A look back to March where Laois’s latest rugby prospect, Jack Deegan took centre-stage in the Leinster Junior Cup.
A young Laois rugby player landed a brilliant last-minute penalty as Cistercian College Roscrea knocked out Clongowes in a thrilling Leinster Junior Cup quarter-final in Donnybrook this afternoon.
Jack Deegan, who is from Kellyville and plays football with St Joseph’s, kicked a penalty from almost 40 metres with what was the last action of the game to send Roscrea through to the last four.
Deegan kicked 11 points in all, three penalties and a conversion as Roscrea beat the Kildare school, 21-20.
They now go forward to play St Fintan’s of Sutton in the semi-final. St Michael’s and Blackrock are on the other side of the draw.
Deegan was one of a number of local players involved.
Evan Brophy from Portlaoise and Henry Maher from Portarlington packed down alongside each other in the front row Alex Kinsella-Garcia from near Athy was in the backrow where Lee Fitzpatrick from Portarlington was No 8.
Kinsella-Garcia was forced off injured after just five minutes and was replaced by James Miller from Monasterevin.
Roscrea had earlier beaten defending champions Newbridge in the opening round of the competition.
Tries from Fionn Higgins and Joe Finn as well as eight points from the boot of Deegan had Roscrea 18-15 up at the break after a high-quality opening half.
The second half swung both ways but the first score didn’t arrive until injury time when Clongowes went over for a try from winger Marcus Sullivan.
That put them two up but Roscrea battled on, got one last chance and Deegan brilliant held his nerve to fire over the winning score.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our 2022 Remembered stories here
