Historic Win For Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí In Schools Senior Cup

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí secured their first-ever victory in the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup thanks to a thrilling last-minute win over Glenstal Abbey at UL on Thursday.

It was only the second year that the Bantry school had qualified for the competition and they showed fantastic fighting spirit to come back and win a game that looked beyond them.

An early penalty from out-half Dylan Hicks gave Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí a 3-0 lead but Glenstal hit back through Sam O’Farrell’s try as they won back possession at the breakdown with the inside centre racing over 50 metres to score.

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí went back in front through a Ciaran O’Sullivan try after the lock gathered Hicks’ kick to score but Glenstal led 12-10 at the break thanks to a try from prop Harry Gleeson as he finished well in the corner.

Two well-struck long-range Hick penalties moved Bantry 16-12 in front as we entered the final quarter but Glenstal upped their game and looked to have clinched the win late on as Gleeson scored his second try and Killian Brennan converted for a 19-16 lead.

Bantry showed great composure to work their way deep into the Glenstal half with the game all but over and won a penalty deep inside Glenstal’s 22.

They could have settled for a draw with the kick but went all out for the win and they were rewarded after Glenstal infringed again and Michael O’Donovan was the hero as he took a quick tap and darted over to clinch a historic win with Hicks converting.

Glenstal Abbey: Killian Brennan; Seamus Hanly, Ciaran Woodcock, Sam O’Farrell, Riain Concannon; Darragh Lehane, Finn Connolly; Harry Gleeson, Paddy Frawley, Jonathan Cunningham-Ash; Edward Keena, Ben Gabor; Pierce O’Neill, Mark Kennedy, Garvan Woodcock.

Replacements: Walid Muhtaseb, Brendan Collins, Leopold Himmelreich, Sean McCormack, Eoghan Tucker, Michael Bennett.

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí: Oran Wiseman; Cillian O’Brien, Joey O’Sullivan, Michael O’Donovan, Eli Reynolds; Dylan Hicks, Stephen O’Donovan; Padraig O’Sullivan, Dara McSweeney, JJ Nicholas, Sean O’Shea, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Alan Kelleher, Stephen O’Donoghue, Fionn Barry (C).

Replacements: Ben Clancy, Kaleb Wiggan, Daniel Coughlan, Ruairi O’Shea, Alex Nel, Conor Bignell, Daire Kingston, Dara Sheedy, Owen O’Neill, Paddy Cronin.