Avonmore Milk Schools Senior Cup Quarter Finals

Two schools are one step closer to lifting the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup today with the first two quarter finals taking place in Limerick.

Glenstal Abbey School, Limerick 9-10 Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick (3.00 p.m. Thomond Park)

St. Nessan’s Community College, Limerick 0-29 Presentation Brothers College. (3.00 p.m. Fitzgerald Park)

Two schools are one step closer to lifting the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup today with the first two quarter finals taking place in Limerick. Crescent College Comprehensive and Presentation Brothers College Cork both secured their semi final places despite tough opposition in poor weather conditions.

In a well supported all-Limerick clash, Glenstal Abbey School and Crescent College Comprehensive had a gruelling encounter at Thomond Park, with Crescent emerging triumphant, despite Glenstal putting them under pressure throughout. The conditions were difficult, with a swirling wind and intermittent rain for the duration of the game causing problems for both sides.

Glenstal opened the scoring four minutes into the match, with out half Denis Halton putting three points on the board. After 14 minutes, Glenstal had stretched their lead to 6-0, with Halton again kicking for points when another penalty was awarded. Shortly before half time however, Crescent put their first points on the board with a try from flanker Diarmuid Maguire, ably converted by first centre Patrick Carroll. At half time, the score line read 7-6 to Crescent. Crescent drew first blood in the second half with a penalty from Patrick Carroll after four minutes. Shortly after, they missed two further opportunities to stretch their lead with two missed penalty kicks. Glenstal refused to concede, however, and continued to battle for possession.

They grabbed their opportunities, and were rewarded when Jerome Kennedy kicked a penalty late in the game to bring Glenstal within a point of Crescent. Crescent held on to the whistle, and they now find themselves in the semi final of the Avonmore Milk Munster Senior Cup. Greg Ashe from Glenstal Abbey School said it was a tough game, and we are disappointed at the outcome, however we are immensely proud of the performance of each of their players. They gave it their all. It s a very emotive experience for all concerned.

Crescent College Comprehensive go on to play Presentation Brothers College, Cork in the semi final after PBC had a 29-0 victory over St. Nessan s Community College at Fitzgerald Park. Both teams had to cope with making key changes in their respective line ups due to injuries. St. Nessan s lost their hugely influential prop David Quinn after he suffered an injury in the warm up prior to the game. Minutes into the game PBC s out half Gavin Dunne had to be replaced through injury by Jeffrey Power who proved an able substitution.

Despite playing with the wind in the first half, PBC led by only five points for much of the half, after loose head Michael O Leary opened the scoring. St. Nessan s had to make another change when their scrum half Michael O Donnell had to be replaced after 25 minutes. PBC s went in for another try just before half time, when Jason Carton touched down and Jeffrey Power adding the conversion.

In the second half, PBC captain Sam Cronin was hugely influential, with fullback Scott Deasy and no. 8 Robbie Allen also having great performances. It was then the turn of the backs to make their mark, with two of their three tries coming from the back line. Second row Traolach Hennebry touched down first, followed by winger Sean McKeown.

Never giving up, St. Nessan s exerted considerable pressure in the second half before PBC s winger Shane Costigan scored, which was converted by Jeffrey Power. The final score read 29-0 to PBC, but St. Nessan s will be proud of the performance of this young squad, many of whom who will be eligible to play again next year.

Two quarter finals remain, with Ard Scoil Ris travelling to Musgrave Park on Thursday for their clash with Christian Brothers College. On Sunday, last year s champions St. Munchin s College defend their title in their tie with Rockwell College in Thomond Park.

FIXTURES:

AVONMORE MILK MUNSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINALS

Thursday, 10th February 2005. CBC v. Ard Scoil Ris. 3.00 p.m. Musgrave Park.

Sunday, 13th February 2005. St. Munchin’s College v. Rockwell College. 3.00 p.m. Thomond Park.

Presentation Brothers College Team List

15. S. Deasy, 14. S. Costigan, 13. B. Dennehy, 12. T. Kenneally, 11. S. McKeown, 10. G. Dunne 9. S. Cronin (captain), 1. J. Carton, 2. M. O Leary, 3. N. Burke, 4. R. McCarthy 5. T. Hennebry 6. J O Driscoll, 7. McGrath 8. R. Allen

Subs: J. Power for G. Dunne, K. Rothwell for S. Cronin, D. Russell for M. O Leary, M. Keyes for B. Dennehy

St. Nessan s Community College Team List

15. J. Shine, 14. B. Ryan, 13. M. Swede, 12. T. Murphy, 11. J. Yau, 10. D. Cusack, 9. M. O Halloran, 8. R. Meyer, 7. M. O Donnell, 6. J.Hickey, 5. M. Reale, 4. R. Kelly, 3. D. O Shea, 2. S. Hayes, 1. D. Kerley

Subs: A. Gordon for M. O Halloran, for D. Wharton for J. Hickey, I. Guerin for B. Ryan, D. Hannon for J. Yau, M. Hogan for R. Kelly, S. McSweeney for D. O Shea, N. Heffernan for Michael Reale.

Crescent College Comprehensive Team List:

15. S. Scanlon, 14. C. Ahern, 13. M. South, 12. P. Carroll, 11. D. Murphy, 10. R. O Sullivan, 9. N. Mulvihill, 1. R. Leonard, 2. D. Griffin, 3. B. Storan, 4. B. Lynch, 5. C. Harbison, 6. D. Maguire, 7. B. O Mahony, 8. O. Keely

Subs: H. Mulcahy for N. Mulvihill at 6o mins, D. Waters for R. O Sullivan at 62 mins.

Glenstal Abbey School Team List:

15. C. Quinn, 14. B. Talbot, 13. D. Hurley, 12. M. Devere-White, 11. D. O Keeffe, 10. D. Halton, 9. J. Morton, 1. B. Walsh, 2. P. Coughlan, 3. G. McCarthy, 4. M. Aston, 5. K. O Callaghan, 6. K. Lannen, 7. F. Magee, 8. M. Nagle (captain)

Subs: C. Quinn for J. Morton, J. Kennedy for D. Halton, C. Timmins for B. Walsh