Dundalk Grammar have made serious strides in recent years and they were far too strong for Mount Temple finishing 48-0 in the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Fr Godfrey Cup 1st round at Donnybrook on Monday.
Their captain Harry O’Neill took the plaudits with a hat-trick, closely followed by quick striking centre Timmy Connolly.
Second row Dylan Keating was not restricted to his tight work in picking up a try and four conversions as their frontline goal-kicker.
In the second match of a double-header at Donnybrook, Gorey Community School took their chances well to overcome St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, 20-10.
The North Wexford boys found tries from their wingers Brian Cushe and Lee Noblett as well as their prop Pat Doyle, St Pat’s countering with a try from Luke Dolan and the kicking of Niall Bagnall.
Wilson’s Hospital held their nerve for lock Ola Aro to claim a match-winning try against Gormanston College (18-14) in the 56th minute at Barnhall RFC.
It capped a memorable comeback as Gormanston carved out a 14-5 lead on the back of converted tries by Michael Ibrahim and Aitzol King.
CBS Enniscorthy were good value for their 29-8 defeat of The King’s Hospital at Greystones RFC.
Centre Stefan San Agustin, prop Mike McVeigh, lock Chris O’Leary and wing Shane Kehoe all punched in tries in a convincing win for the Wexford boys.
Impressive Scoil Chonglais Baltinglass swept aside Presentation College Bray 23-14 at Wicklow RFC, with prop Tadhg McCarthy-Griffin, second row Dylan Sheridan and full-back Kyle Byrne supplying the tries.
It was carried out in emphatic fashion, despite Pres tries from lock Enzo Florides and centre Indi St Clair-Kenny.
It took an explosive second-half show from Kilkenny College to overpower St Andrew’s College 31-12 at Donnybrook in the first of a double-header on Tuesday.
The Booterstown school struck through their wing David Baker for two tries to hold a 12-5 lead at the break.
This was met with a 26-point backlash as Kilkenny went through the gears for tries by wing Tom Kavanagh, wings Greg Edeogun and Stephen Fennel and replacement Jackson Oyo, three converted by scrum-half Liam Foot.
Wesley College looked pretty smart in breezing beyond The High School 31-8 at Donnybrook.
They made the most of their first-half chances as out-half Sean Verdon, flanker Andrew Walker, full-back Toby Durham and number eight Oisin Spain all crossed against a lone try from prop Nathanial Mellor.
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Bank of Ireland Fr Godfrey Cup – 1st Round Results
Dundalk Grammar 48 Mount Temple 0 (Donnybrook)
St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy 29 The King’s Hospital 8 (Greystones RFC)
Gormanston College 14 Wilson’s Hospital 18 (MU Barnhall RFC)
Presentation College Bray 14 Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass 23 (Wicklow RFC)
St Patrick’s Classical School Navan 10 Gorey Community School 21 (Donnybrook)
St Andrews College 19 Kilkenny College 31 (Donnybrook)
Wesley College 31 The High School 8 (Donnybrook)
2nd Round Fixtures
Monday, 22nd January
Skerries Community College v Wilson’s Hospital (KO 2pm, Donnybrook)
Dundalk Grammar v Kilkenny College (KO 4pm, Donnybrook)
Tuesday, 23rd January
Gorey Community School v Wesley College (KO 2pm, Donnybrook)
St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy v Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass (KO 4pm, Donnybrook)
