Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup Update

There was plenty of drama in the three Avonmore SuperMilk Munster Schools Senior Cup games.

P.B.C. 22, Glenstal Abbey School 22

It was heartbreak for Glenstal Abbey School at C.I.T. as they came very close to causing one of the major shocks of Schools rugby as they led Pres' 22-8 with twelve minutes remaining, but Pres’ skipper John Fitzgerald led by example and powered his pack to score two converted tries to send the game to a replay on a date to be confirmed. Indeed the Limerick School at least deserved another day out and it would have been an injustice if Pres’ had stolen it in injury time.

It was a slow opening with play being concentrated between both Twenty Twos in the opening quarter and then the game burst into life. Pres’ were dominating the forward exchanges with Ross McCarthy dominating the line outs and the Pres’ back row of William Foley, Paul Derham and Fitzgerald in the thick of the action and out half Rory Scannell and winger Josh Barrett were also making ground with some fine breaks.

Pres’ went ahead after fifteen minutes when following a line out on the half way line, the ball went out the backs and full back Steven Dinan joined the line and raced through the Glenstal defence from fifty meters to touch down in the corner for a 5-0 lead.

This lead only lasted four minutes. A break by Glenstal's out half Luke Bradley and Andrew Boland sent winger Hugh Connors racing away and as the Pres’ cover came to close him down, he passed to Boland who raced away to score and Bradley converted.

Two minutes later a high kick by Scannell was gathered by Boland just outside his own Twenty Two and he found a gap and raced down field before off loading to Ian Kenny who touched down for a 12-5 interval lead. Dinan and Bradley exchanged penalties during the opening stages of the second half and then mid way through the half Kenny cut right through the Pres’ defence to score his side’s third try and Bradley converted for a 22-8 lead.

Sensing the game slipping from them Pres’ skipper got the best out of his pack and their tactic of pick and go was rewarded with a push over try that was credited to Fitzgerald and Dinan converted to leave seven between the sides.
With time running our Pres’ brought play into Glenstal half and again the pack mauled the ball to the line where Fitzgerald again touched down and Dinan leveled with three minutes remaining.

Scorers P.B.C.: Steven Dinan try, penalty, 2 conversions, John Fitzgerald 2 tries.
Glenstal Abbey School: Ian Kenny 2 tries, Andrew Boland try, Luke Bradley penalty, 2 conversions.

P.B.C.: Steven Dinan; Josh Barrett, Seamus Glynn, Cian Murphy, Brian Crowley; Rory Scannell, Philip O’Leary; Aidan Slattery, Max Abbott, David Hartnett; Ross McCarthy, Ian Silke; William Foley, Paul Derham, John Fitzgerald.
Replacements: Ryan Callanan, Aidan O’Brien, Hugh O’Halloran, Kieran Farmer, Matt Curtin, Thomas Duggan, Darragh O’Keeffe, Peter O’Brien.

Glenstal Abbey School: Sean Gleeson; Hugh Connors, Andrew Boland, Ian Kenny, Robert Shanahan; Luke Bradley, Andrew Devereux; David Higgins, Cal McCarthy, Kieran Grennan; Kevin Lynch, Mike O'Riordan; Ian McCarthy, Rossa Dooley, Tom Ryan.
Replacements: Jack Boland, Richard O'Hara, Blake Dunne, Conor Hughes, James Ryan, Eoin Hurley, Kevin O'Keeffe, James Igoe, Dermot Dolan.

Referee: Trevor Collins (M.A.R.).

C.B.C. 21, Crescent College Comprehensive 17.

Christians were just sixty seconds from making their exit out of this season’s Avonmore Supermilk Munster Schools Senior Cup at Musgrave Park, when center John McCarthy got in for a try to book his side a semi final place. The Sydney Hill College opened the scoring with a penalty from Dave O’Riordan after two minutes. Crescent hit back with two tries inside the next ten minutes. Center JJ O’Neill put Crescent ahead with a try after five minutes and then winger Jack Hogan touched down and Gearoid Lyons converted.

