Preview | CBC v PBC Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup Final

For the third consecutive year, Presentation Brothers College and Christian Brothers College will battle it out in the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup final, with Pres’ aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories against their arch-rivals. This all-Cork showdown promises to be an exhilarating contest, with both schools boasting strong campaigns en-route to the final.

CBC started their knock-out campaign with a Quarter final against Castletroy at Virgin Media Park. Hooker Darragh Prenter proved to be the star-man, with a fine all round display that culminated in his scoring of three tries. It was a comprehensive 50-7 victory for the Sydney Hill College, with the O’Callaghans; Jack and Darragh; scoring a brace. Charlie O’Shea scored the other try as well as kicking four of his sides five successful conversions.

The semi-final was a closer affair but Christians ran out deserved 29-17 victory over Crescent Comprehensive in Thomond Park. The game showcased their attacking prowess, with half-back duo Christopher Barrett and O’Shea dictating play superbly.

Barrett set the tone with a great sniping run off the base of a ruck to score the opening try, with O’Shea converting. Early replacement Bill McCarthy then made an immediate impact, crossing for a try before halftime to give CBC a 14-5 lead.

An O’Shea cross-field kick set up an early try for Prenter early in the second half for a spectacular try. Crescent attempted a comeback but O’Shea’s penalty and a second McCarthy try put the result beyond doubt to secure Christian’s place in today’s showpiece event.

Pres’ played the same pair of opponents in the knock-out stages; starting off with a high scoring 40-19 win over Crescent, in a game that was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggested.  Daniel Murphy; a part of the Junior Cup squad last year was the star performer. He scored two tries and finished with 20 points; with his brother Denis assisting one of those tries.

Daniel Murphy also turned creator for two of his side’s other four tries, with Cormac Bohan, James O’Leary, Rickey Barrett, and Bobby O’Callaghan also touching down.

PBC booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 24-10 victory over Castletroy at Virgin Media Park. Despite struggling to find their usual rhythm early on, three second-half tries sealed the win, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

The sides were level at seven points apiece at half-time, with Alex Molony gathering a misplaced pass before scoring and Daniel Murphy converting. The second half saw Pres’ shift into gear, with number eight Rian MacFarlane O’Shea powering through for the go-ahead try. Liam Hegarty then extended the lead off the back of a well-executed maul before Deckie Fitzgerald touched down at the death.