Match Report: Castletroy College Reach Quarter Finals

Castletroy College progressed to the Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter final last Friday following a 5-5 draw over Bandon Grammar School. The Limerick School qualified on the first try rule.

Match Report Courtesy of:- Paul Hurley, Castletroy College

Full Time Score: Bandon Grammar 5-5 Castletroy College

This was a do or die game for both sides and it's showed in the opening minutes with Bandon laying on the pressure in Castletroy's half. Bandon missing a penalty kick from in front of the posts. Castletroy overcame this period with great defense and some excellent territorial kicking from Castletroy out-half Sean Madden. The momentum then shifted in Castletroy's favour as Luke Callanan made a break down the wing before passing it to Cian Fitzgibbon who got tackled before he reached the corner. However, this setup a line out on Bandon's five which they didn't clear and Castletroy were able to get a five metre scrum out of it. Having failed twice from the scrum it was third time lucky for the blue and green men with Captain Ronan Keavney getting over the line to make it 5-0 (Conversion Missed). The first half ended quickly after that as Castletroy ended comfortably although missing a penalty aswell.

Bandon came out very strong in the second half and Eoghan Guinevan scored in the corner to tie the game up as the conversion was missed. As the game went on tensions began to rise between the two sides and try scorer Guinevan received a red card for a blatant kick on his opposite number James Coates. Castletroy were unable to get in for a try as Bandon defended excellently and cleared away the ball. Castletroy were also unable to keep their tempers in check with Flanker Cian White receiving a yellow card. The numbers didn't stay even for long as Bandon prop and Captain Michael Archer received a yellow card meaning Bandon would have to finish the game with 13 men. Castletroy became unrelenting with pressure for the last few minutes but Bandon didn't let the Trojans in. However Bandon were unable to score themselves so Castletroy go through to the quarters having scored the first try.

Scorers Castletroy College: Ronan Keaveney try.
Bandon Grammar School: Mark Fitzgerald try.

Castletroy College: David Crampton; Robert Lazarut, Luke Callanan, Eoin Murphy, Cian Fitzgibbon; Sean Madden, Michael O'Hanrahan; Adam Belazi, Kieran O'Shea, Robert Magill; Graham Bourke, James Coates; Gareth Moore, Cian Whyte, Ronan Keavney (Capt.).
Replacements: PJ Allen, Sean O'Neill, William Campbell, Brendan O'Brien, Ronan Kiely, Robert Holmes, Harry Gleeson, Kenneth McGuire.

Bandon Grammar: Sean Madden; Steven Kingston, Mark Fitzgerald, Bruce Matthews, Harry Hall; Soren Minihane, Jack Crowley; Conor Heaney, Alex O'Connor, Michael Archer (Capt.); Joshua Brady, Eoghan Guinevan; William Boyd-Hull, Niall Beamish, Jason Connolly.
Replacements: John Beamish, David Ogden, Tom Bryant, Moses Lynn, Tom Barton, Owain Buttimer, Dylan O'Sullivan, Shane Coomey.