A second penalty by O’Riordan left it 12-6- at half time in favour of Crescent. O’Riordan kicked his third penalty eight minutes into the second half and a try by wing forward Michael Ryan put the Cork side in front. Nine minutes from time Gearoid Lyons put Crescent back in front with a try but missed the easy conversion. Then came McCarthy’s dramatic try to sent Crescent out of the Cup.

Scorers C.B.C.: Michael Ryan, John McCarthy tries. Dave O’Riordan 3 penalties, 1 conversion.
Crescent College Comprehensive: Gearoid Lyons try, 1 conversion, JJ O’Neill, Jack Hogan tries.

C.B.C.: Thomas Quinlan, Gerry Ryan, Tom Morehead, John McCarthy, Chris McAuliffe; Dave O’Riordan, Charlie O’Regan; Charlie Slowey, Rory Daly, Rory Burke; Tadgh Arrigan, Darragh Moloney; Andrew Mintern, Michael Ryan, Dylan Stokes.
Replacements: Michael Lordan, Liam O’Connor, Shane Galvin, Rob O’Dowling, Adam McCarthy, Ryan Foley, Olan Hanley, Cillian Monohan.
Crescent College Comprehensive: Greg O’Shea; James Frawley, J.J. O’Neill, Greg Barry, Jack Hogan; Gearoid Lyons, Ronan O’Doherty; Sean McGee, James Green, Niall Horan; Sean Gleeson, Eoin Casserly; Jay Kavanagh, Diarmuid Dee, Cormac Blake.
Replacements: Cillian Rea, Liam McMahon, Robbie Scott, Jack Dinneen, Ed Barry, Cathal Monaghan, Nigel Kerr.
Referee: Darragh McCormack (M.A.R.).

Rockwell College 20, Castletroy College 3.

Holders Rockwell saw off the challenge of Castletroy College at a wet and windy Clanwilliam Park to set up a semi final meeting with C.B.C. in two weeks time. Tries by Aidan Moynihan and Alex Lynch and a Moynihan conversion gave Rockwell a 12-3 interval lead. Sean Moran replied with a penalty for Castletroy. A try by Cillian Kiely and a Moynihan penalty made sure of the Tipperary College’s place in the last FOUR.

Scorers Rockwell: Adrian Moynihan try, conversion, penalty. Alex Lynch, Cillian Kiely tries.
Castletroy College: Sean Moran penalty.

Rockwell: David Johnston; Alex Lynch, Rob Jermyn, Cillian Kiely, Steve McMahon; Aidan Moynihan, Dylan Megagh; Jack McCormack, Darragh Mulcahy, James Maxwell; Sean McCarthy, Darragh Foley; Aaron Sweeney, Sonny O'Dwyer, Aidan Butler.
Replacements: Sean McNulty, Robbie Lyons, William O'Dwyer, James Feehan, Cathal Ryan, Aidan Barron, Sean O'Donoghue, Ronan Maher.

Castletroy College: Jonathon McDonnell; David Grant, Eoghan Clancy, William Shanahan, Killian Carroll; Sean Moran, Luke Clohessy; Jack Tiernan, Liam Cronin, Stephen Shinners; David Butler, Jack O’Neill; Pat Birmingham, Ben Burns, Conor Bonfil.
Replacements: Robbie Sweeney, Mark Kennedy, Tom Kelly, Noel Clohessy, Daragh Kennedy, Sean Carey, Jack Murphy, Paul Butler.

Referee: Ken Imbush (M.A.R.).

RESULTS:
Avonmore SuperMilk Munster Senior Schools Cup Quarter Finals: C.B.C. 21, Crescent College Comprehensive 21;
P.B.C. 22, Glenstal Abbey 22;
Rockwell College 20, Castletroy College 3;