Charles Foley bagged a late try to ensure St Michael's advanced to the semi finals of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup despite a late spirited comeback from Clongowes Wood College.

Foley would prove the match winner, despite having a 20-0 lead Daniel Baugh and James Wyse hit tries for Clongowes to make it a ten point game, and Foley's try served as the winner despite Conor Lysaght getting over in added time.

Michaels built on their 8-0 half time lead as David Lucey got over for a try and Jules Fenelon added a penalty, a strong second half was boosted by a strong start with James Sherwin and Larry Kirkham getting over for tries, they meet Blackrock College in the Semi Final.

It was a strong start for Clongowes, they won a penalty and opted for touch to build yards, their lineout and maul was solid and pushed Michael’s back, Tom Murtagh pisces and went from the back of the rolling maul but was hauled to the ground and a terrific turnover by Tom Stewart saw Michael’s win a penalty.

Michael’s started to get ball in hand and press Clongowes back into their own half, phases of strong play followed and it looked like Stewart had gotten offer but the referee was in the way and play was brought back, Michael’s would get their try reight minutes in as David Lucey got over, possible he may have been held up but the referee awarded the try, Jules Fenelon missed the conversion but an early lead for their team nonetheless. 

Clongwoes looked to come back and a strong move by Blayze Molloy saw them run through the Michael’s backline, Molloy carried well and they had support runners having offloaded it was gobbled up by a Michael’s man instead and the danger was cleared.

Fenelon had the chance to further extend his side's lead with a penalty after 17 minutes, opting to strike a penalty from outside the Clongowes 10m line, but the centre saw his kick pull to the left and wide, as the five point margin remained the same.

Dermot Collins sent another warning sign to Michael’s after a strong drive from a lineout saw him gain ground, his offload was slightly behind his centre Callum McDonald and that little error allowed the defence pressure of Michael’s to once again turnover possession.

Larry Kirkham almost snuck down the right wing as Michael’s had spent time on the defensive side of things, he gathered wide after Lucey was in space but this time roles reversed and Clongowes turned over possession emotions shown by the players of how important that was.

Fenlon would get a successful attempt at the posts in the opening half, having been awarded a penalty in front of the posts, the centre this time nailed the strike, his first from three and with that Michael’s ahead 8-0 at the break.

Straight from the restart Michael’s had the ideal start to the second half, they chased the restart and as Harry Mallon went to clear the danger, James Sherwin blocked the kick attempt and raced over for the second try of the contest, Fenelon converted and a 15-0 lead had them looking strong to start the second half.

A dream start to the second half fro St Michael’s continued as on the 42nd minute Kirkham dove over in the corner for their third try, another fast move and Fenelon was the architect behind the pass as he hit a scorcher out wide for his winger to carry and he used his pace to get over, but Oscar O’Brien pulled up as he attempted to tackle and was forced off, Fenelon missed the conversion but the lead was now twenty points.

Clongowes were always in the tie, despite the scoreline they had attacked well but just lacked the final touch, in the 55th minute they got their opening score, space out wide for Daniel Baugh to dive over for their opening try, fast hands moving out wide to carve Michael’s who had been defending so well open to reduce the deficit to 15 as the conversion dragged left,

Momentum was with Clongowes as they were putting serious pressure to test the bottle of St Michael’s, James Wyse won a penalty for Clongowes and they moved behind enemy lines in search of a second try, they huffed and puffed and more penalties to touch saw them shy of the line, their forward tasked with carrying over, short and short and short again were the calls from the referee as they were desperately close but in the end Wyse managed to touch down for the score, Tom Murtagh saw his kick come off the left hand upright as the lead was back to ten.

But despite pressing so well late on it would not be their day, substitute Charles Foley finding space on the right wing he had time and the pace to drive over for their fourth and final score, the try that would put the game beyond all doubt.