CBC and Castletroy Through to Semi Finals

Plenty of action in the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup quarter finals today with Christian Brothers College defeating Ardscoil Ris in the Mardyke and Castletroy College defeating Rockwell College at Kilfeacle.

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Quarter Finals

Rockwell College 8-14 Castletroy College
Christian Brothers College 13-6 Ardscoil Ris

The first two semi finalists of this year’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup were decided on Tuesday with Christian Brothers College seeing off the challenge of Ardscoil Ris at the Mardyke and Castletroy College coming through their quarter final with 14-8 victory over Rockwell College at Kilfeacle RFC.

At a rain soaked Mardyke last year’s beaten finalists Christian Brothers College took on Ardscoil Ris. Despite the heavy rain that fell for most of the first half, both kickers were tested with a number of attempts at goal throughout the half for both sides. Ardscoil Ris were the first to put points on the board with a penalty kicked by outhalf Jamie Gavin after five minutes. Christian Brothers College’s response came just over ten minutes later with full back Odhran Mulrooney doing the kicking honours and successfully converting his penalty kick. The wet conditions certainly didn’t lend itself to open running rugby, and with a number of injuries throughout the game it was difficult for both sides to impose themselves. Gavin stretched Ardscoil Ris’ lead twenty three minutes into the game with another on target shot, however Mulrooney’s attempt five minutes later to level didn’t find its mark. On the half hour mark Gavin had an opportunity to put his side a further three points ahead but he also failed to convert as the end of the half approached. Half time saw Ardscoil Ris leading 6-3. Early in the second half Mulrooney made amends by levelling the scoring and he went onto to score the only try of the game after 58 minutes, which he also converted. Ardscoil Ris looked threatening for the last ten minutes of the game with CBC forced to defend their line as Ardscoil Ris looked for a converted try to equalise. The CBC defence held firm with the Cork side claiming the 13-6 victory, with Mulrooney scoring all of Christian Brothers College’s points. Next up for Christian Brothers Colleges is a semi final clash with the winners of Glenstal Abbey School and Crescent College Comprehensive.

A late change of venue saw Tuesday’s other quarter final between Rockwell College and Castletroy College switched from Clonmel RFC to Kilfeacle RFC. A first half tally of 14 points was enough for Castletroy to claim the win, with their two first half converted tries proving too much ground for Rockwell to make up, despite an intense rejuvenation by the Tipperary side in the second half. Winger Darren Moroney opened the scoring for Castletroy College after twelve minutes with a try which was converted by kicker Darragh Frawley who played in the second row. Winger Colm Dillon added another try after 33 minutes which Frawley also converted to put Castletroy College 14-0 ahead going into the break. Rockwell fought back in the second half with full back Shane Luby converting a penalty three minutes after the restart. Flanker Patrick Butler clawed back another five points with a try in the 63rd minute which was unconverted. Despite keeping the pressure on right until the end of the game, Rockwell were unable to breach the Castletroy defence who held on for a 14-8 win.

On Wednesday, defending champions Presentation Brothers College meet the 2006 champions St. Munchin’s College in Musgrave Park in what promises to be a tantalizing fixture. Qualifiers Glenstal Abbey School take on Crescent College Comprehensive at Clanwilliam RFC. Both games kick off at 3pm.

The rescheduled Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup Round One quarter final between Glenstal Abbey School and Rockwell College takes place on Thursday in Clanwilliam RFC at 3pm.

Christian Brothers College
15. O. Mulrooney; 14. D. Loftus, 13. J. Holland, 12. B. O’Regan, 11. B. O’Leary; 10. P. Parfrey, 9. D. Foley; 1. C. Corkery, 2. K. Stokes, 3. J. Bransfield; 4. J. Mulcahy, 5. K. O’Dwyer; 6. J. Crowley, 7. B. O’Callaghan (Captain), 8. W. Ryan.
Replacements: A. Joyce for Corkery (59)

Ardscoil Ris
15. Cian O’Shea, 14. Eoghan O’Driscoll Collins, 13. Cian O’Brien, 12. Kevin Hodnett, 11. Jack Murray, 10. Jamie Gavin, 9. Colm Moore, 1. Alan Grimes, 2. David Rowley, 3. Darragh Cantillon, 4. Conor Power, 5. John Perrott, 6. Jer Moore, 7. Barry Sheehan (Captain), 8. John Deegan
Replacements: Mark Payne for Power (B/S), Billy Storan for Hodnett (45), Paul Clayton for Grimes (57)

Castletroy College
15. Cormac Joyce Power, 14. Darren Moroney, 13. Kieran Clancy, 12. Diarmuid McCarthy, 11. Colm Dillon, 10. Domhnaill Byrne, 9. Peter Murray, 1. Cedric Laffan, 2. Paraic Hogan, 3. Steven Murphy, 4. Paul Dooley, 5. Darragh Frawley, 6. Kevin Doyle, 7. Darragh Bonfil, 8. Eoin Sweeney
Replacements: James Rael for Hogan, David Quinlan for Laffan, Mark Hanrahan for Doyle, Darragh Hannon for Bonfil, Padraig O Connor for Joyce Power

Rockwell College
15. Shane Luby, 14. Tiernan Coffey, 13. Brian Smith, 12. Brian Silk, 11. Gavin Ryan, 10. Connor Sweeney (Captain), 9. Alex O’Mahony, 1. Brendan Cullinan, 2. Michael Coin, 3. Derry O’Brien, 4. Shane O’Flynn, 5. Edward Kelly, 6. James Nolan, 7. Patrick Butler, 8. Hugh Kelleher
Replacements: Shane Buckley for O’Flynn (62), Andrew O’Leary for Coffey (62)

FIXTURES/RESULTS– all games kick off at 3pm

Quarter Finals

5th Feb 2008
B: Rockwell College 8-14 Castletroy College

D: Christian Brothers College 13-6 Ardscoil Ris

6th Feb 2008
A: Presentation Brothers College v St. Munchin’s College, Musgrave Park

C: Glenstal Abbey School v Crescent College Comprehensive, Clanwilliam RFC

Semi Finals

27th Feb 2008
Winner A v Castletroy College– venue tbc

2nd March 2008
Winner C v Christian Brothers College – venue tbc

Avomore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Final
Sunday March 16th 2008
Venue confirmed after semi final