But it was close. On a St Patrick's Day in which Irish schools rugby's status quo was largely maintained, an exceptionally brave St Michael's were but a kick away from their first ever Leinster senior title and one of the finest comebacks ever seen in the competition. Down 14-0 to Blackrock at half-time, they displayed an immense depth of spirit to bring the score to within two points at the death.

Nine of their 12 points came from the near-perfect kicking of Noel Reid who, having missed a seemingly easy penalty against the wind early in the game, put on a supreme display and landed two apparently impossible efforts.

Three minutes into stoppage time, his side were awarded a penalty only a yard from the half-way line. His confidence having grown throughout the game and wary of Blackrock's dominance in the line-out, the 16-year-old made the courageous decision to go for goal and carry the responsibility for his team. The kick fell short. But like the rest of his team, there was no shortage of character.

With Andrew Cummiskey in fine form, including a sensational drop goal to get his side's first score of the game just after half-time, the ferocious tackling of their pack denied supply to Blackrock's backline and they gradually chipped away, forcing errors to bring themselves back into the game.

For the winners, of course, there is rarely praise in such victories. Tipped to win handsomely before the game, that expectation was only reinforced through the first half as they quickly established a 140 lead through tries from Vasya Artemiev and prop Shane Cahill. From that, the levee was expected to break.

However, Michael's simply didn't let it. With the likes of Luke Fitzgerald and Niall Morris negated by the Aylesbury Road school's discipline, it was Blackrock's forwards . . .

led by player of the tournament Paul Ryan . . . who were again the heroes. A moral victory is little consolation for Michael's, but the fact that most of this young team will return next year certainly is.

The competition's most decorated team also won in Ulster, meanwhile, as Methodist College recorded their 30th victory in the Senior Cup by beating Campbell College 11-5. Like Blackrock, however, it went down to the final minutes. The better side for most of the first half, two Owen McMurray penalties established a 6-5 lead at the break with Rory Boyd replying with a fine try for Campbell. Campbell attempted to force the game through their forwards in a tight second half, but Methodist were equal to it and finally sealed the game in second-half injury time when David Johnston made it over the line.

At Thomond Park, Pres Cork were denied a record 27th win in the Munster Senior Cup when beaten by that fine Limerick nursery St Munchin's. However, that loss didn't come without controversy. Completely dominant throughout, Pres simply couldn't find a way through as Munchin's put up fierce resistence on five metres from their own line, leaving the Cork school with only a Jeff Power penalty on the scoresheet. In the 20th minute, however, they got their one opening as scrum-half Shane Costigan appeared certain to make it over the line. But referee Dermot Maloney, possibly unsighted, sensationally didn't award the score. In the 44th minute, Munchin's delivered a classic sucker punch as Keith Earls continued his fine run of form to claim a try which Ger Slattery converted.

The Limerick school continued their resistance to hold out for a 7-3 win.

In the Connacht Senior Cup, Colaiste Iognaid defended their title thanks to a similarly brilliant defensive display which gave them a 1310 win against Sligo Grammar. Having failed to capitalise on the strong wind behind them before the break, establishing only a 10-0 lead through a converted Robert Hurley try and a Ross Shaughnessy penalty, it seemed they would be made pay by an abrasive Sligo side.

Though Shaughnessy added another penalty within three minutes of the restart, Sligo immediately displayed their intent with a flurry of attacking play. Within four minutes Phillip Hunt scored a try to which Simon Gillespie converted and added a drop goal, leaving only three points in it. However, with their pack not allowing an inch, Colaiste Iognaid miraculously held out to win their seventh senior title and first back-to-back success.

The Galway school did lose out on a double though, as their juniors lost 20-12 to Garbally College in their cup final.

In the Leinster Junior Cup, Blackrock will emulate their senior team in reaching the final at least as they cruised past Castleknock 31-3 in the semi-finals. In an aggressive attacking performance they produced some fluent rugby to score five tries, Brendan Macken, Jordi Murphy, Liam McHugh, Tom Parsons and Conor Barry all getting over the line. Blackrock will meet Gonzaga in the final at Donnybrook next Sunday. The Rathmines school defeated Newbridge 5-3 in their replay thanks to a late try from David Layden. However, the result was particularly cruel on the Kildare side as they had dominated the game.

Unless romance allows, it is unlikely Gonzaga will have such luck as they attempt to stop their final opponents from winning a double.