Rockwell Back On Top In Senior Cup

Rockwell College claimed the SEAT Munster Schools Senior Cup for the 26th time on Tuesday after a hard-earned 23-13 win over Limerick school Ardscoil Rãs.

The game was played in front of a very large, extremely vocal crowd at a sunny Thomond Park with the Tipperary side proving too strong on the day.

Rockwell have now won three Senior Cups in the last seven years and are just two titles away from equalling the record of 28 wins held jointly by Cork schools CBC and PBC.

For Ardscoil, their wait for a first Senior Cup title continues as they fell at the final hurdle for the second year in a row after last year’s defeat to Crescent College Comprehensive.

Mikey Wilson and Bryan McLaughlin were the Rockwell try-scorers in Tuesday’s win with the reliable boot of Bill Johnston adding 13 points.Rockwell's Bryan McLaughlin is pulled down short of the line by the Ardscoil Rís defence

Ardscoil secured last-gasp wins in the quarter and semi-finals and it looked like they might pull off another Houdini act when Ian Brown touched down late on. Conor Fitzgerald’s conversion narrowed the gap to just three points but man-of-the-match McLaughlin sealed the deserved win for Rockwell with his side’s second try.

A very proud Mark Butler was full of praise for his Rockwell players at full-time. “These fellas made a lot of sacrifices to be here today,” said Butler. “A lot of early mornings and a lot of gym sessions so full credit to them, they got the reward that I think they deserve.

“They are a great bunch of lads with a lot of belief and we have good players in our side which you need to win a cup.

“There’s a different group of players for every final and I think they’re all special. I can tell you now that it means the world to everybody involved, we try to keep our feet on the ground here and remain humble but it is special.

“Rockwell is a multi-sport school but there’s over 150 years of rugby tradition in Rockwell. You walk through the main corridors and you see all the teams from years gone by, so we’re just the time-keepers of Rockwell rugby and hopefully we’re doing it justice.”

It was a day of real disappointment for Mossy Lawler’s side but the outgoing Ardscoil coach sees a bright future for the school.

“There are great building blocks there, eight of the lads are underage again for next year,” said Lawler, who leaves to concentrate on his recent appointment as Connacht’s Elite Player Development Officer. “The experience from last year as well puts the school in good stead just as long as someone comes in there to steady to ship."

Lawler continued: “In fairness to Rockwell, we knew going into the game that they are so clinical at everything they do. They didn’t make mistakes today and that’s why they are champions. Unfortunately, we just made too many unforced errors in the first half and we continued it in the second half. We tried to play great rugby but unfortunately those last passes didn’t stick,” he added.Ardscoil's Liam Brock claims the high ball

Butler could empathise with Lawler having experienced defeat in three of the six Senior Cup finals that he has led Rockwell to in the last seven years.

“We know what the other side of the spectrum is like,” said Butler. “We’ve also had three final losses and I have no doubt that they will be back next year. Full credit to Ardscoil, they asked a lot of questions of us at times. I thought some cup final nerves might be kicking in and when they moved the ball into the wider channels I thought we looked a bit exposed but we’re just glad to get away with the win,” Butler added.

Thomond Park has hosted eight schools cup games this season with both the Senior and Junior Cup finals taking place there.

The stadium proved a fitting venue for the Senior Cup showpiece and Butler was delighted his side had the opportunity to play at the famous ground.

“Full credit to Munster Rugby,” said Butler. “We got to play here in a semi-final and a final, other schools played here in their quarter-finals and long may it continue. To play at Thomond Park with the tradition and the history involved is very special and we’re just glad to be able to get a run-out here.”