Glenstal Through To First Senior Final In 47 Years

A historic day for Glenstal Abbey as they reached their first Munster Schools Senior Cup final since 1970 after a thrilling 21-20 victory over Limerick rivals Ardscoil Rís at Thomond Park today.

Glenstal looked at one stage that they might run away with the game, having scored three converted tries in 21 minutes, but Ardscoil never gave up, and only for Evan Cusack’s late drop-goal being charged down, they could have completed the unlikeliest of comebacks.

Despite the slippery conditions the game burst into life, and Glenstal out of the blocks, as Jack O’Mahony light up a dreary Thomond with a delightful chip and chase after the Abbey sublimely put it through the hands. The ball bounced awkwardly inside, but O’Mahony tracked it well to collapse and open the scoring, Ben Healy driving the ball through the posts for the conversion.

Glenstal were showing no signs of fear, looking to qualify for their first final in 47 years, and had their second try in the 12^th minute; an Ardscoil knock-on intelligently scooped into the hands of Ronan Quinn, who rounded his man before offloading to George Downing to apply the finishing touch, Healy again adding the extras despite the difficult conditions.

The city side just couldn’t contain the Glenstal running game, and after another break at the edge Luke Fitzgerald juggled a Quinn pass left slightly behind him, before putting on the afterburners and powering over the line.

That made it 21 Glenstal points in as many minutes, but Ardscoil managed to compose themselves, and within ten minutes had drawn blood themselves; a quick Craig Casey tap-and-go saw Darragh O’Grady held just short of the line, but at the second attempt prop Alex O’Callaghan burrowed his way over.

Despite their difficult start it was Ardscoil Rís who ended the half the better, as Cusack’s intelligent drop-goal in tight space brought them into double figures for an 11 point deficit at the break.

The second-half saw Glenstal control possession again, but this time it would be the city side to get on the board first through a Craig Casey penalty. The pair were both reduced to 14 in quick succession as first Glenstal’s Rory Clarke (Collision in the air) and then Ardscoil’s Casey (No arms tackle) saw yellow from referee Tommy O’Donoghue.

From that second caution Healy had the game’s first miss, striking the right-hand upright from 35 yards out, and an immensely exciting game was setup for a grandstand finish as Colin Slater charged down a defensive clearance before touching down under the posts, a returning Casey slotting the conversion to put a single point between the teams.

They could have taken an unlikeliest of leads with 10 minutes remaining, as Cusack again tried a drop in front of goal but this time the Abbey were up quick to smother.

Denied by Rockwell almost a half-century ago, this time Presentation Brothers College will try and spoil the Abbey party, in what promises to be a mouth-watering contest back here on St Patrick’s Day.

Glenstal Abbey: 1. Sean Scanlon-Garry, 2. George Downing, 3. Eoin Bergin, 4. Conan O'Sullivan, 5. Shane Downes, 6. Conor Booth, 7. Mark Fleming, 8. Rory Clarke (Captain), 9. Thanade McCoole, 10. Ben Healy (Vice-Captain), 11. Ronan Quinn, 12. Luke Fitzgerald, 13. Jamie Mawhinney, 14. Tim Molony, 15. Jack O'Mahony

Replacements: 16. Padraic Mulligan, 17. Patrick Prendergast, 18. Henry Downing, 19. David Kelly, 20. Mark Walsh, 21. Andrew Walsh, 22. Aran Egan, 23. Declan Floyd, 24. Eoin Callaghan, 25. Andrew Hogan.

Ardscoil Rís: 1. Alex O'Callaghan, 2. Colin Slater, 3. Ferdia Lyons, 4. Darragh O'Grady, 5. Roy Whelan, 6. Luke Clohessy, 7. Ian Brown, 8. Odhran Ring, 9. Craig Casey, 10. Evan Cusack, 11. Michael Gorman, 12. Glen Clancy, 13. Colin Madden, 14. Cian O'Rahilly, 15. Darragh O'Gorman.

Replacements: 16. Rhys Tucker, 17. Matthew Gaule, 18. Conor O'Brien, 19. John Taylor, 20. Sean Hanley, 21. Maurice Noonan, 22. Hugh Fenton, 23. Cian Murphy, 24. Brian Noonan., 25. Lloyd Mulcahy.

Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup Final draw
Glenstal Abbey v Presentation Brothers College – Friday 17^th March, Thomond Park, 4pm – Live on eir Sport