Latest news with #Prendergast
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Wicklow account for the Desie to top Taliteann group
Wicklow claimed top spot in Group 2 of the Tailteann Cup following a shaky victory over Waterford at Chadwick's Wexford Park. Nine points down at one stage in the first half, the Garden County rallied back to ease out comfortable winners. Joe Prendergast opened the scoring, cutting inside and popping over in the first minute. Mark Jackson then extended Wicklow's lead. Jason Curry retaliated from a free for Waterford's first score seven minutes in. Mark Kenny continued Wicklow's fast start as he worked the ball around the 'D' to Prendergast, who found a sweet point off his left. With the breeze at his back, Waterford keeper Aaron Beresford was comfortably finding the far 65 with his kick-outs, which proved costly for Wicklow. For the remainder of the half, the speed at which the Déise could transition cost Oisín McConville's men. Jason Curry split the posts again to begin the trend of Ciaran Walsh winning frees inside. Waterford were at this point on top of their own kickout, but Wicklow's as well, and they managed a two-pointer from James Walsh from the next play. Cathal Baker danced inside the Waterford cover and tapped over a point, but from here it was one-way traffic. Jason Curry again profited from a free won by Ciaran Walsh. The double act contributed another Curry free minutes later. Conor Murray then scored an audacious two-pointer on the run before Waterford's Stephen Curry nearly scored a three-pointer, only for Malachy Stone to stop his goal-bound strike, which may have put the game out of Wicklow's reach. Curry pointed the resulting '45, Stephen Curry then added to Waterford's lead from the resulting Kickout. Mark Jackson then hit back with a two-point free after a barnstorming Healy run. Jason Curry cancelled this out in the next play as he kicked three two-pointers in a row. Podge O'Toole stopped the rot off his left with a point before half time to put nine between them. A big finish needed, Kenny found a point and Eoin Darcy a massive goal as he beat Beresford from 13 metres out to leave five in it at the break. To restart the scoring, Darragh Fee and Kenny landed points. Jason Curry continued his exhibition and landed two frees to cancel this out, but a breakaway Prendergast point kept up the Wicklow start. Mark Kenny then, on the loop, added another, Tom Moran got in behind the back of the Waterford defence for his first, and Eoin Darcy turned over his shoulder to score again. Jackson then landed a two-pointer to put Wicklow in front. Up the other end, Jason Curry levelled proceedings, but from here Wicklow were dominant. Dean Healy converted a super two-pointer. Oisin McGraynor then did really well with a high ball inside and went around Tommy Martin, only to see his shot saved. The rebound came to Prendergast, who tapped home for a vital goal. Eoin Darcy then fisted a point and McGraynor added a free from the resulting kickout. Dean Healy, who was growing into the game with every second, added another two-pointer, while McGraynor bettered him with an audacious orange flag raiser. The same man converted from a much simpler free moments later. Waterford, now struggling for possession, found a settler in Donie Fitzgerlad and a further Curry free, but struggled from here. Wicklow now easing home added a point from Kenny, two McGraynor frees and a well-worked Dean Healy goal. Conor Fee polished off a shaky performance as Wicklow left Wexford atop of their section. Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-05, 1f, 2 tpf); Tom Moran (0-01), Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (1-03), Patrick O'Keane, Darragh Fee (0-01); Dean Healy (1-04, 2 tp), Padraig O'Toole (0-01); Christopher O'Brien, Eoin Darcy (1-02), Cathal Baker (0-01); Oisin McGraynor (0-06, 3f, 1 tp), Craig Maguire, Mark Kenny (0-04). Subs: Jack Kirwan for C O'Brien (58), Andy Maher for Joe Prendergast (62), Conor Fee for Mark Kenny (70), Ryan Harrison for Eoin Darcy (72), Liam O'Neill for Cathal Baker (74). Furlong; Michael O'Brien, Conor Murray (0-02, 1 tp), Jason Curry (0-15, 8f, 1, 45, 3 tpf, ); Stephen Curry (0-1), Ciaran Walsh, James Walsh (0-2, 1 tp). Subs: Alan Dunwoody for Michael O'Brien (53), Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil for Adam Crawford (56), Ciaran Looney for James Wash (68), Loughlan Walsh for Tholom Guiry (68), Darragh Jacob for Donie Fitzgerald (68).
