CBC Claim Brother O’Reilly Cup

In what proved to be an excellent game of schools rugby, CBC emerged victorious over Cork city rivals PBC and lifted the Brother O’Reilly Cup in the Mardyke Sports ground.

PBC 12 – 24 CBC

By Rory Holohan

The funds raised from the game went to L’Arche Cork, a charity that assists those with intellectual disabilities. Click here for more details on L'Arche Cork.

The win was well earned by Christians who dominated for long periods of the game.

Indeed, it was CBC who opened the scoring. Following a series of phases, inside centre Alex McHenry broke through the Pres backline to touch down with eight minutes on the clock. Out-half Michael O’ Halloran then had the simple task of converting from ten metres out.

Pres’ efforts of a recovery were hampered by Caolan O’ Flynn’s yellow card with a quarter of an hour gone as the pressure of being a man down quickly became apparent.

Within minutes, Christians had crossed the tryline once more. Winger Thomas Tracy capped off a brilliant phase of passing by evading the tackles coming his way and scoring in the corner.

If the build up had been good, the kick was even better. O’Halloran converted once more from a very tight angle.

Pres looked to be coming back into the game as half time approached. John Poland’s grubber kicks had PBC camped on the CBC five-metre line but a series of handling errors let down what looked to be try-scoring opportunities.

Christians could have been more than fourteen points to the good at the break had it not been for the efforts of PBC’s Robin Reidy. Tracy looked destined to score his second try until Reidy’s diving tackle brought him into touch, in what was an exciting piece of play to conclude the half.

The beginning of the second half had CBC picking up immediately where they left off. Many a supporter had not returned to the stand when Eoin Scully barged over the line to score, despite the best efforts of two Pres tacklers. O’Halloran converted again to leave his side twenty-one points to nil up.

PBC supporters finally had something to cheer about once Sam Deane registered a try in the corner three minutes later. The work of the Pres pack finally paid off as Deane was able to pick-and-go with the ball.

Poland’s kick from the sideline drifted agonisingly across the posts and wide, yet it was a score that was to awaken the Western Road side. No.8 Jack O’ Sullivan looked to have gone over in the opposite corner to Deane, but was deemed to have been brought into touch prior to grounding the ball.

O’Sullivan was again involved in the next attack. His kick-and-chase was claimed by winger Conor Duggan, who was denied a try by CBC fullback Liam Coones getting across to turn the ball over. Duggan was not to be denied later on.

A great burst of pace from Poland bringing Pres from halfway into the five-metre line concluded with Duggan crashing over to lift the hopes of the Pres support.

David O’ Sullivan added the extra points with ease.

O’Halloran earned his Man of the Match award by splitting the posts with a penalty five minutes from time to kill the game off and leave the men from Sidney Hill cheering the 24-12 win.

Both schools would like to thank the Mardyke Arena for use of the ground and to thank Goodbody Stockbrokers for sponsoring the game.