Welcome to the live minute by minute report of the Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter final between Clongowes Wood College and Castleknock College at Donnybrook. Feel free to get involved by leaving comments on the blog or tweeting us at @setantasports or @tomfoxy.
FULL TIME: CLONGOWES 34 - 8 CASTLEKNOCK
That is that. Castleknock came to have a real crack and caused Clongowes problems in the first half. Their aggressive defence rattled the champions, who couldn't get into their rhythm. The Kildare side kept their composure however and ran out comfortable winners in the end, scoring some sublime tries in the process. A real feature of this Clongowes team is the impressive inter-linking between backs and forwards with the Byrne twins in the front row leading the charge. They will be very tough to beat on this form...
4.27 TRY CASTLEKNOCK! They deserved a try and what a try it was. Dublin minor footballer Eoghan Quinn finishes off an excellent move in style by beating two Clongowes defenders on the outside. Conversion missed.
4.22 Changes for both sides now as Clongowes look ahead to the semi final. A couple of minutes left here and Castleknock finishing strongly, to their credit.
4.20 Conversion missed on this occasion.
CLONGOWES 34 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
4.17 TRY CLONGOWES! Just over five minutes to go in Donnybrook and Clongowes come again. Castleknock are clearly tired now and the champions take advantage of an overlap in the left corner, following a high tempo attack. Left winger Niall Rhatigan finishes superbly.
4.16 Conversion is missed by the man who scored it.
CLONGOWES 29 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
4.14 TRY CLONGOWES! It was coming, to be fair. Clongowes go wide from the five metre scrum, getting the ball to right winger Conor Mahony who finishes impressively in the corner, beating two men on the way.
4.13 Some good pressure from the Kildare side again who force a five metre scrum. Trouble here for Castleknock..
4.10 Wow. Almost a stunning try from Clongowes who are firmly in the groove now. Captain Edward Byrne takes the ball in midfield at full pelt, bounces off two players before off loading sublimely. What a player this guy is. Some excellent handling almost leads to another try but Castleknock hold out.
4.09 The funny thing is that Castleknock have actually been quite good today, playing with plenty of aggression and ambition. Clongowes have been ruthless in the red zone again however and are worth their twenty one point lead..
4.07 You can't help but be deeply impressed by this Clongowes front row. They have been awesome again, both in the tight and the loose.
4.05 Conversion is good.
CLONGOWES 24 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
4.01 TRY CLONGOWES! Clongowes attack the midfield channel from the lineout and Bryan Byrne is again instumental. The hooker makes a nice break from an excellent inside ball from McQuaid and finds an offload to the oncoming openside Stephen Kealan.
4.03 The Clane side go to the corner and the backs will be lucky to see the ball here!
4.01 The Clongowes scrum half Conor McQuaid has again looked impressive today with the busy number nine instigating another break for his side. Penalty to Clongowes for not releasing..
3.58 It has just gone a little scrappy as both sides have spilled the ball on a couple of occasions in the last few minutes. It is curtains for Castleknock unless they score next, and soon..
3.56 The work of Clongowes at the breakdown has again been outstanding today. Prop and captain Edward Byrne poaches the ball at ruck time brilliantly following a decent Castleknock break. Possession to Clongowes in midfield.
3.53 Some nice back play there from the Dublin side, who put the ball through the hands nicely before an unlucky knock on from full back Eoghan Quinn ends the move. Looks a very big ask from Castleknock from here, you would have to say though..
3.51 Again a decent start to the half from Castleknock who force a penalty in kickable position. Darragh Henry misses short and left. Scores remain the same.
3.48 Funny old half, that. Castleknock came flying out of the blocks and clearly rattled Clongowes. The Kildare side kept their composure however and scored a couple of quality tries, following plenty of pressure. We are off again and I will try and keep the spelling miskates to minimum!
3.34 Penalty attempt for Clongowes is good and that marks HALF TIME.
CLONGOWES 17 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
3.43 Period of sustained pressure from Castleknock, without ever looking like scoring. The Clane side eventually turn over, kicking the ball down field and forcing Castleknock into conceeding a penalty. In front of the posts too.