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Leinster take their time to see off Scarlets in scrappy quarter-final
Leinster 33 Scarlets 21 AS KICK-OFF APPROACHED at Aviva Stadium this URC quarter-final was struggling to generate a big-match feel. By the time full time arrived, Leinster were simply happy to have come through what threatened to become an uncomfortable afternoon. Leinster are back in the URC semi-finals thanks to a four-try win – the Leinster tries coming from James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan – but Scarlets had their say in this strange, often scrappy last eight clash. The streets surrounding the Aviva Stadium were unusually quiet in the hours before kick-off and in the early stages the contest itself almost had a pre-season feel to it. The official attendance was 12,879 – not a shockingly low number, but certainly one that got lost inside an almost 52,000 capacity stadium. The reasons were multiple – a Bank Holiday weekend, a limited DART service, the widely-held expectation that this would be plain sailing for Leinster. None of which really matters, the bottom line being Leinster booked their passage into next weekend's semi-finals and can look forward to a home clash with Glasgow Warriors. Initially, this game had looked to be heading toward a comprehensive Leinster win. The opening 10 minutes was all Leinster, and in that time they struck for two tries from Lowe and Gibson-Park. Lowe's try, four minutes in, was sharp and accurate and sourced in the winger's booming kick into the Scarlets half. Leinster built territory and Sam Prendergast swung a sweet pass out the back before Keenan and Ryan Baird added touches, surviving a couple of Scarlets' half-blocks, with Lowe going over in an acre of space in the corner. Prendergast's first shot at the posts sailed well wide. Gibson-Park added the second in the ninth minute, benefitting from Jack Conan's linebreak off a short Lowe pass. This time Prendergast tapped over the extra two from close range. It looked ominous for the Scarlets, but the Welsh side held their nerve. Leinster continued to enjoy most of the possession but a cutting edge was missing. After that strong start the province added just one Prendergast penalty across the next 30 minutes. Instead of kicking on, elements of their play broke down – overthrowing a lineout in the Scarlets 22, Prendergast failing to find touch with a free kick. Scarlets were spirited and scrappy and capitalised on the few opportunities that landed in their hands. The first, 20 minutes in, saw the visitors take full advantage of their first meaningful attack – using a lineout to sweep to the left and score through Tom Rogers, the winger released by Sam Costelow's excellent hands. Costelow stepped up to add the conversion as Leinster rued some questionable defending. Their second try arrived on the stroke of half-time, Leinster getting turned from one tryline to the other. Leinster were pumping at the Scarlets line and their third try looked inevitable. Then it all crumbled – Gibson-Park's pass hitting Prendergast but spilling from the out-half's hands. Ellis Mee snapped onto the loose ball and got his boot to it before Osborne could smother the fire. Mee's second kick pushed the ball infront of fullback Blair Murray, who had Jordie Barrett biting at his heels. Murray's two short kicks kept the ball in his control as he arched away from the All Blacks to dive on the ball and score. Advertisement Scarlets' Blair Murray and Leinster's Jordie Barrett chase the ball. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO After a quick TMO check, the grounding was deemed good and Costelow's conversion made it a one-point game at half-time. The teams retreated as the heavens opened, soaking a crowd fully contained within the lower tiers of the ground. The downpour ended as the second half got off a to slow, cagey start. Five minutes in, Prendergast cut Scarlets open by sending a smart chip over the top for Osborne to score, despite a somewhat unconvincing TMO check. Prendergast's conversion moved Leinster eight clear. Scarlets had a chance to hit back immediately – Leinster going off feet, Costelow smacking his shot wide to the right. Leinster kept prodding. Dan Sheehan, sprung from the bench, went rampaging down the wing off a short lineout. After Sheehan bounced a defender Leinster moved the ball right to left, with Osborne sending Lowe hunting in the corner. Lowe was swallowed up by Scarlets but a penalty followed as front-rower Alec Hepburn saw yellow. Leinster went again but the attack broke down as the ball was knocked-on. Jimmy O'Brien is tackled by Sam Costelow. