St. Mary’s U18.5s Crowned Leinster Youth Cup Champions

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Match Report

St. Mary’s College RFC U18.5 v De La Salle Palmerstown

Sunday, 2nd November 2025

After years of heartbreak and near misses, St. Mary’s U18.5s finally claimed their long-awaited Leinster Youth Cup, defeating a determined DLSP side 13–7 in a pulsating final. It was a victory built on grit, leadership, and a collective will forged through experience and resilience.

The tone was set early by captain Donnacha Alexander, whose leadership shone throughout the contest. Out-half Jack O’Donohoe opened the scoring with two composed penalties, giving Mary’s a 6–0 lead early in the first half. Sustained pressure from the forwards—driven by the powerful carries of Nathan Ruane and David Killeen, who repeatedly burst holes in the DLSP defence—eventually created the platform for Alexander to crash over for the game’s first try. O’Donohoe coolly slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 13–0 at half time.

Behind the pack, scrum-half Mikey Hennessy provided crisp and accurate service all day, ensuring the backline operated smoothly under pressure. In the midfield, Cormac Farrelly and Max Bottomley were immense—Cormac’s ferocious running and rock-solid tackling complemented perfectly by the silky skills and precision of vice-captain Max, who orchestrated attacks with intelligence and control. Out wide, Lucas Haughton showed lightning pace and remarkable strength to keep the opposition defence honest, while Patrick Maher on the opposite wing impressed with his quick thinking and high skill level in both attack and defence. Paddy was unfortunate to receive a yellow card late in the first half following a team accumulation of penalties, but his work rate and focus upon returning were exemplary.

Mary’s early dominance was underpinned by the tireless work of their forwards. Sam Gardner was immense, a constant presence in defence with a huge tackle count, while also dominating the lineout alongside James Wallace. The pair disrupted DLSP’s throws all afternoon, winning crucial turnovers that kept momentum in Mary’s favour. Daragh Saunders was a standout in attack, making countless metres after contact with his strong, determined running, constantly putting Mary’s on the front foot.

When injuries hit, adaptability was key—Josh Carroll unfortunately lasted just 30 seconds before being replaced by Euan Douglas, who produced a trademark performance full of hard-earned metres and relentless effort. Daniel Kirwan, showing his versatility, shifted from second row to hooker after Josh’s departure and delivered a masterclass in set-piece accuracy. His throw-ins kept the attacking lineout sharp, and his tenacity at defensive lineouts ensured he recovered ball after ball off the floor for Sam and Jame’s disruption of the DLSP lineouts.

From the bench, Tuguldur “Tuddy” Batchuluun and Victor Sancraian made a huge impact when introduced, carrying with power and intent to keep Mary’s on the front foot during the later stages. Midway through the second half, Cillian Stuart and Conor Keown came on to inject fresh energy—both bringing renewed enthusiasm and ferocious defensive effort that proved vital as Mary’s dug deep under sustained pressure.

A pivotal moment came in the second half when Darragh McPhillips produced a try-saving tackle after a DLSP intercept looked certain to result in a score. Incredibly, the referee controversially issued a yellow card for the effort, a decision that stunned both players and supporters alike. Despite being down a man, Mary’s rallied together and refused to let DLSP gain the upper hand.

In a second half dominated by DLSP pressure and discipline issues—Mary’s conceded an eye-watering 24 penalties—the blue and navy wall held firm. DLSP eventually crossed for a converted try, but it proved too little too late. Mary’s, driven by unrelenting desire and collective belief, refused to yield.

A special mention must go to Keelan, whose speed in bringing on the kicking tee throughout the game ensured Mary’s maintained their tempo and composure at crucial moments.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read St. Mary’s 13 – DLSP 7, and the roar that followed spoke of years of effort, heartbreak, and unity finally rewarded. It was a defensive masterclass, a captain’s performance from Donnacha Alexander, and a team victory that will live long in club memory.

After four finals, St. Mary’s U18.5s are finally Leinster Youth Cup Champions—a fitting end to an incredible journey.

St. Mary’s U18.5s Team:

  1. Nathan Ruane
  2. Joshua Carroll
  3. David Killeen
  4. Daniel Kirwan
  5. James Wallace
  6. Donnacha Alexander (C)
  7. Sam Gardner
  8. Daragh Saunders
  9. Mikey Hennessy
  10. Jack O’Donohoe
  11. Patrick Maher
  12. Cormac Farrelly
  13. Max Bottomley (VC)
  14. Lucas Haughton
  15. Darragh McPhillips

Replacements:
16. Alex Cummins
17. Tuguldur Batchuluun
18. Victor Sancraian
19. Euan Douglas
20. Cillian Stuart
21. Jack Clarke
22. Qi Maher
23. Conor Keown