Pres Earn Home Quarter-Final Tie

PBC have earned themselves a home quarter final tie in the SEAT Munster Schools Junior Cup after they defeated Castletroy College at the Mardyke.

PBC 33-10 Castletroy

By Rory Holohan
Presentation Brothers College overcame a spirited Castletroy College outfit in the first round of the SEAT Munster Schools Junior Cup at the UCC Sports Ground.

In spite of the score line, the balance of play was equal as both sides were strong from the outset. The opening quarter of an hour of this encounter was characterised by box kicks and occasional handling errors as both sides settled into the game.

PBC drew first blood through fullback Louis Bruce. He touched down after a line break that had the Pres backline advancing into the Castletroy twenty-two metre line. James Broderick converted this score with ease. Castletroy had their attacks of the afternoon engineered by out-half Cathal Carew. A reply to the opening try was a series of phases within the Pres that culminated in a penalty that Carew was unlucky to just miss out on scoring.

The Pres response was instantaneous. No. 8 Cathal Browne peeled away from the back of a Pres scrum to offload to the onrushing Sam O’Donovan who dove over the line. Broderick was again on target from the tee. It was not all easy going for the Cork side as they found themselves defending heavily against an onslaught of phases.

A knock on with the try line in sight upset the best efforts of Castletroy despite the fact that they finished the first half as the stronger side. Carew had the last act as he slotted over a penalty from just inside the Pres twenty-two. Castletroy also started the second half in the ascendancy with early entries into their opponent’s twenty-two metre line.

PBC had introduced the duo of Billy Scannell and Seán French at half time and immediately reaped the benefits of their presence. Firstly, French finished off a move into the corner, brushing off two tacklers as he did so. Broderick duly obliged with the extras.

Within minutes, French had repeated the trick, scoring in the opposite corner. Broderick’s conversion attempt drifted across the face of the posts though this did not dishearten the out-half who continued his part in Pres’ numerous sweeping drives forward.

French would have claimed his hat trick, were it not for the successive interventions of Castletroy’s Eoin Murphy and Sean Finucane as they stood firm on their line. Ronan Keaveney was the standout for his side in terms of defence with his tackles stemming an unending wave of PBC attacks.

Scannell was not to be denied however as his strength saw him break away from three tackles and score under the posts. Given that his influence was apparent all over the pitch, it may have been no surprise to some to see French step up and calmly convert.

Castletroy finished the second half as they did the first, with a fine score. Paul Clancy led the charge into the corner prior to Ian McCarthy being dragged into touch. The ensuing try by Darragh Cullimore was an exemplary display of passing, with both forwards and backs combining to send him in under the posts.

The final whistle greeted David Moloney’s conversion as PBC celebrated their well earned victory. Both sides offer their thanks to the Mardyke Arena for use of the club facilities and the sports grounds.

PBC: [15-9] L. Bruce, R. Howell, J. Wren, S. O’ Donovan, A. Calum Healy, J. Broderick, D. Harrington.
[1-8] M. Varnam, L. Ryan, K. Nugent, L. Tarbatt, M. McCarthy, D. Hyland, C. Fitzgerald, C. Browne.
Subs: C. Ryan O’ Donovan, B. Scannell (Capt), M. Fitzgibbon, Dylan O’ Callaghan, Darragh O’ Callaghan, M. Walsh, S. French, P. Kennedy.

Castletroy: [15-9] D. Moloney, I. McCarthy, P. Clancy, M. Kitt, C. Carew, C. Lyons.
[1-8] R. Keaveney, E. O’Shea, M. Ryan, S. Devitt, S. Finucane, S. Mulkern, C. Bermingham (Capt), D. McCrann.
Subs: M. Danyal, A. Myers, J. Hogan, D. Cullimore, S. Burns, M. O’ Sullivan, C. Humphries, E. Murphy.

PBC 33 – 10 Castletroy College

by Leonard Allen

Holders P.B.C. were deserving winners in this opening game at the Mardyke and gave notice that they will not give up their title easily.

Pres’ were quick off the park as Louis Bruce capitalized on a defensive error by the Limerick College in the fourth minute to score the game’s opening try which was converted by James Broderick.

Castletroy were awarded a penalty in the 11^th minute from which they opted for the points but Cathal Carew’s shot from a difficult angle inside the Pres’ 22 was off target.

Sam O’Donovan crashed over next to the posts for the Mardyke College’s second try which was converted by Broderick midway through the opening half.

Castletroy opened their account two minutes before the break when Carew slotted over a penalty from the outside the Pres’ 22 to leave the half-time scoreline reading 14-3 in favour of the Mardyke College.

Pres’ put the game beyond Castletroy’s reach in the second half with two tries from Sean French and a further try by Billy Scannell. Broderick added a brace of conversions.

With the game effectively over as a contest Castletroy’s Dara Cullimore barged over next to the posts following a break from a five-metre scrum three minutes into stoppage time. Carew added the two points with the last kick of the game.

Scorers: PBC: Sean French 2 tries; Louis Bruce, Sam O’Donovan & Billy Scannell try each; James Broderick 4 conversions.

Castletroy College: Dara Cullimore try; Cathal Carew penalty & conversion.

PBC: Louis Bruce; Ross Howell, Jonathan Wren, Sam O’Donovan, Adam Healy; James Broderick, David Harrington; Mike Varnam, Liam Ryan, Kieran Nugent; Luke Tarbalt, Mark McCarthy; David Hyland, Cian Fitzgerald, Cathal Browne.
Replacements: Charlie Ryan –O’Donovan, Billy Scannell, Mark Fitzgibbon, Dylan O’Callaghan, Darragh O’Callaghan, Max Walsh, Sean French, Paul Kennedy.

Castletroy College: David Moloney; Ian McCarthy, Paul Clancy, Conor Cosgrove, Michael Kitt; Cathal Carew, Conor Lyons; Ronan Keaveny, Eoin O’Shea, Michael Ryan; Sean Devitt, Sean Finucane; Sean Mulkern, Conor Bermingham, Darragh McCrann.
Replacements: Muhammad Davesal, Adam Myers, Jeff Hogan, Dara Cullimore, Sam Burns, Michael O’Sullivan, Cathal Humphreys, Eoin Murphy.

Referee: David O’Flynn (MAR)