Munchin’s Progress In Schools Junior & Bandon Impress In Schools Senior Cup

Ronan Calvert reports on the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup first round at Bandon RFC…

St Munchin’s came into this fixture as favourites and their class showed with a strong opening ten minutes. Early doors, winger Josh Costello came close following a spell of possession for the visitors and minutes later his side would make the breakthrough.

As the Limerick men rumbled forward, prop Kean Sheehy eventually picked and went on the ten minute mark to give his side the lead.

Five minutes later, Bandon replied with a breakaway. The home side worked their way into Munchin’s territory before winning a penalty and putting three points on the board.

HT: Bandon 3-5 St Munchin’s

After the break Bandon picked up from where they left off, asking one or two questions of the Munchins defence. However, following a ten minute spell under the cosh, Munchins eventually relieved the pressure as outhalf Alex Wood showed some invention to kick cross-field and find his winger in space in what proved a key moment in the lead up to their second try.

Munchins had turned the tide and took control from there. Following a number of phases, number eight Liam Neilan barged his way over the whitewash to put the result beyond any doubt.

FT: Bandon 3-12 Munchin’s

Bandon Grammar: David Collis; Alan Blair, Craig Bateman, Liam McCarthy, Kyle Buttimer; Louis Archer, Jack Kevane; Mark Kingston, Chris Walton, Jack Appelbe, Jerry Coughlan, Andrew Guinevan, Thomas Blennerhassett, Nick Greene, James O’Donovan.

Replacements: Conor Ahern, Ignacio Tejera, Harry Golden, Jack Walsh, David Harte, Tom Good, Mateo Barthelemy, Chrion Obialor.

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

Replacements: Denis Bermingham, Kieran Ryan, Jonathan Kelly, Morgan Bateman, Cayden Malone, Conor O’Brien Comerford, Scott Quilligan, Joseph Dougan, Diarmuid de Barra, Daragh McDermot.

Ronan Calvert reports from the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup first round at Bandon RFC…

Both sides enjoyed spells on the front foot early on without adding any points to the scoresheet as missed kicks from both Jazz Pendijito and Jack Crowley left it scoreless right up until the half-hour mark.

Just before the break however, Bandon landed the first blow. The hosts secured good ball from their line-out, threw it along the back-line and found outside centre Victor Lovell who sliced through the Munchin’s defence to score. Crowley then converted the score.

Munchin’s would come close to scoring late in the half, but Bandon’s brave defence saw them head into the break with a hard earned 7-0 lead.

HT: Bandon 7-0 St Munchin’s

Upon resumption Munchin’s looked to respond and on 42 minutes tight-head Evan Sheehan crashed over for the Corbally school, setting up a dramatic climax.

At 7-5 Bandon were forced to defend en-masse as the visitors desperately attacked in search of the winning score. The Munchin’s pack came close over and over again but some heroic Bandon defence denied the visitors of any potential late winner and booked the Cork men a spot in the 2018 Senior Cup quarter-finals.

FT: Bandon 7-5 St Munchin’s

Bandon Grammar: Soren Minihane; Sean Madden, Victor Lovell, Bruce Matthews, Harry Hall; Rowan Palmer, Jack Crowley; Conor Heaney, Alex O’Connor, Ashley Deane, Nico Baker, Josh Brady, Michael Archer, John Beamish, Niall Beamish.

Replacements: David Ogden, Tom Bryant, Eoghan Guinevan, Paul Jackson, Tom Beare, Ciaran Roberts, Bobby Ahern, Jack Moore.

St Munchin’s: Zack Moloney; Cathal Quilter, Luke Kelly, Jazz Pendejit, Cathal Quilter; Garry Quilligan, Evan Maher; Craig Finn, Keith Hyland, Evan Sheehan, Alex Casey, Mark Crowe, Conor Nesbitt, Jake Murphy, Shane Kelly.

Replacements: Hiram Wood-Hennessy, Evan Kelly, Shane Ryan, Aaron Deegan, Jack Kingston, Andrew Tierney, Jamie Ryan, Kristan Lagod, Ronan Moloney, David Woods.