CBC Edge Out Crescent College To Reach Schools Senior Cup Final

CBC will meet PBC in the final of this season’s Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup after the Cork school recorded a 34-29 win over reigning champions Crescent College at Thomond Park this afternoon.

In a highly entertaining game with great rugby from both sides, CBC held the lead throughout and time ran out for Crescent as they were unable to make a successful comeback as they did in Cork last week.

There was a yellow card in the opening few seconds of the game as Crescent’s Andrew Ahearne made contact with Daniel Rock in the air from the kick-off.

A fast start from the visitors saw CBC begin to pile on the pressure as they made ground towards the Crescent line. The ball was spread wide to Adam Wrona and the hooker powered over in the corner. Benjamin Lynch’s conversion was wide of the posts as the Cork school took a 5-0 lead.

Wrona made it 12-0 for CBC just moments later when a powerful rolling maul gained good ground for the Cork school before a strong carry from the hooker saw him get all the way to the line. Within seven minutes, CBC had a 10-0 lead.

Charlie Patrick O’Shea was then sinbinned for a high tackle and Crescent got a try from Fionn Casserly after a powerful lineout maul. The conversion was missed from Eoin O’Callaghan with CBC’s lead now reduced to 10-5 with less than 15 minutes played.

An excellent 50:22 from Lynch put CBC into some good field position where Rock soon went over for his side’s third try after a strong carry from the number eight from the base of a scrum. Lynch converted to give CBC a 17-5 lead.

CBC extended their lead to 20-5 when Jed O’Dwyer was penalised for not releasing as Lynch added the three points from in front of the posts.

Crescent responded with a length of the field carry from Ryan Godfrey but CBC’s Lynch put in a good tackle to stop a certain try.

CBC were penalised for going off their feet soon after and from the resulting lineout maul, CBC brought it down illegally which resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card for CBC’s Michael Foy.

At half-time it was 20-12 to CBC and they struck first at the start of the second half when Christopher Barrett collected a garryowen from Ronan O’Keefe. The winger ran it in under the posts which allowed Patrick O’Shea to kick the conversion with ease.

Now with a 27-12 lead, Crescent went back to their powerful maul for some respite where they gained good ground once again before releasing Charlie Fenton who ran a good line to crash over. O’Callaghan converted to reduce the deficit to 27-19.

From a Crescent goal-line drop out, CBC gained ground once again and were awarded a penalty 5m out. They decided to tap and go where Sam Loftus powered over. O’Shea’s conversion gave CBC a 34-19 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.

With nine minutes remaining, O’Callaghan kicked a penalty to reduce it to a two-score game at 34-22.

Crescent got a try through Mark Fitzgerald at the death with Godfrey converting to make it 34-29 but unfortunately for the Limerick school it was too late as referee George Clancy blew for full-time to celebrations from the CBC players.

CBC will now meet their rivals PBC in the final of this season’s Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup on Tuesday, 14th March in Musgrave Park (KO 2pm).

Crescent College: Jed O’Dwyer, Joshua Boland, Eoin O’Callaghan, Joe McEnery, Ryan Godfrey, Oscar Davey, Marcus Lyons; Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Clery, Denis O’Dwyer, Jack Somers, Sean Magee, Fionn Casserly, Andrew Ahearne, Cillian Kelly.

Replacements: Jonathan Byrne, Cathal Lanigan Ryan, Conor Ryan, Jordan Power, Charlie Fenton, Cormac Quinn, Michael O’Mara, Evan Cusack, Ben Gallagher, Evan Bennett.

CBC: Benjamin Lynch, Christopher Barrett, Alex O’Connell, Gavin O’Riordan, Evan Cahill Murphy, Charlie Patrick O’Shea, Jack Casey; Sam Loftus, Adam Wrona, Denis Callaghan, Conor Kennelly, Michael Foy, Mark Skelly, Odhran Prenter, Daniel Rock.

Replacements: Stephen O’Shaughnessy, Cian Walsh, Harry Foster, Michael Doyle, George Good, Johnny O’Shea, Conor Foley, Leo O’Leary, Ronan O’Keefe, Jack O’Callaghan.

Referee: George Clancy