Our 1st XV have won the Leinster Senior Cup with a comprehensive 29 points to 21 win over Lansdowne FC in Saturday's final at Energia Park, Donnybrook.
TERENURE COLLEGE 29-21 LANSDOWNE Terenure College captured the Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Cup at the expense of Lansdowne at Energia Park on Saturday afternoon.
It has been a tremendous time for Terenure as they have risen to the top of club rugby in Ireland, reaching three of the last four Energia All-Ireland League finals, achieving champion status for the first time in 2023.
In this particular competition, it was Lansdowne who had been to three of the last four finals, winning in 2023/2024, while Terenure went back-to-back in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.
Thus, the Senior Cup has provided meaningful preparation for the All-Ireland League.
The late withdrawal of Adam La Grue did not cause any noticeable disruption as Julian Leszczynski’s penalty eased Terenure into the lead.
A weaving run by right wing Dan Martin delivered the opening try, converted by out-half Leszczynski in the seventh minute to open up a gap for Terenure.
Lansdowne were on the brink of breaking back into the game, camping inside the 22 and setting up a series of pick-and-gos close to the line.
But they just could not find the solution to Terenure’s unbreakable mindset in what must have come as a demoralising moment.
Worse again, Craig Adams’ burst down the left was finished off by full-back Aran Egan to open up a 15-0 advantage in the 33rd minute.
The combination of courageous, disciplined work without the ball and the facility to take enough of the chances they came their way preserved a 15-point lead at the break.
Lansdowne had to have the next points, even a penalty, to begin the comeback but another Craig Adams gain of ground was the spark for right wing Martin to put down his second try, converted by Leszczynski to extend the Terenure lead even further, just three minutes into the new half.
Out-half Leszczynski orchestrated Martin’s hat-trick try with a delightfully executed crossfield punt, with Leszczynski himself adding the conversion.
Lansdowne finally punctured a well-organised Terenure defence when a fine break by centre Andy Marks was followed by an offload to put Tom Daly over for James Tarrant to convert in the 54th minute.
Of course, it came too late to bring about a material difference to the outcome, although an incision by Cathal Eddy led to a second try by Mark Roche, converted by Daly.
The passing of minutes confirmed ‘Nure as champions, despite a last-minute try by Marks, converted by Daly.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Aran Egan; Daniel Martin, Ethan Reilly, Caolan Dooley, Craig Adams; Julian Leszczynski, William Reilly; Ben Howard, Max Russell, Adam Tuite, Sean Rigney, Oisin Shannon, Harrison Brewer, Ben Blaney, Luke Clohessy. Replacements: Mark Nicholson, Karl O’Brien, Odhran Brannigan, Darragh Brooks, Arthur Ashmore, Griffin Culver, Michael Kennedy, Ross Adams.
Scorers: D Martin 3 tries; A Egan try; J Leszczynski pen, 3 cons
LANSDOWNE: Cathal Eddy; Mark Roche, Andy Marks, Tom Daly, Cian Eddy; James Tarrant, Jack Matthews; George Morris, Bobby Sheehan, Greg McGrath, Juan Beukes, Hardus Van Eeden, Barry Fitzpatrick, Ross Anthony O’Neill, Paul Wilson. Replacements: Jack Treanor, Julien Valleise, Evann Shelley, Louis McGauran, Luke Fagan, Jack Coolican, James Kenny, Harry O’Riordan.
Scorers: T Daly try, 2 cons; M Roche, A Marks try each; J Tarrant con.
TERENURE COLLEGE 29-21 LANSDOWNE Terenure College captured the Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Cup at the expense of Lansdowne at Energia Park on Saturday afternoon.
It has been a tremendous time for Terenure as they have risen to the top of club rugby in Ireland, reaching three of the last four Energia All-Ireland League finals, achieving champion status for the first time in 2023.
In this particular competition, it was Lansdowne who had been to three of the last four finals, winning in 2023/2024, while Terenure went back-to-back in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.
Thus, the Senior Cup has provided meaningful preparation for the All-Ireland League.
The late withdrawal of Adam La Grue did not cause any noticeable disruption as Julian Leszczynski’s penalty eased Terenure into the lead.
A weaving run by right wing Dan Martin delivered the opening try, converted by out-half Leszczynski in the seventh minute to open up a gap for Terenure.
Lansdowne were on the brink of breaking back into the game, camping inside the 22 and setting up a series of pick-and-gos close to the line.
But they just could not find the solution to Terenure’s unbreakable mindset in what must have come as a demoralising moment.
Worse again, Craig Adams’ burst down the left was finished off by full-back Aran Egan to open up a 15-0 advantage in the 33rd minute.
The combination of courageous, disciplined work without the ball and the facility to take enough of the chances they came their way preserved a 15-point lead at the break.
Lansdowne had to have the next points, even a penalty, to begin the comeback but another Craig Adams gain of ground was the spark for right wing Martin to put down his second try, converted by Leszczynski to extend the Terenure lead even further, just three minutes into the new half.
Out-half Leszczynski orchestrated Martin’s hat-trick try with a delightfully executed crossfield punt, with Leszczynski himself adding the conversion.
Lansdowne finally punctured a well-organised Terenure defence when a fine break by centre Andy Marks was followed by an offload to put Tom Daly over for James Tarrant to convert in the 54th minute.
Of course, it came too late to bring about a material difference to the outcome, although an incision by Cathal Eddy led to a second try by Mark Roche, converted by Daly.
The passing of minutes confirmed ‘Nure as champions, despite a last-minute try by Marks, converted by Daly.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Aran Egan; Daniel Martin, Ethan Reilly, Caolan Dooley, Craig Adams; Julian Leszczynski, William Reilly; Ben Howard, Max Russell, Adam Tuite, Sean Rigney, Oisin Shannon, Harrison Brewer, Ben Blaney, Luke Clohessy. Replacements: Mark Nicholson, Karl O’Brien, Odhran Brannigan, Darragh Brooks, Arthur Ashmore, Griffin Culver, Michael Kennedy, Ross Adams.
Scorers: D Martin 3 tries; A Egan try; J Leszczynski pen, 3 cons
LANSDOWNE: Cathal Eddy; Mark Roche, Andy Marks, Tom Daly, Cian Eddy; James Tarrant, Jack Matthews; George Morris, Bobby Sheehan, Greg McGrath, Juan Beukes, Hardus Van Eeden, Barry Fitzpatrick, Ross Anthony O’Neill, Paul Wilson. Replacements: Jack Treanor, Julien Valleise, Evann Shelley, Louis McGauran, Luke Fagan, Jack Coolican, James Kenny, Harry O’Riordan.
Scorers: T Daly try, 2 cons; M Roche, A Marks try each; J Tarrant con.
