PBC Progress To SEAT Schools Senior Cup Semis

Presentation Brothers College remain as the only Cork side in the SEAT Schools Senior Cup following their win over Castletroy College after this absorbing fixture played out in Thomond Park.

Castletroy 15-22 PBC

By Rory Holohan

In spite of their victory, PBC were made to earn their place after a late rally from their opponents reduced it to a nervy, one score game.

Indeed, it was Castletroy who started this game right from the off. Out-half Jamie Heuston was an instrumental figure in his side’s early pressure, with his kicks to touch finding the Pres five metre line on many an occasion. Their pressure told in the series of scrums that they were awarded as PBC were punished for another infringement by Heuston’s converted penalty.

It was not until the quarter of an hour mark that Pres crossed the halfway line or made any real threat, but once they did, a try was to be found. Billy Pope had firstly been denied by the ball he was chasing down going dead before Conor Duggan registered his score.

The line break came from fullback Daragh Dennehy who had Peter Sylvester in tow and the young out-half darted into the corner to offload to Duggan. Captain John Poland was off target from the sideline, though the angle was not in his favour.

Castletroy continued their determined attacks through Heuston. A try looked to be on the cards after Sean English stole a Pres lineout but the forward pass foiled the move.

In only their second entry into their opponent’s twenty-two metre line, Pres were celebrating another try. Shane Daly beat away two tacklers to start the attack with Dennehy finishing off the move by touching down in the corner. Poland was again off target from another kick from the unfavourable sideline.

Dennehy had another try to his name as the half concluded. Duggan was again involved in the searing drive, swapping wings to add an extra man in the Daly-led attack that had Pope and Dennehy exchanging passes before Daragh went in under the posts. The last act of the first thirty-five minutes was Poland’s simple conversion.

PBC did not let up once the second half began. Less than three minutes had elapsed before Poland found space to score after his side’s pack came forward in a rolling maul. It was another case of an unfair angle for John, though he did strike the far post on this occasion.PBC’s Brian O’Mahony and Graham Smith tackle Conor Myers of Castletroy

The score-line could have been more unkind to Castletroy had Dennehy claimed his hat-trick. It was another duck-and-dive style run from Duggan that brought Pres into the corner but the knock-on prevented Daragh from laying claim to the match ball.

Castletroy finally got a holding in the half through the work put in by Conor Myers and Sean McBrearty. Myers led the way in terms of stemming the Pres attacks and McBrearty will be thanked for his pace off the mark that threatened the PBC try-line.

In a manner similar to Dennehy’s failed hat-trick, Muiris Rowsome was prevented from a try in the corner because of a handling error. He had nothing but an unguarded try-line in front of him as the Newtown side looked to come back into the game.

This frustration continued as another attack that had a numerical advantage in favour Castletroy ended without a score. The ball went behind the onrushing Rowsome to the disappointment of the Castletroy faithful.

The aforementioned crowd had something to cheer about once their side scored a couple of tries in the final five minutes to leave the game open as a contest.

Niall O’ Shea got away from his tackler to run under the posts, Heuston hastily drop kicking the conversion.

This was immediately followed by Heuston’s penalty finding the corner and space became available after the lineout for Mark O’Mara to launch himself over the line. The missed conversion attempt came from the unkind angle that had faced Pres.

Poland was to have the final say with a penalty attempt near to the ten-metre line but the miss did not dishearten the jubilant Pres fans.

The respective colleges extend their thanks to Munster Rugby for facilitating provision of the stadium and for use of the club dressing rooms.

Castletroy: [15-9] T. Ryan, C. Carroll, D. Garry, R. McDonnell, S. McBrearty, J. Heuston, S. Atkinson
[1-8] J. Conway, M. O’ Mara, C. Myers, M. Finucane, S. English, R. Murphy (Capt), N. O’ Shea, D. Rowsome.
Subs: D. O’ Neill, M. Bromell, S. Fitzpatrick, E. Hourigan, D. Dooley, S. Morgan, S. Hogan, M. Rowsome.

PBC: [15-9] D. Dennehy, B. Pope, S. Daly, R. Reidy, C. Duggan, P. Sylvester, J. Poland (Capt)
[1-8] J. Ring, E. McCarthy, S. Deane, C. O’ Flynn, B. O’ Mahony, K. O’ Leary, G. Smith, J. O’ Sullivan.
Subs: D. McDonagh, C. Ormonde, C. Scott, G. O’ Mahony, P. Crowley, L. O’ Connor, D. O’ Sullivan, P. Hogan.

Referee: Barrie O'Connell