Six tries seal victory for Edenderry students on a famous day in Donnybrook

St Mary’s Edenderry were deserved winners on Thursday morning, their half-dozen tries enough to see them leave a frosty Donnybrook Energia Park as the proud holders of the Leinster 3A Senior Development Shield.

Leinster 3A Senior Development Shield Final

St Mary’s Edenderry 39

Kildare Town CS 14

Kildare got off to the perfect start, controlling the rhythm and tempo of the game and playing in the Edenderry half. They opened the scoring when full back, Adam Quinn cut through the Edenderry defence for a high-quality try, converted by Ryan Murphy.

Edenderry bounced back with two quick tries of their own, however, first from flanker, Eric Hanley and then hooker, Conor O’Brien.

Kildare Number 8, Ewan Morris showed great strength to crash over under the posts, making Murphy’s conversion a formality and giving his side a 14-10 lead after 20 minutes.

But St Mary’s again hit back immediately. Andrew Nicholson converted a Stephen Cox try to give St Mary’s a three-point lead at the break.

There was real intent in St Mary’s running in the second half, Cox using a big fend to go close and Nicholson’s speed causing problems as well. Loose head prop, Sean Brien and openside, Eric Hanley made some big carries but Kildare held out.

Kildare were under enormous pressure for much of the second half and defended their line commendably, particularly Ola McCulloch, Adam Quinn and Calum Murphy.

Andrew Nicholson’s penalty midway through the half, however, seemed to break Kildare’s spirit. As soon as the scoreboard read 20-14 in favour of St Mary’s, the Kildare heads began to drop and Edenderry smelled blood.

Second row, Paidi Gorman broke from a scrum, cut inside the first defender on the 40-metre line and accelerated away for a superb try, converted by Nicholson for 27-14 in the 55th minute.

Out-half, Jack Byrne was the next to break the tiring Kildare defence before Daniel O’Connell crossed for the final time. Nicholson’s accuracy with the boot continued to secure a 39-14 win for St Mary’s.

St Mary’s: Andrew Nicholson, Dylan McKeogh, Stephen Cox, Jack Gorman, Tiernan O’Connell; Jack Byrne, Paidi Gorman, Sean Brien, Conor O’Brien, Conor McGrath; Aaron Maguire, Daniel O’Connell, Ultan McIntyre, Eric Hanley, Jack McKeon.

Replacements: Jamie Kirwan, Sean Cox, Iarfhlaith Killally, TJ Dunne, Cian Tyrrell, Joshua McGlade.

Scorers: Eric Hanley (Try), Conor O’Brien (Try), Sean Cox (Try), Paidi Gorman (Try), Jack Byrne (Try), Daniel O’Connell (Try), Andrew Nicholson (Pen, Con x3)

Kildare: Adam Quinn, Calum Murphy, Michael McNamara, Ola McCulloch, Alan Purcell, Daniel Halpin, Ryan Murphy, Oisin Carroll, James Dempsey, Eoghan Kinsella, Billy Dillon, Joe Broughall, Joshua Foran, Alex Downey, Ewan Morris.

Replacements: Calum Dooley, Mark Talbot, Stephen Murtagh, Ryan Christie, Alex Domsa, Jack O’Donoghue, Andrei Prilipceanue, Jake O’Brien.

Scorers: Adam Quinn (Try), Ewan Morris (Try), Ryan Murphy (Con x2)