PBC Clinch Junior Cup Title With Win Over Ardscoil Rís

PBC achieved a successful double of Schools Cup titles after the Cork school defeated Ardscoil Rís 20-8 in Thomond Park in the Munster Schools Boys Junior Cup final this afternoon.

This win in Limerick came a week after the Senior side lifted the Garrett Fitzgerald trophy in Musgrave Park with a win over CBC.

Torrential rain before kick-off and in the opening 20 minutes of this game led to plenty of handling errors from both sides but PBC took an early lead when fullback Daniel Murphy kicked a penalty.

Ardscoil responded with three points from the boot of James Butler to leave the sides level at 3-3 after just 10 minutes on the clock.

PBC dominated possession and territory for much of the first half thereafter and it was rewarded on the scoreboard when Murphy kicked another three points for his side after Ardscoil were pinged for holding on.

PBC got a crucial score just before half-time after some good close range carrying saw scrum-half and captain Frankie Óg Sheahan snipe from the base of a ruck to get the first try of the game. Murphy’s conversion went over as PBC’s lead extended to 13-3.

Ardscoil needed to get the first try of the second half and they did so through Leo Connolly in a move which started with a break upfield from scrum-half Ollie Desmond.

Ardscoil Rís’ Leo Connolly scores a try
©INPHO

The touchline conversion from Butler was wide as the lead was now reduced to 13-8.

The Limerick school went through long periods of possession but couldn’t break down a stern PBC defence.

Nearing full-time, Ardscoil won a turnover and opted to kick for touch, however, the ball failed to go out of play and PBC replacement Sé Clarke gathered and kicked downfield.

Clarke then managed to collect the bouncing ball to run clear and score under the posts.

The kick was converted by Murphy and they held on to their 20-8 lead in the final moments to secure the Junior Cup title.

PBC: Daniel Murphy, Bobby O’Callaghan, Daniel Mellerick, Eddie Dooley, Luke Neenan, Olan Healy, Frankie Óg Sheahan (C); Diarmuid Sheehy, Joseph Healy, Fionn O’Sullivan, Olan Dillon, Cathal Bruhn, Conor McLoughlin, Cormac Bohan, Tom Murray.

Replacements: Ronan Twomey, Rory Cahill, Sam O’Leary, Daniel Ryan, Mikey Fitzgerald, Odhrán Healy, Dan O’Leary, Charles Hill, Michael Browne, Sé Clarke.

Ardscoil Rís: Frank Sheehan Williams, Daniel O’Connell, Leo Connolly, Aaron Kelly, Dylan Quirke, James Butler, Ollie Desmond; Jamie Kelly, David Salmon, Lochlann Brown, Lloyd Costelloe (C), Daniel O’Flaherty, Jack Rafferty, Brendan Morrissey, Darragh Leyden.

Replacements: Jack Hartigan, Jake Das, Matthew Collins, Christian Cantillon, Brian O’Loughlin, Cathal O’Doherty, Conor Ryan, Louis O’Flanagan, Alexander Fennell, Jack Thorne.