CBC On Course To Retain Title

Holders Christian Brothers College advanced to the final of The Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup where they will face Crescent College Comprehensive in the decider at Irish Independent Park on Wednesday 16th March.

C.B.C. 19, Glenstal Abbey School 7.
This was Christians best performance in the competition this season as they had to defend for long periods in the opening half when they played with the advantage of a strong gale and then showed great determination after the interval to keep a lively Glenstal Abbey side at bay at Irish Independent Park.

Early pressure by Christians which saw Fergal Conway and Conor O’Sullivan go close to breaking the dead lock was eventually rewarded in the sixth minute when O’Sullivan broke from a scrum and prop Mark Donnelly eventually found a gap to score a try.

Glenstal then spent the next fifteen minutes in the Christians half but failed to convert their possession into score.

They were awarded two kickable penalties but each time opted for the touchline where Will Twomey and Tiernan Ryan were outstanding.

A beautiful Christians movement on twenty one minutes involving Billy Cain, Donnelly and Cillian Coughlan sent full back Thomas Downes clean through the Glenstal defence for a try which Cain converted for a 12-0 half time lead.

Glenstal’s Andrew Hogan and Ronan Quinn were proving a handful with some telling runs and a great break from just inside the forty meter line saw Hogan get in for a Glenstal try which he also converted after forty one minutes.

However Christians raised their game and a super break by Scott Buckley was stopped short of the Glenstal line. The ball was recycled and substitute David Good sent Aidan Bryan in for a try which Cain converted for a 19-7 lead with ten minutes remaining.

Christians never looked to be in trouble for the reminder of the game and were deserving winners at the finish.

Scorers C.B.C.: Mark Donnelly, Thomas Downes, Aidan Brien tries, Bill Caine 2 cons.
Glenstal Abbey: Andrew Hogan try, con.

CBC: Tommy Downes; Matthew Soames, Cillian Coughlan, Fergal Conway (capt), Karl Waterman; Billy Cain, Jack O'Riordan; Charlie Rasmussen, Adam Coleman, Mark Donnelly; Aidan Brien, Dylan McAuliffe; Daniel O’Hara, Conor Walsh, Conor O’Sullivan.
Replacements: David Good, Niall Hasson, Harry Fitzgerald, Scott Buckley, Cillian Barry, Sean Kelly, Donagh Rice.
Glenstal Abbey: Ronan Quinn; Ronan Hanly, Emmet Alyward, Andrew Hogan, Ruairi Woodcock; Caolan Dooley (Capt), Briain Leonard; Denny Moriarty, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Max Dowling; Will Twomey, Tiernan Ryan; Bill Fitzgerald, Michael Gilbride, Padraig Mulligan.
Replacements: Matthew Lynch, Conor Butler, Donagh Hyland, Keith Floyd, Daragh Butler, Marcus Esmonde, Scott McKeown, Jack Collins.
Referee: Chris Harrington (MAR).