Last-Gasp Munchin’s Into Senior Cup Quarters

A last-gasp try from captain Kealan McMahon sent St Munchin’s into the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals in a win that will last long in the memory for all involved.

St Munchin's College 24-19 Castletroy College
by Ronan Calvert

Munchin’s were the side with the better of the chances early on and made their dominance count when they went over for a try in the corner. Jason Kiely stepped up for the conversion and added to his previous penalty to make it 10-0 within the opening quarter.

Minutes later, Castletroy hit back. A well worked maul drove all the way to the Munchin’s try line and some favorable field position allowed flanker Conor Bermingham to score the second try of the game. Stephen Atkinson added the extras to close the gap to three points, 10-7.

The end-to-end pattern repeated itself as the match approached the break. Munchin’s extended their lead when Tyrone O’Halloran skipped over for his second try in as many games, only for Castletory to hit back at the other end of the field through hooker Kieran O’Shea. Those tries left it Munchin's 17-12 Castletroy at half-time.

With both teams having gauged a better understanding of their opponents following the opening 35 minutes and their half-time words of wisdom, the second period turned out to be a classic Munster schools arm-wrestle. Despite an extended period of scoreless play, the match never failed to disappoint and it was Castletroy who eventually began to turn the screw.

Munchin’s showed superb defence to win back the ball and clear their lines on a number of occasions, but the pressure from the resulting lineouts inevitably proved too much to handle. Indeed, winger Muiris Rowsome looked to be the hero of the hour when he found himself in space to turn a period of dominance to points, putting the teams level on 17-17 and granting kicker Stephen Atkinson the opportunity to nudge his side in front. He duly obliged.

As the Newtown school seemed all but certain to have the victory in the bag, Munchin’s plotted a late comeback. A lineout deep into ‘Troy territory found a red hand and the Corbally men pounded the line from there, sapping their opponents' energy with every last carry. Any one player that helped in those closing phases was deserved, but it would be captain Kealan McMahon who fittingly found his way over the whitewash to secure a memorable victory.

The quarter-final draw was made following the game with the fixtures below.

Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup Quarter-Final Draw
PBC v Crescent College Comp
Bandon Grammar v St Munchin's College
CBC v Ardscoil Rís
Rockwell College v Glenstal Abbey

Senior Cup Second Round Results
Wednesday, January 25
Crescent College Comprehensive 31-7 St. Clement's College, Thomond Park (Match report)
St. Munchin's College 24-19 Castletroy College, Thomond Park

Senior Cup First Round Results
Tuesday, January 17
Glenstal Abbey 27-10 St. Clement's College UL (Match report)

Wednesday, January 18
Christian Brothers College 30-5 Crescent College Comp, Irish Independent Park
Rockwell College 28-18 St. Munchin's College, Clanwilliam Park (Clanwilliam FC)
Ardscoil Rís 5-40 Presentation Brothers College, Dooradoyle (Garryowen FC)
(Round-up)

Thursday, January 19
Bandon Grammar 24-17 Castletroy College, Bandon RFC (Match report)