Castletroy & Bandon Progress To Quarter Finals

What a great day for Bandon Grammar School, with their former pupil Darren Sweetnam picked to start his first competitive game for Munster against Zebre and their two school sides acquitting themselves well in the Second Round of the Schools Senior and Junior Cups.

Bandon Grammar 13, St. Munchin’s 11.

Despite a heavy defeat by Rockwell, Bandon Grammar bounced back in fine style with a win over a fancied St. Munchin’s side at the 4G UL Arena in the Second Round of the Munster Schools Senior Cup.

Having been deprived of home advantage because of the unavailability of pitches in Cork as a result of the recent bad weather, Bandon proved that they will not fear P.B.C. who they meet next week in the quarter finals.

They fell behind after two minutes when Jason Kiely kicked Munchin’s ahead with a penalty.

Luke Kingston levelled with a penalty to leave it 3-3 at half time.

Four minutes into the second half, Kingston kicked his side into the lead with a penalty but six minutes later Kiely had Munchin’s level with his second penalty.

In a hectic finish, Colin Deane put Bandon back in the lead with a try and Kingston converted for a 13-6 lead.

Munchin’s rallied and were rewarded with a try from Conor Radcliffe, but they were more interested in getting the game restarted as a conversion would have seen Bandon go through on the first try rule.

However Bandon held out for a famous victory.

Match Report Courtesy of:- Cian Davis and Michael Davern, St. Munchin's College

St. Munchin's College 11, Bandon Grammar School 13

This was a must win game for both sides and this was reflected in the flying start to the game. Jason Kiely gave St. Munchins an early lead after scoring a penalty. Bandon struck back immediately with Luke Kingston scoring a penalty to level the score. The lively crowd knew they were in for a close encounter.

The next twenty-five minutes saw a stalemate between the two sides. Munchins were put under ferocious pressure in their twenty two minutes before half time. However, Bandon failed to capitalize and the sides went in all square at the break.

The second half began as quickly as the first. Kingston added another three points for Bandon. Ten minutes later, Kiely slotted over another penalty making it 6-6. Bandon were the sharper of the two sides in the second half.
However, it was Bandon who scored the opening try of the game with five minutes to go. After a well-worked lineout Bandon player James O'Dwyer was presented a golden opportunity and dived over from close range. Bandon centre Luke Kingston was on hand to score the conversion giving them a comfortable 6-13 lead.

The Shannon-siders knew that they would have to score twice due to the first try rule when tied. When Shane Kelly barged his way over the tryline to make it 11-13, it made for an incredible conclusion to the game. The conversion was turned down to give themselves more time to pull off a remarkable comeback. It was too late however and Bandon were victorious. They were rewarded for the ruthless manner of which they took their oppurtunities and a well executed game plan.

St. Munchin's College bowed out of the cup after two narrow defeats and Bandon Grammar School will go on to face Presentation Brothers College in the quarter-final.

Scorers Bandon Grammar: Colin Deane try, Luke Kingston con, 2 pens.
St. Munchin’s: Conor Radcliffe try, Jason Kiely 2 pens.

Bandon Grammar: Sean Hudson; Jan Donnelly, Ethan Twomey, Luke Kingston; Ben Gur; Luke Fleming, Mark Bateman; Ashley Deane, Travis Coomey, Dylan O'Callaghan; Colin Deane, James O'Dwyer; James French, Robin Stokes, Gavin Coombes (Capt.).
Replacements: Billy Hayes, Greg Reidy, Jacob Lehane, David Perkinson, Jason Bradfield, Alex Moore, Victor Lovell, Evan Palmer.

St. Munchin's College: Brian Bennett; James O'Halloran, Evan O'Connor, Matthew Lyons, Luke Costello; Jason Kiely, Aaron Rice; Kealan McMahon, Adam Moloney (Capt.,), Emmet O'Callaghan; Connor Radcliffe, Shane Kelly; Shane Corbett, James Burke, Charlie Carmody.
Replacements: Darren Radcliffe, Gary McCoy, Mark O'Driscoll, Sean Hayes, Jake Murphy, Evan Maher, Darragh Gibbons, Adam Guerin, Finbar Egan, Jordan Curry.

Castletroy College 5, Bandon Grammar School 5.

Bandon Grammar made their exit in the cruelest of ways in the Munster Schools Junior Cup at the 4G UL Arena, when the first try rule decided that Castletroy will meet Crescent College Comprehensive in the quarter finals.

In a tightly contested game Castletroy’s number 8 and captain Ronan Keaveney scored a try to give his side a 5-0 half time lead.

With wind advantage in the second half, Bandon Grammar were level after forty minutes when center Mark Fitzgerald scored a try.

However the West Cork side were unable to add to their tally and made their exit 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.