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The pressure was building and moments later Leinster had their fourth, with Sheehan again the catalyst. His charge and block on Archie Hughes put Leinster back on the offensive, with RG Snyman grinding out some extra yards before Prendergast and Barrett combined to send Keenan racing through. Prendergast should have scored the conversion, but for the first time in a long time, Leinster were looking comfortable again, 13 up heading into the final quarter. Both coaches turned to their benches as Prendergast added another penalty. Entering the final 10, Scarlets sparked back into life – Ioan Llyod producing a nice delayed pass, with Vaea Fifita and Marnus van der Merwe using clever hands before Johnny Williams crossed, with Lloyd converting to leave his team chasing a nine-point game. The Scarlets still had hope, but were damaged by the loss of Fifita moments later – the backrower yellow-carded following high contact on Keenan. Prendergast kicked the penalty and Leinster had the finish line in sight. Leinster scorers: Tries: Lowe, Gibson-Park, Osborne, Keenan. Penalties: Prendergast [3/3] Conversion: Prendergasts [2/4] Scarlets scorers: Tries: Rogers, Murray, Williams Penalty: Costelow [0/1] Conversions: Costelow [2/2], Lloyd [1/1]. LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan (Ciarán Frawley, 74) Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park (Luke McGrath, 66); Andrew Porter (Jack Boyle, 66), Rónan Kelleher (Dan Sheehan, 47), Thomas Clarkson (Rabah Slimani, 58); Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (RG Snyman, 47); Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier (Scott Penny, 29), Jack Conan (capt) (Max Deegan, 67). SCARLETS: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers (Macs Page, 64), Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow (Ioan Lloyd, 58), Archie Hughes (Efan Jones, 74); Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias (Marnus van der Merwe, 51), Henry Thomas (Sam Wainwright, 64); Alex Craig (Kemsley Mathias, 57), Sam Lousi; Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt) (Dan Davis, 74), Taine Plumtree. Yellow cards: Alec Hepburn 55, Fifita 73 Attendance: 12,879 Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Leinster fail to impress in overcoming Scarlets and booking URC semi-final slot
URC: Leinster 33 Scarlets 21 If playoff rugby is all about winning, then this URC quarter-final stands as a case of job done for Leinster. The other take is that all does not feel right in the province and the struggle in keeping Scarlets at bay on Saturday afternoon only backs that up. It's not that Leinster weren't the better team. They were, but they could be thankful for the 13 points they mined during the 20 minutes when the opposition was down to 14 men, and to a debatable try just after the interval. They really should be better than this. Leo Cullen's side meet Glasgow Warriors here again next Saturday in the last four. Their record against the Scots is excellent but the score was just 13-5 when the pair met in Dublin earlier this month and this is a Leinster side that just isn't convincing right now. It may be that the Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton Saints in Ballsbridge sucked too much of the marrow from their bones. It certainly seems to have left them with something of a hangover. Whatever it is, they need a cure. Leinster looked like they would put this one to bed nice and early and let everyone get on with the rest of their Bank Holiday. Two tries inside ten minutes, the first for James Lowe and another from Jamison Gibson-Park, seemed to bode ill for the contest. There wasn't much to spell danger, or even concern, at that point. There were a couple of overthrown lineouts and Josh van der Flier was starting to feel his right thigh – before coming off on the half-hour – but then an actual game broke out. Scarlets hadn't seen the other side of Leinster's 22-metre line until the second quarter kicked in. Then they went and scored with their first visit, Sam Costelow throwing an overarm pass for Tom Rogers who cut inside two weak tackles to touch down. Now it was 12-7. The next 20 minutes was a mish-mash of some good and some bad, some Scarlets half-breaks and some Leinster huffing and puffing, but the only addition to the scoreboard was a Sam Prendergast penalty from near the halfway line. Even the act of taking that pop at goal spoke volumes for the type of game that had unfolded, but Leinster looked like pushing out that eight-point lead right on the interval when they surged strongly to within touching distance of the try line. And then, calamity. All