PBC Claim McCarthy Cup

Presentation Brothers College beat Rockwell College 17-13 in Wilton yesterday to claim the McCarthy Cup.

PBC 17 – 13 Rockwell College

By Rory Holohan

Presentation Brothers College emerged as winners of the ‘A’ McCarthy Cup following their dogged comeback from a thirteen point deficit against Rockwell College in the PBC Sports Ground, Wilton. The Cork side overturned the seemingly unassailable half-time lead of their Cashel counterparts to claim a hard-earned win.

In spite of the victory, it was Rockwell who dominated the opening half. Brendan Ryan gave his side the lead with just three minutes on the clock as he showed great strength to fend off two tacklers and touch down in the corner. Ryan O’Sullivan was unlucky to see his conversion go wide, though the prevailing wind was a factor in his near-miss.

Pres finally came into the game on the quarter mark. Louis Bruce and Aidan McNeill were to lead their side into the Rockwell 22 on many occasions, yet each attack concluded with a knock-on or a turnover from the resilient Rockwell defence.

The frustration of the Mardyke side was heightened as they conceded another try just a few minutes later.
Dylan Farrelly showed great pace in outstripping the entire Pres backline to score in the corner. Upon intercepting a pass on the halfway line, Farrelly did it alone as he evaded all the tackles that threatened to upset his exceptional footwork.

O’Sullivan was again off target with his conversion attempt, yet he was to add a penalty on the stroke of half-time to leave his side thirteen points to nil ahead.

Rockwell controlled possession of the ball as the second half began but it was a couple of tries in the space of sixty seconds for Pres that were to open the game up as a contest.

Firstly, scrum half James O’Shaughnessy fooled everyone, including his own team-mates, by faking a pass prior to diving over the try-line, an act that rewarded the tireless efforts of the Pres pack.

Bruce’s conversion drifted away to the left but this moment of disappointment was quickly substituted for one of elation just moments later. Having collected a pass inside his own 22 metre line, he took off on a run similar to Farrelly, prior to grounding the ball in the corner to the delight of the home crowd.

Rockwell were not disheartened by this phase, however, as Oisin Mangan’s box kicks had the trio of Joseph Dwan, Cian Mullane and Eddie Daly routinely bearing down on PBC’s Mark Traynor as he would recover the errant ball.

O’Sullivan’s penalties always found touch as the Tipperary outfit looked to extend their lead. It was, however, to be a penalty that won the game for Pres. Having opted to run the ball when fifteen metres from the line, Kevin Costello and David Murray were on the end of a passing phase that ended with a ruck on the try line.

O’Shaughnessy appeared to offload to the expectant Niall Murphy but instead repeated his trick from earlier on, and feigning the pass allowed him to spin away from the tackle and score. Bruce added the extras to put a small amount of daylight between the sides.

A serious leg injury sustained by PBC Captain and No. 8 Amhlaoibh Porter suspended play for twenty minutes as the ambulance crew attended to him.

Pres took on his mantle of determination and hard work left behind, as they saw out the last few minutes of the game with Rockwell laying siege to the Pres try-line.

PBC: (15-9) L. Bruce, D. Murray, N. Murphy, K. Costello, M. Traynor, P. Cunningham, J. O’ Shaughnessy
(1-8) M. Murphy, F. Keohane, A. McNeill, D. McCarthy, E. Quilter, M. Fitzgibbon, W. Ryan, A. Porter
Subs: K. Bohane, J. O’ Leary, A. Geaney O’ Brien, D. Murphy, B. McCarthy, R. Duggan, S. Horgan, R. O’ Neill

Rockwell College: (15-9) E. Daly, D. Farrelly, Cian Mullane, J. Dwan, S. Cotter, R. O’ Sullivan, O. Mangan
(1-8) J. O’ Meara, D. Molloy, C. Ryan, B. Ryan, A. Ryan, H. Tobin, F. Maher, S. Grogan
Subs: D. Murphy, N. O’ Hanrahan, M. Walsh, T. Dowling, B. Flavin, J. Ward, K. Kophamel, C. Hayes.