrick(6th), 12. Gavin Jones(6th), 11. Ben White(6th), 10. David Fitzgibbon(6th), 9. Matthew Cullen(5th); 1. Luke Mion(6th), 2. Stephen Dunne(6th), 3. Hugo O’Malley(5th), 4. Mark Morrissey(5th), 5. Joseph McCarthy(6th), 6. Sean O’Brien (6th/capt), 7. Jack Loscher(6th), 8. Ed Brennan(6th)

Thanks. That's 12 x 6th years against 6 x 6th yrs for Michael's who also have a 4th yr (in the row). Last time I remember that was James Ryan packin down with Ross Molony in the 2013 'Ringrose final'. I don't suppose you have the subs profile as well?

No haven't seen who is on the benches for either side.

Ryan Baird packed down as a 4th year for Michaels IIRC

[TrapperChamonix]

Ryan Baird packed down as a 4th year for Michaels IIRC

Baird was part of SCT team that lost to Belvedere in 2016, 17 & 18. As was Penny. AFAIK they were both on cup teams for 5 years in a row. Not unique but still very very impressive.

[TrapperChamonix]

Thanks. That's 12 x 6th years against 6 x 6th yrs for Michael's who also have a 4th yr (in the row). Last time I remember that was James Ryan packin down with Ross Molony in the 2013 'Ringrose final'. I don't suppose you have the subs profile as well?

I'd say that Rock always have a higher number of 6th years than most other teams. It probably denotes the heightened competition for places that they have and by extension their greater success.

[mildlyinterested]

Ryan Baird packed down as a 4th year for Michaels IIRC

Baird was part of SCT team that lost to Belvedere in 2016, 17 & 18. As was Penny. AFAIK they were both on cup teams for 5 years in a row. Not unique but still very very impressive.

Baird didn't attend michaels until 3rd year.

Other than that you are right.

[mildlyinterested]

Of Michaels current team - Boyle, Cosgrave & Barron have started 4 years in a row and have a year left.

[mildlyinterested]

10-0 to St. Michaels after 18 minutes.

[R-Dog]

Finished Michaels 16 - 10 Rock

[TrapperChamonix]

Finished Michaels 16 - 10 Rock

Their 1st SCT win v's Rock. Thats a monkey off their back.

Belvo v Michaels SF looks to be the stronger half of the draw, but you never can tell.

[mildlyinterested]

Watching the rock Michaels game.. rock hooker had a nightmare, dunno why they kept throwing it to the back.

[mildlyinterested]

impressed by Niall Comerford, Matthew Cullen and Joseph McCarthy for Rock.

While Mark Hernan, Rob Gilsenan and Chris Cosgrave stood out from a lot of very good performances for Michaels.

[mildlyinterested]

St. Michaels College
15. Andrew Smith(6th); 14. Edward Kelly(5th), 13. Chris Cosgrave(5th), 12. Simon O’Kelly(5th), 11. Mark O’Brien(6th); 10. Niall Carroll(5th), 9. Robert Gilsenan(6th); 1. Jack Boyle(5th), 2. Lee Barron(5th), 3. Fionn Finlay(6th), 4. Stephen Woods(4th), 5. Jonathan Fish(6th), 6. Jack Guinane(5th), 7. Mark Hernan (6th/capt), 8. William Hickey(5th)

Blackrock College
15. Chris Rolland(6th), 14. Niall Comerford(6th), 13. Ronan McGoldrick(6th), 12. Gavin Jones(6th), 11. Ben White(6th), 10. David Fitzgibbon(6th), 9. Matthew Cullen(5th); 1. Luke Mion(6th), 2. Stephen Dunne(6th), 3. Hugo O’Malley(5th), 4. Mark Morrissey(5th), 5. Joseph McCarthy(6th), 6. Sean O’Brien (6th/capt), 7. Jack Loscher(6th), 8. Ed Brennan(6th)

Thanks. That's 12 x 6th years against 6 x 6th yrs for Michael's who also have a 4th yr (in the row). Last time I remember that was James Ryan packin down with Ross Molony in the 2013 'Ringrose final'. I don't suppose you have the subs profile as well?

