Murphy’s the man
Out-half slots over the winning conversion for Pres Bray
OUT-HALF Jack Murphy’s winning conversion was the final act as Presentation Bray secured the Junior Schools Leinster League Division 1A title on Wednesday last.
Donnybrook played host to this final between the two unbeaten schools in this year’s league campaign. Pres had an impressive victory over the 2018 league winners Newbridge College in the semi-finals, with Gonzaga beating a strong Cistercian College Roscrea team.
From the outset it was clear both teams were well matched as they got a feel for each other in the opening exchanges with Pres looking lively and ready for the task.
They got some good attacking platform off the scrum on the 22-metre line, from this Murphy would twinkle toe his way underneath the sticks for the first try of the afternoon in a great bit of individual brilliance. He scored the full complement, it was 7-0.
The Pres boys had a very energetic defence as the early tackles were being lined up in anticipation forwards Barra Lupton Smith and Zack Kirby were leading from the front in the forwards defence, with captain Finn Treacy contributing to the defensive shift in the centre, although Zaga did manage to break the defence, getting a try of their own, levelling the score at 7-7
Zaga began to mount some pressure getting more possession as they really started to test their opponents.
Although, the white defence forced an error, winger Senan Rogan got his hands on the ball and set off on a long run to the try line beating his tacklers, scoring a try against the run of play. They started to trade blows and Zaga scored a try of their own on the opposite end of the pitch. It was all square at the break 12-12.
The score line was a fair reflection on the game as both these teams were very equally matched, however Pres looked very dangerous once the ball was released into the wider channels as they were able to break at speed.
The boys in green and white came out strong in the second half as they were getting plenty of possession.
They really started to get their backline moving with some good backline play and they deservedly ran in a try stretching the Pres defence.
This was becoming a real back and forth brawl as the Wicklow school found themselves trailing for the first time in the contest, but that lead was shortly lived as Zaga kicked away possession with centre Finn Treacy striding into a powerful run where he scored a very impressive try and a sweet strike by Murphy off the kicking tee levelled the scores once more.
The Ranelaigh school worked their way into attacking territory once more as they edged closer to the Bray line.
They got their backline moving once more as they stretched the defence across the pitch and it finished in a try in the corner, missing a tough conversion, it was 24-19 with only five minutes’ left on the clock.
The Wicklow school knew they needed to throw everything at the other school if they were going to have a chance of winning the league title.
Murphy who pulled the strings for his team all game, was leading the way in the final stages as they worked up the pitch and managed to get an attacking scrum.
Murphy would be passed the ball off the scrum, throwing an inside pass, changing the direction of attack as Treacy went on yet another powerful run, where he was eventually stopped after he made a lot of metres.
They showed composure as they kept the ball, before it got out wide and Rogan got his second try of the afternoon in the corner.
It was 24-24, the result rested on a Murphy conversion from a tough angle, stand side near on the 22 metre line.
The young kicker lashed the ball over the posts as he sent the Pres players, coaches and crowd into jubilation as the final whistle sounded and they clinched the title.
Murphy secured his place in the history books, similar to his father
Richie Murphy back in 1990 when Pres won the Junior Cup.
It was a cracking game and the Junior League winner’s attention will now turn to the Junior Cup and their first round clash with Cistercian College Roscrea.
PRES BRAY: Darragh O’Sullivan, Senan Rogan, Finn Treacy ©, Lorcan Smith, Dylan Henry, Jack Murphy, Conor Bourke, Jack McDonald, Conor McGrath, Sam Bourke, Zack Kirby, Adam Tighe, Finn Brien Barra Lupton Smith, Ross Mackey. Subs: Odhran Meade, Matthew Rice, Callum Tully, Callum Fleming, Sam Fitzsimons, Cian Eddy, James McDonald, Luke Kelly, Mikey Doyle, Jack Clarke, Adam Dutton, Bill Corrigan, Geroid McCarthy Murphy and James Healy