Page 64 - The Gonzaga Record 1988
P. 64
second match but the ground was still Anglesea Road. Again the forwards
heavy, which suited us. The first half dominated and we tried to contain
went well, with Kevin O'Brien and their strong backs, even though their
Donough Molloy using their kicks athletic wingers made searing breaks
wisely. Both teams missed two penalty on the wings, cut out only by good,
kicks. In the second half, we were firm tackling.
doing as much as we could to score Then in the opening minute of the
and the break-through came when second half, Kevin O'Brien crossed for
Molloy hoisted a ball into St Mary's a try, after great loose play by the
25. Our forwards took the ball onto a forwards. Three minutes later, Bel-
ruck on their line. John Sweetman vedere answered with a penalty, leaving
picked from the back and dived over the score 4-3 to us.
for an unconverted try. Gonzaga controlled the match from
Our game became too relaxed and then on. We missed two penalty kicks
we found ourselves down by two and also a try, due to the slippery con-
points after a penalty. The forwards, ditions. It didn't really matter though
now spurred on by the supporters, as the game was not as close as the
surged forward from the kick-off and score suggests. So we finished our
won a penalty in the next ruck. In the season on a high note and were very
third minute of extra time, Kevin proud to bring back the first Leinster
O'Brien converted it with the last kick rugby trophy to Gonzaga.
of the match, winning the game 7-6. Our success was largely due to the
The next match was against Terenure great commitment of the trainers, Mr
in Jones' Road. The Terenure forwards Murray and Mr Keenahan, to whom
got an early try which made the score much gratitude is due and the constant
6-0. It remained like that until support of the parents. Seeing as
half-time. seve ral of our team are underage, I
The opening third of the second hope we can go on to play a more
half saw Gonzaga putting on great noteworthy part in the Junior Cup
pressure and trying everything to score. next year.
Eve ntuall y we tired and without us
scorin g, Terenure took control. This Michael Kelly (S.3A)
led to a final try. The score remained
the same, 10-0, until the end. Even
though we had not shamed ourselves, TENNIS NOTES
we felt a little di sappointed with our
performance. That ended our cup run. In terms of Cup success, this was a
However, we entered enthusiasticall y disappointing tennis season. Reaching
into the Pl ate. the semi-final of the Senior Cup was
The Pl ate matches were very enjoy- the most notable achievement. The
able. We drew and then beat C. B.C. Junior Team (largely unchanged after
Monkstown in the first round. In the winning the cup last year) unfor-
second round, we had to have two tunately lost to St Michael's and
games again to beat Templeogue. Our Blackrock in their only two matches.
win again st High School in the semi- A completely 'new look' Minor team
final was achi eve d by both our deter- had an undistinguished season. In
minat ion and our train ers' strong Division Two, both Junior and Minor
encouragement. teams performed well but failed to
Hav in g been moved from Donny- qualify from their sections.
brook for the second time, we played Having beaten St Conleth's and Bel-
the Plate fin al in conditions similar to vedere Seconds, the Senior Team met a
the first round matches of the Cup in stern challenge in the quarter-final
62
heavy, which suited us. The first half dominated and we tried to contain
went well, with Kevin O'Brien and their strong backs, even though their
Donough Molloy using their kicks athletic wingers made searing breaks
wisely. Both teams missed two penalty on the wings, cut out only by good,
kicks. In the second half, we were firm tackling.
doing as much as we could to score Then in the opening minute of the
and the break-through came when second half, Kevin O'Brien crossed for
Molloy hoisted a ball into St Mary's a try, after great loose play by the
25. Our forwards took the ball onto a forwards. Three minutes later, Bel-
ruck on their line. John Sweetman vedere answered with a penalty, leaving
picked from the back and dived over the score 4-3 to us.
for an unconverted try. Gonzaga controlled the match from
Our game became too relaxed and then on. We missed two penalty kicks
we found ourselves down by two and also a try, due to the slippery con-
points after a penalty. The forwards, ditions. It didn't really matter though
now spurred on by the supporters, as the game was not as close as the
surged forward from the kick-off and score suggests. So we finished our
won a penalty in the next ruck. In the season on a high note and were very
third minute of extra time, Kevin proud to bring back the first Leinster
O'Brien converted it with the last kick rugby trophy to Gonzaga.
of the match, winning the game 7-6. Our success was largely due to the
The next match was against Terenure great commitment of the trainers, Mr
in Jones' Road. The Terenure forwards Murray and Mr Keenahan, to whom
got an early try which made the score much gratitude is due and the constant
6-0. It remained like that until support of the parents. Seeing as
half-time. seve ral of our team are underage, I
The opening third of the second hope we can go on to play a more
half saw Gonzaga putting on great noteworthy part in the Junior Cup
pressure and trying everything to score. next year.
Eve ntuall y we tired and without us
scorin g, Terenure took control. This Michael Kelly (S.3A)
led to a final try. The score remained
the same, 10-0, until the end. Even
though we had not shamed ourselves, TENNIS NOTES
we felt a little di sappointed with our
performance. That ended our cup run. In terms of Cup success, this was a
However, we entered enthusiasticall y disappointing tennis season. Reaching
into the Pl ate. the semi-final of the Senior Cup was
The Pl ate matches were very enjoy- the most notable achievement. The
able. We drew and then beat C. B.C. Junior Team (largely unchanged after
Monkstown in the first round. In the winning the cup last year) unfor-
second round, we had to have two tunately lost to St Michael's and
games again to beat Templeogue. Our Blackrock in their only two matches.
win again st High School in the semi- A completely 'new look' Minor team
final was achi eve d by both our deter- had an undistinguished season. In
minat ion and our train ers' strong Division Two, both Junior and Minor
encouragement. teams performed well but failed to
Hav in g been moved from Donny- qualify from their sections.
brook for the second time, we played Having beaten St Conleth's and Bel-
the Plate fin al in conditions similar to vedere Seconds, the Senior Team met a
the first round matches of the Cup in stern challenge in the quarter-final
62