Michaels made 3 subs yesterday:

James Power(5th) for Fionn Finlay(6th)
Conor Booth(5th) for Stephen Woods(4th)
Rohan van den Akker(?) for Andrew Smith(6th)

[backrower8]

St. Michaels College
15. Andrew Smith(6th); 14. Edward Kelly(5th), 13. Chris Cosgrave(5th), 12. Simon O’Kelly(5th), 11. Mark O’Brien(6th); 10. Niall Carroll(5th), 9. Robert Gilsenan(6th); 1. Jack Boyle(5th), 2. Lee Barron(5th), 3. Fionn Finlay(6th), 4. Stephen Woods(4th), 5. Jonathan Fish(6th), 6. Jack Guinane(5th), 7. Mark Hernan (6th/capt), 8. William Hickey(5th)

Blackrock College
15. Chris Rolland(6th), 14. Niall Comerford(6th), 13. Ronan McGoldrick(6th), 12. Gavin Jones(6th), 11. Ben White(6th), 10. David Fitzgibbon(6th), 9. Matthew Cullen(5th); 1. Luke Mion(6th), 2. Stephen Dunne(6th), 3. Hugo O’Malley(5th), 4. Mark Morrissey(5th), 5. Joseph McCarthy(6th), 6. Sean O’Brien (6th/capt), 7. Jack Loscher(6th), 8. Ed Brennan(6th)

Thanks. That's 12 x 6th years against 6 x 6th yrs for Michael's who also have a 4th yr (in the row). Last time I remember that was James Ryan packin down with Ross Molony in the 2013 'Ringrose final'. I don't suppose you have the subs profile as well?

Michaels made 3 subs yesterday:

James Power(5th) for Fionn Finlay(6th)
Conor Booth(5th) for Stephen Woods(4th)
Rohan van den Akker(?) for Andrew Smith(6th)

Rock made all 8 and looked to have more power at the finish. Having 1,000 pupils vs 550 makes a difference in seniority and squad depth. Belvo the only other school that has Rock's resources. The sheer numbers is a significant factor allied to the culture and tradition.

Strangely, I think the 9 day turnaround for Michael's will serve them better than the 3 week turnaround for Belvo as they are now battle-hardened. Michael's backs underperformed yesterdsay on the platform their pack gave them. Overthinking things, missing important penalty kicks to touch and playing risky passes (a hangover from last year).

Still a very hard game to call.

[mildlyinterested]

Michaels have no excuse really, they have an insanely talented team.. 1-15.

If they perform they should win.

[backrower8]

Michaels have no excuse really, they have an insanely talented team.. 1-15.

If they perform they should win.

I agree. If they perform they should win the next game and the cup. But "no excuse" is not reasonable comment in the context of Belvedere. 5 point favourites maybe but its not that clearcut. Belvedere have a serious pack and a lot of talent in the backs too and they have a bench that they are confident in using which matters at this level when you are tiring.

Last year's Michael's team was more talented and more mature than this one and butchered itself, as they did in 2013...even yesterday they stalled losing the 2nd half 3-10 and didn't put it beyond doubt. They should have scored at least another 2 tries in the second half. They were a penalty and subsequent lineout maul away from a repeat of last year. Not having a deep bench is part of that.

[mildlyinterested]

Reggie Corrigan is doing 5 players to watch for each of semi finalists:

Belvo
Patrick Lysaght(Scrumhalf)
Justin Leonard(Outhalf)
Conor Cagney(TH Prop)
Aaron Coleman(Backrow)
Alex Soroka(Lock)

Michaels
Chris Cosgrave(Centre)
Rob Gilsenan(Scrumhalf)
Jonathan Fish(Lock)
Jack Guinane(Backrow)
Mark Hernan(Backrow)

[brotheroffrank]

Is this the first time in Gonzaga history that both their SCT and JCT are still in the competition in March?

[mildlyinterested]

Is this the first time in Gonzaga history that both their SCT and JCT are still in the competition in March?

SCT side made semi-finals recently enough, not sure when their JCT side went out that season.

Great to see.