In a rollercoaster of emotion normally reserved for Hollywood blockbusters St. Mary’s College, reduced to 14 men after just 6 minutes, were inspired by their very own Captain Sparrow and forced an ultimately heartbreaking end to end encounter with last year’s beaten finalists Gonzaga College in the Leinster Senior Cup.

A blistering start saw Gonzaga start with the opening score after just three minutes, a well worked line out routine left hooker Luke McLaughlin free on the touchline to aim for the corner and despite the dive for the line appearing to touch the flag first the referee and assistant referee conferred to award the score. 

A setback turned into a nightmare just moments later as a moment of madness from St. Mary’s College winger Zack Hopkins where he challenged Gonzaga’s Hugo McLaughlin in the air to receive his marching orders despite the lack of a red card to brandish. 

On 9 minutes Gonzaga then doubled their lead through two excellent breaks from their centre pairing. First Aidan O’Flanagan made good inroads to the Mary’s defence before Jody Browne burst through to score a second try for last year’s beaten finalists.

A quick-fire third score from Luke McLaughlin threatened to turn into a complete rout as the full back found space on the wing to round the defence and put fifteen points between the two sides.

St. Mary’s hadn’t read the script though and despite their numerical deficit on the quarter hour mark they found a breakthrough, David Leane getting them off the mark with a well worked score, ably converted by hooker Cillian Jabocs.

The Ranelagh school received a boost moments later when Gonzaga’s captain and No 8 Paul Wilson was sent to the bin for a challenge as his opponent was in the air. 

Mary’s were unable to capitalise with the even numbers on the field and it was Mikey Wall with a lovely break from a hidden pass as he found a small gap and used his impressive speed to get free of the defence, a quick side step past the last man saw him cross the line and dot down for the fourth score for Gonzaga.

Mary’s still weren’t prepared to let the game go and their captain Andrew Sparrow powered over to score in the corner with a phenomenal conversion from Cillian Jacobs giving them a visible lift into half time.

Gonzaga dominated the opening exchanges of the second period but a penalty try was compounded by a sinbinning for Aaron O’Brien as the back was broken on the St. Mary’s challenge.

Three minutes later any hopes of a comeback were dashed when a great rolling maul from the leaders was finished by Gonzaga captain Paul Wilson to kill off the St. Mary’s chances. Full back Hugo McLaughlin added the extras for Gonzaga’s first successful conversion of the game.

An unnecessary yellow card for Gonzaga prop Adam McVerry gave another life line to Mary’s as they got back into attacking territory. Captain Sparrow found a gap and brought his side to the touchline setting up an opportunity for his No 8 Aaron O’Brien to force his way over the line. 

Three minutes later O’Brien would turn provider as his half-field burst straight through the Gonazaga defence would bring the opportunity for substitute scrum half Jack Halpin to pick and go from a couple of metres out to push through and bring his side within a single score of the leaders with a dozen minutes left on the clock.

Despite the return of McVerry to action for the last ten minutes Mary’s maintained their pressure and had a golden opportunity to complete a comeback but Gonzaga held them out with just a few minutes to go.