Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup Semi-Final Reports

Holders Christian Brothers College advanced to their fourth successive Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Final against St. Munchin’s after both sides came through two tough semi-finals.

Ronan Calvert reports from the University Of Limerick…

St Munchin’s overcame PBC 26-20 in the Junior Cup on a glorious afternoon at the UL 4G.

The Limerick side scored four tries en route to booking their place in this year’s Junior Cup final, the first of which arrived after just six minutes.

Munchin’s defended well, worked their way up the field and when some quick thinking from scrumhalf Donnchadh O’Callaghan saw PBC’s Patrick Campbell sent to the bin, momentum was well and truly in the Corbally men’s favour.

As the pressure mounted with each carry, PBC’s defence eventually cracked and allowed Munchin’s prop forward Kean Sheehy to rumble over for the game’s opening try. Centre Darragh Long converted to make it 7-0.

However, Pres replied well. The visitors began to force penalties as their forward power came to the fore and at the end of some hard work, hooker Ben Comiskey went over for their first try. The extras were added to tie the scores at 7-7.

Ten minutes later Munchin’s hit back. The favourites dominated territory for long periods in the game and on this occasion winger Conor O’Shaughnessy found his way over the whitewash. Long did well to extend their advantage to 14-7 with the resulting conversion.

However, PBC had something to hang onto at the break. The Cork men varied their backs play impressively throughout the half and there was no finer example of their skill when star man Darragh French bolted onto a beautifully measured inside pass on the half hour mark. The outhalf glided over touch down, keeping the game very much so alive at 14-12 (half-time).

Soon after resumption, Liam Neilan opened the second half scoring for Munchin’s as the number eight crashed over in the corner. The try left his teammate Darragh Long with a difficult shot at goal, but the centre did excellently to convert and make the score 21-12 to the Limerick side.

PBC pulled a penalty back not long later but Munchin’s were now in control. The five time champions scored their fourth and final try of the day on the 45th minute as fullback Josh Egan dived over tight to the touchline. Long couldn’t convert on this occasion, but the result was all but in the bag at that stage in the game.

Pres had been entertaining to watch throughout the contest and scored a consolation try in the final play to add some gloss to the scoreboard, but the day belonged to St Munchin’s who now have a shot at winning their first Junior Cup since 1998.

St. Munchin’s: Josh Egan; Joshua Costello, Darragh Long, Seamus McCarthy Burbage, Conor O’Shaughnessy; Alexander Wood, Donnacha O’Callaghan; Kean Sheehy, Joachim Clohessy, Kieran Ryan; Louis McCormack, Graham Kirwan; Dylan Higgins, Evan Hickey, Liam Neilin.

Replacements: Denis Birmingham, Nathan Walsh, Jonathan Kelly, Morgan Bateman, Diarmuid DeBarra, Conor O’Brien Comerford, Scott Quilligan, Joseph Dougan.

PBC: Daniel Squires; Mark Howell, Daniel Hurley, Ben Coburn, Ronan Wilson Darragh French, Liam Ormond; Ciaran O’Connor, Ben Comiskey, Brian Anthony; Ian O’Keeffe, Sam O’Sullivan; Patrick Campbell, Mark Deane, Daragh McSweeney.

Replacements: Cian Desmond, Jacob O’Brien, Adam O’Brien, Conall Harrington, Charlie Coughlan, Bevan Forde, Billy Kiernan, Casey Buckley, Charlie Walsh, John StLeger.

Referee: Ken Imbusch (MAR).

At Temple Hill, Christian Brothers College saw off the spirited challenge of Bandon Grammar School 15-0 to book their appearance in the final.

The Sydney Hill College dominated proceedings territorially in the scoreless opening half, but they were to be denied the game’s first score after five minutes as Alan Blair pulled off a try-saving tackle. CBC’s Ronan O’Sullivan was prominent around the fringes, while the West Cork side held the upper hand in the lineouts.

CBC were awarded a penalty on the West Cork side’s ten-metre line from which they opted for the points but George Coomber’s long range effort fell short of the posts.

Christians continued to have the West Cork side camped deep inside their own 22 approaching the break, but two try-scoring opportunities were held up on the line by the Bandon Grammar defence in this period.

CBC broke the deadlock in the 40th minute the ball was spread out to Ben McGarry following a lineout on the West Cork side’s 22 for a try in the opposite corner.

The Sydney Hill side doubled their lead six minutes later with a try in the corner by Coomber, following a series of forward drives by the pack form a five-metre scrum.

Five minutes from time, the scoring was completed when Jason Ahern scored CBC’s third try.

CBC: George Coomber; Jack McGrath, Daire Burke, Patrick O’Hara, Ben McGarry; Andrew O’Mahony, Eoin Birchall; Alan McDonald, Luke McAuliffe, Corey Hanlon; Mark Ludgate, James Morrisson; Patrick McBarron, Dylan O’Connor, Ronan O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Ryan Smith, Wanfred Waterman, Gavin Kennelly, Jason Ahern, Kevin Roche, Jack Kennifick, Tom McCarthy, David McPolin, Marcus Corcoran, Tom Maher.

Bandon Grammar: David Collis; Alan Blair, Craig Bateman, Liam McCarthy, Kyle Buttimer; Louis Archer, Jack Kevane; Mark Kingston,, Harry Golden, Jack Applebe; Jack Walsh, Jerry Coughlan; Thomas Blennerhassett, Nick Greene, James O’Donovan.

Replacements: Conor Aherne, Ignacio Tejera, Christopher Walton, Andrew Guinevan, Tom Good, Mateo Barthelemy, Chrian O’Bialor, Niall Burke, David Hall, Christian Hurley, Ben O’Regan.

Referee: Chris Harrington (MAR).