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18th Mar 2013

Great pictures from today’s Senior Cup finals in Munster and Leinster

CCC and Blackrock took the honours in Munster and Leinster today, and both games threw up some great pictures.

JOE

CCC and Blackrock took the honours in Munster and Leinster today, and both games threw up some great pictures.

All season we have followed the fortunes of the Senior Schools Cups around the country and today we were treated to two epic finals.

First up was Munster and CCC were clinical in their disposal of Rockwell. Rockwell were going for three-in-a-row but all hopes of that went when full-back Steve McMahon had a rush of blood to the head and tip tackled Crescent’s William Leonard a few minutes into the second half. McMahon rightly saw red and from there it was impossible for Rockwell to find a way back.

In fairness to McMahon, the score was 16-5 to CCC at that point and the tide looked to be going against Rockwell anyway. They battled on bravely but Crescent Comprehensive College ran out 27-5 winners.

JJ O’Neill celebrates at the final whistle

CCC with the trophy

Your guess is as good as ours but we’re told it is Shane Burke and Shane Barrett

Up at the RDS, we were treated to a classic final. Blackrock, with 66 wins to their name but with none since 2009, faced St Michael’s, the holders. In a nip and tuck battle played in fairly horrific conditions at times, Michael’s struck first via a Ross Maloney try.

But then the Gary Ringrose show began. The super talented centre scored a breakaway try to get Blackrock back in front and he kicked the conversion too. A drop goal stretched ‘Rock’s lead but Michael’s struck back just before the break via a Cian Kelleher try leaving the score 16-14 in Blackrock’s favour.

Gary Ringrose in action

Ross Byrne put Michael’s ahead with a penalty and he nailed another one to put four between the sides.

Staring defeat in the face, Jack Power crossed the line to put Blackrock up by one and Ringrose was nerveless as he landed the conversion, his fourth success from four attempts. He would miss one at the death but by then the game was all over, 23-20 for ‘Rock.

The delighted match winner, Jack Power

After a bad week for the men’s game in Ireland, at least we saw some green shoots of hope today.