Prendergast had to do was catch Gibson-Park's pass from the base of the ruck and feed it wide. He dropped it. Three hoofs later and Blair Murray was touching down on the far side of the field and Costelow had added the extra two points. That left it 15-14 at the break and a crowd of 12,879 – a few hundred of them decked in red – wondering if they were about to witness another failure of barely believable proportions by a club that has 12 players touring this summer with the British and Irish Lions. Prendergast made amends on the restart, his chip kick from off the base of a scrum falling perfectly for Jamie Osborne to follow it in under the posts, but it was a controversial score, the referee and TMO deciding the Naas man had enough contact and control on the ball. Scarlets had reason to be miffed at that. There were no floodgates being opened on the back of it. It took another 14 minutes for Hugo Keenan to claim the fourth try, this one coming after Alex Hepburn had been shown a yellow card moments before. A terrible conversion attempt from Prendergast left less than two converted tries between the sides but the out-half generated a bit more wiggle room with a 66th-minute penalty that left it 30-14. And they would need it. Scarlets weren't long back to 15 men when Johnny Williams went over for the visitors' third try of the day and the conversion left just seven points in it before Vaea Fifita went to the bin and a third Prendergast penalty returned the margin to ten. No kicking for the corner here. Leinster: H Keenan; J O'Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson; J McCarthy, J Ryan; R Baird, J van der Flier, J Conan. Replacements: S Penny for van der Flier (29); D Sheehan for Kelleher and RG Snyman for Ryan (both 46); R Slimani for Clarkson (58); L McGrath for Gibson-Park and J Boyle for Porter (both 66); M Deegan for Conan (68) and Snyman (74); C Frawley for Keenan (75). Scarlets: B Murray; T Rogers, J Roberts, J Williams, E Mee; S Costelow, A Hughes; A Hepburn, R Elias, H Thomas; A Craig, S Lousi; V Fifita, J Macleod, T Plumtree. Replacements: M van der Merwe for Elias (51); K Mathias for Craig (58); I Lloyd for Costelow (59); M Page for Rogers and S Wainwright for Thomas (both 65); J Taylor for Hepburn (67); D Davis for Macleod and E Jones for Hughes (both 75). Referee: H Davidson (SRU).
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Scarlets' season ended by Leinster despite valiant performance
The Scarlets were knocked out of the United Rugby Championship play-offs after a valiant 33-21 defeat to top seeds Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. First-half tries from Tom Rogers and Blair Murray saw Dwayne Peel's side trail by just a point at the break. However, the pressure told in the second-half as the league leaders pushed ahead - even if Johnny Williams' late score did briefly threaten a comeback. Having reached the play-offs after finishing eighth in the league, the Scarlets were given a tough trip to Dublin to start the play-offs. And, while they'll be disappointed with how it unfolded - particularly the second-half which saw their discipline falter as they lost two players to yellow cards - they'll be able to reflect on an 80 minutes where they rattled Leinster and a season where they made big strides forward. The Scarlets hadn't graced the play-offs since 2018, when they actually reached the Pro14 final as defending champions - only to lose to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. A similar result was heavily tipped, with Leinster the 1/50 favourites with some bookmakers. And, when Ireland winger James Lowe crossed for the opening try after some relentless pressure four minutes in, it looked like being a long afternoon in Dublin for the Scarlets. Five minutes later, the Irish province had their second score. Ireland No. 8 Jack Conan was put through a gap, with the Lion putting Jamison Gibson-Park over. The Scarlets had to wait until the end of the first quarter for their first opportunity, but when it came, they took it well. From an attacking lineout, a couple of quick phases shortened up the Leinster defence, before quick hands from Joe Roberts and Sam Costelow put Rogers in a bit of space. With the home side scrambling, the Wales wing cut back against the grain to reach over for their opening points of the game. The boot of Sam Prendergast pushed Leinster further ahead, before the home side looked destined to end the half with a third try. However, after Prendergast failed to hold onto a fizzing pass with the Scarlets' line in sight, Ellis Mee hacked forward the loose ball before elusive full-back Murray followed up with delicate footballing