Adrian Flavin’s Castleknock are showing the value of games under the belt as they continue to improve on their way to the Bank of Ireland Vinnie Senior Murray Cup final and the Senior Cup first round.
Wilson’s didn’t come to bow down. This was evident from hits by Ruadhan McDonnell and Charles Flynn and a turnover by full-back Ian McCormack.
However, Castleknock managed to retain the ball and right wing Robert Hobson stood up a defender and exploded around the outside for the opening try in the fourth minute.
It must have come as a shock to Wilson’s. They simply re-gathered. Centre Jason Shekleton carried forward and a penalty was awarded. They went for the lineout which was promptly turned over.
Wilson’s broke left for openside Alan Crowe to feed McDonnell, who was closely shadowed by Cian Clancy. McCormack’s chip and chase and Crowe’s follow up work was defused by scrum-half Liam Salmon’s cool head.
‘Knock were restricted to playing out of their half and full-back Cathal Lacey was a bad bounce of the ball away from their second try.
Their hooker Michal Corcoran came through with authority to complete back-to-back tackles.
This was good enough for turnover ball which was turned into three points by wing Marc Boucher when Wilson’s were slow to roll away at a ruck in the 15th minute.
Hos’ fly-half Stephen Gill flew into a gap and prop Josh Anidi took the ball on until Shekleton was isolated for the concession of a penalty.
For all of Wilson’s industry, epitomised by the excellent work of McCormack under the stand, they were forced onto the back-foot where they did well to survive the driving of a lineout.
They even tried to move the ball from inside the 22. This cost them a scrum and left wing Boucher nipped over on the left from Patrick Murtagh’s understanding of space.
Boucher converted from close to the touchline for 15-0 in the 27th minute.
Wilson’s had to do too much without the ball and they were blown back by a maul for flanker Darragh McNally to claim a try for 20-nil just before the break.
A sustained bout of pressure had Wilson’s wing Dan Higgins scrambling brilliantly in defence. But, replacement James Gibney was on hand to plunge to the line when they ran out of numbers. Boucher converted.
It was at this point Wilsons did sneak into it. Hooker Andrew Payton, McDonnell and left wing James Butler stood up.
An arcing break by McDonnell and delicate offload almost did the trick before ‘Knock prop Gavin Murray was binned.
This was immediately followed by a similar fate for wing Boucher, handing Wilson’s a two-player advantage.
They took a scrum against the head. McDonnell had a pop and Alan Crowe came around the corner to barge over to make it 27-5 in the 52nd minute.
There was energy in their play as they came again. They just didn’t have the composure to expose a hard-working defence.
This was compounded when lock Matthew Dunlop was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.
From a scrum, Castleknock replacement Josh Connolly went over untouched to conclude their business.
Castleknock will now face Blackrock College in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Senior Cup. See the full fixture list.
At Donnybrook – Castleknock College 32 (M Boucher try, pen, 2 cons; R Hobson, D McNally, J Connolly, J Gibney try each); Wilson’s Hospital 5 (A Crowe try).
CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE 32 WILSON’S HOSPITAL 5
Castleknock: Cathal Lacey; Robert Hobson, Nicholas Eastmond, Sean Gibbons (capt), Marc Boucher; Patrick Murtagh, Liam Salmon; Jack Keleghan, Michael Corcoran, Gavin Murray, Jack Horgan, Conor Stinson, Connor O’Brien, Darragh McNally, Cian Clancy.
Replacements: James Gibney for Corcoran ht; Adam Corcoran for O’Brien 40 mins; Josh Connolly for Salmon 42 mins; Carl Keogh for Keleghan 44 mins; Daniel Treacy for Stinson both 48 mins; Jamie McGaley for Eastmond, Cian Egenton for Murtagh both 61 mins; Alex Doyle for Murray 62 mins.
Wilson’s: Ian McCormack; Dan Higgins, Andrew Moorehead, Jason Shekleton, James Butler; Stephen Gill, Daniel McHugh; Jeff Gordon, Andrew Payton, Josh Anidi, Marvyn Lloyd, Matthew Dunlop, Charles Flynn, Alan Crowe (capt), Ruadhan McDonnell.
Replacements: Ross Curran for Gordon 39 mins; Daniel Eziashi for Flynn 48 mins.
Referee: R O’Flynn, Leinster Branch.
