You can never rule Clongowes Wood College out and that has proved the case in 2019 as the eight-times winners stroll into the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup quietly confident that they can go the whole way. 

You have to go back to 2011 for their last victorious campaign when they completed the colleges first ever back-to-back wins with the help of current Leinster twins; Brian and Ed Byrne.

Whether they win it or not, they have some amazing talent coming through that is sure to go on to bigger and better things, not that they can see it right now.

With players like Gordon D’Arcy, Tadhg Beirne, Fergus McFadden and the Kearney brothers; there’s a rich rugby union pedigree coming from Clongowes.

Within this current squad, three players, in particular, stand out in the Kildare side and if they are to indeed go all the way in this year’s Leinster Senior Cup then they will need them firing on all cylinders.

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John Maher

The full-back had a very solid performance in the quarterfinals. A total all-rounder, smashing under the high ball with a great boot also. Very quick of the mark and is able to keep going, this can probably be put down to his experience playing 7s rugby. Has also played Irish & Leinster schools, so this young man is the complete package.

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Ryan McMahon

An excellent tighthead prop. Very solid scrummager with great body position at scrum time. Fantastic around the breakdown and looks like a seasoned pro at getting himself into ball-carrying positions.

In the quarterfinals, his tackle count for a front row forward was extremely high.

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Diarmuid McCormack

The blindside flanker has been involved at Connacht U18s and Ireland U18s and is a very solid young man. Very much involved in a lot of ball carrying, excellent at the breakdown and poaching balls.

Very aggressive and gets around the pitch well. A key cog in the Clongowes win over Monkstown.