skills to nudge his way to a superb length-of-the-field try. That score meant the Scarlets went into half-time just a point behind. However, Leinster once again started the half of rugby strongly - with Jamie Osborne latching onto Prendergast's chip to score six minutes after the restart, even if the grounding looked a little dubious. The Scarlets stayed in the fight - although a yellow card to prop Alec Hepburn proved crucial. Down to 14 men, they quickly conceded a fourth try as Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan crossed following a charge-down on scrum-half Archie Hughes. To their credit, even as they continued to get on the wrong side of referee Hollie Davidson, the Scarlets threw everything at the league's top seeds. Some lovely offloading put recently-recalled Wales centre Williams over, as the west Walians threatened a comeback heading into the final 10 minutes. However, a high tackle by Vaea Fifita on Keenan saw the back-row sent to the sin-bin, with the boot of Prendergast ensuring that the Scarlets' play-off hopes were ended at the first hurdle. Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt). Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciaran Frawley. Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree. Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page. Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU) Live updates below:
RTÉ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leinster hold off dogged Glasgow in edgy victory
Leinster signed off their regular season campaign in the BKT United Rugby Championship with a sixteenth win from 18 games, although they were made to work by a dogged Glasgow Warriors side at Aviva Stadium. Leo Cullen's side ground out a 13-5 win against the defending champions and will now face Scarlets in the quarter-final in two weeks time, while they may well cross paths with the Warriors again next month, with the teams on track to face each other in a potential semi-final. Jimmy O'Brien scored Leinster's only try, with Sam Prendergast adding a penalty in the second half to nudge the province into a 10-0 lead, and although George Horne's brilliant try got Glasgow back within reach in the final quarter, a late penalty from Ciarán Frawley gave the home side a two-score buffer from which they saw the game out. While Glasgow leave the game without a point and dropped to the fourth seed, it was a tie they will take plenty from, particularly after losing 52-0 to Leinster in the Champions Cup just last month. Franco Smith's side also welcomed back Sione Tuipulotu from a five-month layoff, and the soon-to-be British and Irish Lion got through 40 minutes of work, impressing in an even first half. A few minutes after seeing his try disallowed, Jimmy O'Brien gets in for the first score of the game off a lovely first phase move. #LEIvGLA 🏉 Latest: 📺 Watch live: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 17, 2025 Glasgow will face the Stormers at Scotstoun in a repeat of their quarter-final from last year, with a 7.35pm kick-off on Friday, 30 May, with Leinster welcoming Scarlets to the Aviva the following afternoon for a 3pm start. Despite the Scots starting strongly, out-half Adam Hastings flicked a penalty wide off a post before Leinster began to put phases together. O'Brien had a try ruled out for a Prendergast kick not coming from the penalty mark. However, a questionable knock-on call against Hastings had the Warriors under further pressure. The Leinster win duly scored in the left corner, released by a deftly-executed loop play between Jordie Barrett and Prendergast. The latter added the conversion from the left touchline. Glasgow are back in it after a George Horne try, aided by some lovely footwork from Sebastian Cancelliere. #LEIvGLA 🏉 Latest: 📺 Watch live: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 17, 2025 After a long-range penalty miss from Prendergast, Tuipulotu threatened when regathering his own chip and kicking ahead again. Jamie Osborne got away with a push to beat him to the ball. Tuipulotu's removal at half time looked a precautionary move, and Leinster seized control on the restart. Tommy O'Brien was prominent before Prendergast went agonisingly close to touching down out wide. Leinster's superior scrum set up their fly-half to make it 10-0, only for Glasgow to hit back impressively. Kyle Rowe's pacy break and kick through had Sebastian Cancelliere cleverly clipping the ball to his left for replacement Horne to half the deficit. Nonetheless, Leinster managed to disrupt Glasgow's lineout and maintain the upper hand in the scrum. Frawley then turned a late surge downfield into the clinching kick.
