A last-play try by Blackrock’s Cian McCarron, converted by Luke Coffey, denied St Mary’s a first title since 2002 and sent the leinster schools senior cup final to a replay after a 24-24 draw at Tallaght Stadium.
Replay Looms After Dramatic Finish
In front of 8, 736 spectators, the decider lived up to its billing with a tense, back-and-forth battle capped by Blackrock’s late surge. Blackrock began on the front foot, with Coffey opening the scoring from 35 metres out with an early penalty. St Mary’s wrestled themselves into a winning position, only for McCarron’s last-play try and Coffey’s conversion to square it up at the death.
The draw means the leinster schools senior cup will be settled in a replay, extending a final that always promised a razor-thin margin. Tallaght Stadium, hosting the final for the second consecutive year, provided a fitting stage for a finish that matched the rivalry’s history.
What The Draw Means For The Leinster Schools Senior Cup
The stalemate preserves Blackrock’s push to add to their record haul, with a potential tally of 73 final wins still in play. They entered this year’s showpiece on a run of five consecutive finals and were chasing a first three-in-a-row since 1964. Their capacity to score freely — 126 points in their three games before the final — underpinned the late comeback that forced another meeting.
For St Mary’s, the replay extends a breakthrough campaign. This was their first final appearance since 2008, with their previous title coming six years before that. The progression reflects a side built on strong defence and set-piece physicality, a platform that again kept them in the contest deep into the closing minutes.
The kicking duel highlighted before the match featured prominently, with Irish Schools halfbacks Luke Coffey for Blackrock and Paul Neary for St Mary’s central to territory and pressure. Coffey’s accuracy early and in the clutch proved decisive in salvaging the draw, while Neary’s game management kept St Mary’s poised to end their wait until the last act.
Historic Pairing Delivered A Tight Finish
This was the first time Blackrock and St Mary’s had met in the final in 49 years, a long-awaited renewal that echoed their storied past. Decades ago, the contest required extra time and finished amid late drama; this edition again went down to the wire.
Beyond the senior stage, St Mary’s junior side recently defeated Blackrock in their semi-final, keeping alive the possibility of a first schools double for the Rathmines outfit if the seniors can complete the job in the replay. For Blackrock, the extended finale offers another chance to convert their sustained form into the championship outcome they have targeted all season.
With the replay now on the horizon, both camps will have little appetite to change much. The margins were thin, the set-piece contest was pivotal, and the halfbacks’ boots were decisive. One more crack will settle a final worthy of its long-awaited billing.
