In March 2024, St Fintan’s High School, Sutton, shocked the Leinster rugby scene by clinching the prestigious Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Vinnie Murray Cup (Level B second‑tier) for only the second time ever—and the first by a non‑fee‑paying school. Their dynamic forwards and incisive backs delivered a dominant performance at Energia Park to claim the title.
Building on that triumph, February 13, 2025, saw St Fintan’s reach another milestone. They stunned Castleknock College in a thrilling 29–27 quarter‑final victory—thanks in part to a late try from Michael Bolger—earning a historic place in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi‑finals, the competition’s top-tier contest. It marked the first time since 1993 that a non‑fee‑paying school had reached this stage.
Although their journey ended with a semi-final loss to powerhouse Terenure College in early March, the significance of St Fintan’s accomplishment cannot be overstated: they shattered a 32-year privilege, transforming themselves from underdog contenders into trailblazers in Irish school rugby.
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