CBC Through To Schools Senior Cup Final

After a seven year gap Christian Brothers College are through to the final of The Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup after a narrow victory over arch rivals Presentation Brothers College at Irish Independent Park.

C.B.C. 13, P.B.C. 12.

CBC were dominant in the opening half and for all their possession only led 10-5 at the interval and had to survive a few anxious moments in injury time as PBC pressed for a winning score.

Both sides were off target with penalty efforts in the opening five minutes, Sean French for Pres’ and James Taylor for Christians.

Christians looked impressive in the opening stages as they threw the ball around but it was Pres’ first attack that produced the opening score.

A clearance by Christians out-half James Taylor was blocked down by Jack T O’Sullivan and the Pres’ number 8 gathered and touched down in the corner for a try after eleven minutes.

Four minutes later Christians opened their account with a penalty by out half James Taylor.

Now it was Pres’ turn to pressurise Christians for a second score but a great break out of defence by Alex McHenry, carried on by Ross O’Neill saw Coombes over for a well taken try that Taylor converted to leave the Sydney Hill side 10-5 ahead at half time.

Pres’ started the second half on top and a move involving Peter Sylvester and Jonathan Wren saw winger Paul Buckley bundled to touch at the corner flag.

Taylor extended Christians lead with a penalty on forty nine minutes, but Pres’ responded with a second try.

After working the ball into the Christians 22, scrum half Harry Shanahan sent winger Sean French in at the corner for a try and French expertly converted from the touch line to leave the minimum between the sides.

Pres’ came in search of a winning score but a disciplined Christians defence held firm where Coombes put in an out standing display.

Scorers C.B.C.: Liam Coombes try, James Taylor con, 2 pens.
P.B.C: Jack T O’Sullivan S French tries, S French con.

C.B.C.: Liam Coombes; Barry Galvin, Joe Harrington, Alex McHenry, Ian Casey; James Taylor, Richard Cassidy; Peter Kelleher, Gordon Good, Conor Leahy; Richard Thompson, Sean Duffy; Ross O'Neill, Robert Hyde, Daire Feeney (Capt.).
Replacements: Shane Bushe, Eoin Cahill, Ciaran McHugh, Declan Barry, Fergus Hennessey, Colin Sisk, JD O'Hea, Robert Hedderman.

PBC: Jonathan Wren; Paul Buckley, Luke O’Shea, Jack O'Shea, Sean French; Peter Sylvester, Harry Shanahan; Brian O'Connor, Michael Shinkwin, Sam Deane; Conor O'Flynn, Brian O'Mahony (Capt.); Cian Fitzgerald, David Hyland, Jack O'Sullivan.
Replacements: Billy Scannell, Daire McDonagh, Mike Varnam, Jack E O'Sullivan, Paul Crowley, James Broderick, Ross Murphy, Tom Fitzgerald.

Referee: Mark Connolly (MAR).