Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup

Wins for Castletroy College, Crescent College Comprehensive and Rockwell College in today’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup Quarter Final second round

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup Quarter Finals
Round Two Qualifiers

Castletroy College 5-3 Presentation Brothers College
(Thomond Park)

Ard Scoil Ris 5-12 Crescent College Comprehensive
(Thomond Park)

Rockwell College 10-5 Glenstal Abbey School
(Clonmel RFC)

It was a busy day in the schools’ rugby calendar, with three Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter final qualifying games taking place- two of which were played simultaneously on the two pitches at Thomond Park.

Castletroy College booked their semi final place with a narrow 5-3 win over Presentation Brothers College in Limerick. Despite having to defend for the opening ten minutes, the Limerick side got the first opportunity to put points on the board after 14 minutes. Peter Murray’s effort from the half way line went right of the posts, however, he made amends two minutes later when his quick thinking bagged the only try of the game after a quickly taken penalty caught PBC unawares. Padraig O’ Connor’s conversion attempt went wide of the posts. PBC’s full back Pat Deasy was unable to find his target to reduce the deficit 20 minutes into the game, leaving the score 5-0 to Castletroy College at the break. With PBC’s superbly orchestrated driving maul used to great advantage throughout the game, the physically bigger PBC pack continued to wear down the Castletroy defence during the second half, however they couldn’t breach the Castletroy defence. Another missed kick at goal after 42 minutes didn’t help PBC’s cause, however, Deasy’s kick ten minutes later was on target, putting three points on the board for the Cork side. With all to play for going into the dying minutes, PBC opted for a lineout from a penalty. However, in the ensuing maul it was Castletroy who emerged with the possession. Castletroy prop Alex de Sousa broke from the maul and made a dash for the line, but PBC thwarted his attack. Castletroy held on for the victory, and set up a semi final date with the winners of Ard Scoil Ris and St. Munchin’s College. PBC get another bite at the cherry with a third round qualifier against Rockwell College ahead of them. The winners of this game will play Crescent College Comprehensive in the other semi final. Best for Castletroy included Peter Murray who controlled the game well, Alex de Sousa and James Raeal in the front row and captain Darragh Hannon. For PBC, Brian Carroll at No. 8 stood out, as did prop Niall Scannell, and captain Brian Vaughan.

With close encounters being the order of the day, on the other pitch at Thomond Park Crescent College Comprehensive fought off the challenge of Ard Scoil Ris to book their semi final place.

Ard Scoil Ris started brightly, scoring a try from George O’ Shea within the first five minutes of the game. Crescent responded twenty minutes into the half with a try from centre Darragh O’ Doherty. Shane O’ Brien’s conversion did not find its target, and the score remained 5-5 at half time. After the break, Crescent added their second try with captain Eoin Cross crossing the line, which O’ Brien converted to give them a 12-5 lead. Cross had an outstanding game, with prop Luke Malone and second row Gavin Herbert also having fine games. In the backs, try scorer Darragh O’ Doherty and winger Jurgen Quinlan also tested the Ard Scoil Ris defense throughout.

Next up for Crescent College is a semi final against the winners of Rockwell College and Presentation Brothers College. Ard Scoil Ris will play St. Munchin’s in a third round qualifier, with the winners playing Castletroy College.

In Clonmel, Rockwell College and Glenstal Abbey School played out an exciting and fiercely competitive game, with both forward packs tussling for domination throughout the game.

Rockwell inched ahead after just four minutes of play, with a try from prop David Magee which Jack Lonergan converted.

Fifteen minutes later centre Hugh Byrne crossed the line for Glenstal, and with the conversion missed, the score was 7-5 at half time.

After the break, both sides fought hard for possession. Jack Lonergan added three points to the Rockwell tally twenty minutes into the half to further their lead. Even in the final stages, both sides looked like scoring, however Rockwell held onto their lead to claim the victory, ending Glenstal’s Junior Cup campaign for this season.

