A Cork Stalemate In The Junior Cup Semi

Presentation Brothers College and Christian Brothers College will have to do it all again, as their Munster Schools Junior Cup semi-final ended in a 15-15 draw at Irish Independent Park this afternoon.

An exciting game saw points galore in the opening half which saw the lead change no less than four times; with Pres holding the lead for the majority of the second, Christians’ try eight minutes from time put them three points ahead, but in the dying moments Alex Walsh’s penalty levelled proceedings.

With the wind slightly favouring the boys from the north of the Lee, Christians pressed early, but after Pres were pinged for holding on, full-back George Coomber’s effort from 40 metres fell just short.

Undeterred, however, the ‘visiting’ side for the afternoon pushed on, and drew first blood as despite Pres’ resolute defence, Ronan O’Sullivan eventually prized a gap to touchdown, however Coomber was unable to add the extras.

Christians’ lead always looked tenuous, however, and Alex Walsh saw the upright deny him ‘Tation’s first points of the afternoon, and from their next penalty he elected to kick into the corner. A clean take saw the Mardyke outfit go through the hands, and eventually it was Michael Hand who proved the final touch, before Walsh slotted the tricky conversion.

That two-point advantage would last just three minutes, however, as Pres conceded a penalty just outside their own 22, and Coomber stepped up to make it 8-7. The game was shaping up to be an absolute cracker, and just before half-time the lead was swapped for the fourth time, as Conor Morey got the ball out on the flank and burned around Mark Buckley to try in the corner, Walsh unable to convert the added two.

After that flurry of action in the opening half, the second period saw a more tactical battle, with neither side gaining much territory as play remained in midfield.

That changed with nine minutes remaining; Christians put a penalty deep into PBC territory, and having gotten clean ball they began going through the phases; eventually it was Robbie Kelleher who touched down, giving Christians a three-point lead heading into the final stretch.

Again, however, Tommy Crowe’s side couldn’t hold on to the lead, having ironically being pinged for holding on, and Alex Walsh held his nerve with four minutes remaining to leave it 15-apiece with only a few minutes left to play.

Both sides broke the gain-line without ever really threatening, and another derby date awaits these old foes.

Presentation Brothers College: Darragh French; Jeff Holden, Michael Hand, Darragh O’Sullivan, Conor Morey; Alex Walsh, Joe O’Leary; Darragh McSweeney, Billy Kingston, Chris Morris, David O’Halloran, Michael Giltinan, Jack Kelleher, Richie Foley, Alex Kendellan.

Replacements: Dylan Devlin, Michael Hayes, Tom Gough, Tim Buckley, John Forde, James Keohane, Daniel Hurley, Colin Doyle, Sam O’Sullivan, Tadhg O’Sullivan.

Christian Brothers College: George Coomber; Mark Buckley, Harry O’Riordan, Leo Daly, Aaron Leahy; Cian Whooley, Mark O’Connor; Alex O’Regan, Sean Rall, Mark Donnelly, Robbie Kelleher, Mark McCarthy, Finn MacFhlannchadha, Ronan O’Sullivan, Conor Lavin.

Replacements: Robert Horgan, David Shanahan, Brian O’Donnell, Patrick McBarron, Bobby Khan, Andrew Cremin, James Moylan, Jack Ryan, Robbie Shalloe, Patrick O’Hara.

Referee: Richard Horgan (MAR).

Details of the replay will follow soon on munsterrugby.ie