3.39 Five metre scrum to Castleknock as they look to exert some pressure at the end of the half.
3.37 Lengthy enough break there from the injury to Fromm as he is helped into ambulance. Let's hope is ok. Looked like concussion. Back under way.
3.33 There was a nasty injury to the palyer who made the break, Sebastien Fromm, in that play. It looked like he landed awkwardly after being tackled but either way, was groggy afterwards and has been taken off.
3.31 Conversion again is made by Conor Mahony
CLONGOWES 14 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
3.30 TRY CLONGOWES! When it rains, it pours. That is a sublime try from the Kildare school. Backs and forwards interlink in their own half before inside centre Sebastien Fromm makes a stunning break up the centre. Fromm offloads at the perfect time to the supporting Max McFarland with the full back gliding in under the posts.. Quality.
3.29 Conversion is good.
CLONGOWES 7 -3 CASTLEKNOCK
3.27 TRY CLONGOWES! The pressure eventually tells and Clongowes force their way over the line. They choose this time to keep it in the pack and outstanding hooker Bryan Byrne powers over from 10 yards.
3.24 Although Clongowes have been far from their best, they are still on top and will be disappointed to be trailing with just over ten minutes to half time. Castlknock have been hugely aggressive in defence thus far..
3.21 Castlekock stray offside from a kick which results ina penalty in very kickable position for Clongowes. Mahony just misses again. Unlucky.
CLONGOWES 0 - 3 CASTLEKNOCK
3.20 Huge maul by Clongowes who drive about 30 yards into opposition territory but again fail to find hands as they go wide. Just not happening yet for the Clane side.
3.18 This is sloppy stuff from Clongowes who are still struggling to find their rhythm. They have made more handling errors so far in this game than they did in the whole game against Belvo. It is probably as a result of the aggressive defence from Castleknock though, to be fair.
3.15 Line out to Clongowes deep in Castleknock territory and you feel something is coming here. Just when it looks like Clongowes are in their groove, the Dublin side again steal the ball at the breakdown and earn a penalty.
3.13 Penalty missed by Clongowes. Scores remain the same. Some pressure coming from the Clane side now though..
3.12 Penalty to Clongowes as Castlekock fail to release the ball at the breakdown. It's on the ten metre line but Mahony is going to have a crack..
3.11 Castlekock are playing with real hunger here and turn the ball over again. Clongowes look a little caught off guard just at the moment..
3.10 Attempt at goal is missed however by Conor Mahony. Still Clongowes 0 - 3 Castleknock.
3.08 That's a worry for Castleknock. Massive scrum from Clongowes who push Castleknock off their own ball and then force a penalty in midfield after some decent carrying by the pack. Shot at the posts coming..
3.06 Shaky start from the champions here who squander a quality attacking platform by not throwing the ball in straight to the lineout..
3.04 Penalty attempt is successful and Castleknock go into the lead.
Clongowes 0 - 3 Castleknock
3.02 Castlekock are up for this one. They put in some great hits in defence, force the turn over and make a stunning break towards the Clongowes line though winger Michael Mellett. They get held up just short but come back for a penalty. They are having a pop at goal..
3.00 Clongowes get us underway in Donnybrook..
2.58 Perfect conditions for rugby today. Lets hope for some decent rugby from both sides. Clongowes hot favourites but Castleknock have nothing to lose..
2.56 Teams make their way onto the pitch. Castleknock team name the same side with Dublin minor footballer Eoghan Quinn at full back.
2.55 Clongowes have the same side today which disposed of Belvo so mercilessly in the opening round. All eyes will be on on their hugely talented front row and flying winger Niall Rhatigan..
2.45 Kick off is at 3pm here in the first of the quarter finals. The bookies make Clongowes 18 point favourites and they certainly looked the part against Belvo in the opening round. But this Castleknock team put Marys to the sword in the first round so should be a decent outfit..