Rockwell Captain Jack Lonergan led from the front, while the loose head David Magee and second row Shane Buckley also had fine games. For Glenstal, Andy Ryan at scrum half and first centre Brian Costigan impressed.

Rockwell must now play PBC in the third round, with the winners claiming a place in the semi final, where Crescent College Comprehensive awaits.

Teams:
PBC
15. Pat Deasy, 14. Will Murphy, 13. Cian Bohane, 12. Graham Murray, 11. Sean Og Murphy, 10. Jack Costigan, 9. Matt Kelleher, 1. Niall Scannell, 2. Brian Vaughan, 3. Ian Mullarkey, 4. Rob O’ Herlihy, 5. Killian Kingston, 6. Dave O’ Mahony, 7. Kieran Ryan, 8. Brian Carroll
Replacements: Brian Coughlan for Killian Kingston (46), Paul McKeown for Kieran Ryan (46)

Castletroy College
15. Anthony Collins, 14. Al Dolan, 13. Padraig O’ Connor, 12. Padraig Quinn, 11. Sean Cunningham, 10. Peter Murray, 9. Daniel Foley, 1. Keith Kennedy, 2. James Raeal, 3. Alex de Sousa, 4. Michael O’ Dwyer, 5. Brian Stokes, 6. Michale Dooley, 7. Kevin Doyle, 8. Darragh Hannon (Captain)
Replacements: Gerard Keane for Brian Stokes (50)

Crescent College Comprehensive
15. Thomas Ryan, 14. Jurgen Quinlan, 13. Darragh O’ Doherty, 12. JJ O’ Toole, 11. Shane O’ Brien, 10. Gareth Quinn McDonagh, 9. Robert Fenton, 1. Luke Malone, 2. John Randles, 3. Luke Murray, 4. Gavin Herbert, 5. Jack Donovan, 6. Eoghan Cross, 7. Kevin O’ Shea, 8. David Cowper
Replacements: Peter Coffey for Robert Fenton (42), Cian Russell for Jack Donovan

Ardscoil Ris
15. Jamie McGarry, 14. Craig Airey, 13. Billy Storan, 12. Rob Heneghan, 11. Alex McNamara, 10. Eoin Commane, 9. Jamie Gavin, 1. Ronan McMahon, 2. George O’ Shea, 3. Niall Buckley, 4. Jonathon O’ Toole, 5. Padraig Monaghan, 6. Kevin Walsh, 7. Ian Hickey, 8. Tom Goggin (Captain)
Replacements: Peter McGann for J. O’Toole (15), Marcus Fitzgibbon for R. McMahon (40), Mark Leonard for A. McNamara (50), Shane Conway for P. McGann

Glenstal Abbey School
15. Andrew Moloney, 14. Peter Barrett, 13. Hugh Byrne, 12. Brian Costigan, 11. Max Doyle, 10. Daniel Costello, 9. Andrew Ryan, 1. Marcus Allen, 2. John Hanly, 3. Paul Mullen, 4. Jack Hanly, 5. James O’ Leary, 6. James Murray, 7. Arthur Lannigan O’ Keeffe, 8. Liam Mungovan (Captain)
Replacements: Eamonn Mulvihill for John Hanly (ht), Niall Barrett for James Murray (45), Tiernan Reilly for Daniel Costello (b/s 40)

Rockwell College
15. Sean O’ Connor, 14. John Finnegan, 13. Eoin Farrell, 12. Daniel Hogan, 11. Darragh Burke, 10. Darragh McEniry, 9. Gavin Heuston, 1. David Magee, 2. Matthew Teehan, 3. Sam Manton, 4. Liam O’ Doherty, 5. Shane Buckley, 6. Mark Cummins, 7. Joseph Meagher, 8. Jack Lonergan
Replacements: Cian O’ Donnell for David Magee (40), Andrew Foley for Mark Cummins (40), Michael Mullins for Darragh Burke (30)