St. Mary’s College came from behind to seal their place in the final four of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup after a 17-9 victory over Kilkenny College.

Tries from Fionn King and Aaron O’Brien as well as seven points from Conor Treacy was enough to mount the second half comeback for Kieran Maloney’s side.

It was a low scoring but extremely entertaining first half of rugby at Energia Park. The battle between two of Leinster’s most highly rated schoolboys out halves did not disappoint with Sean Naughton and Daragh Gilbourne seeing plenty of action from the off.

It was Pieter Swanepoel’s side that started the brighter, with Mark Stanley and Sam Dudley making big carries for Kilkenny early on. It took almost 15 minutes for the first score of the game when Sean Naughton put his penalty kick directly between the posts for his side.

Mary’s showed glimpses of their ability with No.8 Louis McGauran and prop Andrew Sparrow making some big carries for the Boys in Blue.

It was McGauran who looked like he had scored the first try of the game but after his driving carry from close range, a resilient Kilkenny defence held the ball up.

Kilkenny dominated possession after this, and Sean Naughton added his second penalty of the game midway through the half to give his side a 6-0 lead at half time

St.Mary’s started the second half at a ferocious pace and their efforts almost were rewarded when Mark McHugh dived over the line from close range. Sadly, for Kieran Maloney’s side, Kilkenny held the ball up again and kept their six point lead.

After Daragh Gilbourne missed a kick from very close range, he passed place kicking duties to replacement scrum half Conor Treacy. Treacy added his side’s first points of the game just after the 50-minute mark to make it a three-point game.

The Rathmines school continued to press and cause Kilkenny trouble and when Peter O’Beirne intercepted a wayward pass from the Kilkenny attack, his run brought his team inside the opposition 22 metre line.

 Mary’s recycled the ball well and after phases of pressure, Fionn King crossed for the first try of the game just before the hour mark. Treacy followed up with the conversion to give them a four-point lead heading into the final twelve minutes.

Lucca Jennings was sin-binned for St. Mary’s just minutes after being introduced which gave Sean Naughton an easy three pointer. The Kilkenny out half scored the penalty and made it a one-point game with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Kilkenny struggled to regain possession after the penalty and it was Mary’s who had the final say with an Aaron O’Brien try followed by a fantastic conversion from Conor Treacy. Gonzaga College awaits St. Mary’s in the semi-final.