Glenstal Abbey Lift Historic Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup
18th March 2018 By The Editor
Glenstal Abbey's Harry Benner goes by CBC's Adam O'Connor
Glenstal Abbey School lifted their first Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup following an 18-17 victory over Christian Brothers College at Irish Independent Park on Sunday evening.
The two sides were evenly matched at half-time but two pivotal tries for Glenstal after the interval proved the difference come the close of play, to award the Limerick school their first Schools Senior Cup in 79 years of competition.
The opening quarter saw Glenstal control the majority of possession but it was CBC who secured the first points on the board, centre Eoghan Barrett making an impressive dart through the midfield before a penalty was awarded.
Full-back Robert Hedderman stepped up to claim three points, as the Cork side took the lead in the 28th minute.
Glenstal captain, Ben Healy, did his best to pin CBC back in their own half and his team were soon awarded a penalty which he converted from a tricky angle minutes before the break.
Half-time: CBC 3-3 Glenstal Abbey School
Glenstal came out firing in the second-half with an exciting break from wing Andrew Hogan confusing the defence and resulting in an eventual infringement in the ruck.
Healy’s boot extended Glenstal’s lead in the 43rd minute as the momentum looked to be with the Limerick side.
Minutes later, Glenstal continued to probe through a powerful break from Number 8, Mark Fleming, before Caolan Dooley found space down the right to race over for his side’s first try of the match.
CBC responded almost immediately after shifting the ball wide for Robert Loftus to charge over in the left corner before Hedderman added the extras to go within a point of leaders Glenstal.
Ronan Quinn then showed power and pace to run from inside Glenstal’s half to head towards the CBC line with intent.
The Glenstal pack began to edge closer to the whitewash and it was Patrick Prendergast who picked up from the base and barged his way over in the 62nd minute. Healy converted.
CBC looked dangerous in the closing minutes with several attacks spreading Glenstal’s defence.
Wing Matthew Bowen scored a last minute try after receiving the ball out-wide and Hedderman converted, however it was to be Glenstal’s historic day when the full-time whistle blew.
Full-time: CBC 17-18 Glenstal Abbey School
Referee: Shane Kierans (MAR)
Scorers:
Christian Brothers College: Tries: Robert Loftus, Matthew Bowen. Robert Hedderman (1 penalty, 2 conversions).
Glenstal Abbey School: Tries: Caolan Dooley, Patrick Prendergast. Ben Healy (2 penalties, 1 conversion).
Christian Brothers College: Robert Hedderman; Matthew Bowen, Eoghan Barrett, Tommy Downes, Adam O’Connor; Eoin Monahan, Jack O’Riordan; Mark Donnelly, Daniel O’Connor, Luke Masters, Anthony Ryan, Cian Hurley, John Willis, Ronan Barry, Ben Roche (C).
Replacements: Charlie Rasmussen, David Good, Robert Loftus, Dylan McAulliffe, Scott Buckley, Louis Kahn, Daniel O’Hara, Cian Whooley, Killian Coghlan, Harry O’Riordan.
Glenstal Abbey School: Aran Egan; Andrew Hogan, Harry Benner, Caolan Dooley, Ronan Quinn; Ben Healy (C), Andrew Walsh; Harry Boland, George Downing, Patrick Prendergast, David Kelly, James Fitzgerald, Ronan Leahy, Conor Booth, Mark Fleming.
Replacements: Padraic Mulligan, Donagh Hyland, John Ashe, Niall Queally, Mark Walsh, Brian Leonard, Scott MacKeown, Mark O’Farrell, Ronan Hanly, Bill Fitzgerald.
