Report | CBC Claim Last Gasp Semi-Final Victory Over PBC

Christian Brothers College claimed a dramatic 17-15 victory over Presentation Brothers College in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final at Irish Independent Park on Thursday evening.

CBC’s Adam O’Connor scored the winning try in the final moment of the match to send his side through to a final meeting with Glenstal Abbey on Sunday 18 March at Irish Independent Park (kick-off 4pm).

The early exchanges saw both sides settle early nerves, with Sean French and Robert Hedderman pushing penalty attempts wide of the sticks for PBC and CBC respectively.

However, Pres struck in the 24^th minute to secure the first points on the board with a well-taken penalty strike from French.

Pres then extended their lead courtesy of a try from French who collected from Jonathan Wren’s inside ball on the right touchline to chip over and score in acrobatic fashion.

Half-time: PBC 8-0 CBC

After the interval, PBC continued their dominance in attack and it wasn’t long before more possession was converted into points.

David Harrington sent a kick high before Mark McLoughlin impressively collected to sprint over for Pres’ second try of the match. French converted the score.

CBC soon responded in what was shaping up to be one of the most exciting games of schoolboy rugby, with forward possession seeing them into the 22.

The ball was spun out to the left and it was centre Eoghan Barrett who charged through the defence to dot down over in the left corner come the 44^th minute.

Christians continued to pressurise the PBC defence and found themselves in a similar position to where they had previously secured points.

Barrett then secured his second try after touching down left of the posts once again before Eoin Monahan converted to go within three points of leaders PBC.

PBC held on in the closing stages when Christians came knocking for the winning score.

A dramatic penalty opportunity was sent wide for Monahan and Christians, in what was a lengthy period of overtime as the pressure continued to mount for both sides.

Christians then battled for possession as the clock ticked, and after winning a penalty it was wing O’Connor who weaved his way through the defence to shatter Pres’ title hopes.

Full-time: PBC 15-17 CBC

Presentation Brothers College: Louis Bruce; Mark McLoughlin, Seán French, Jonathan Wren, Sam O’Donovan; James Broderick, David Harrington; Tom Ormond, Billy Scannell (C), David McCarthy, Eoin Burns, Eoin Quilter, Alex Kendellan, Mark McCarthy, David Hyland.

Replacements: Darragh Murphy, Alex Keating, Rory Duggan, Eoin Burns, Mark Fitzgibbon, James O’Shaughnessy, Niall Murphy, Sam Horgan, John Forde, Richie Foley, Jack Kelleher.

Christian Brothers College: Robert Hedderman; Matthew Bowen, Eoghan Barrett, Tommy Downes, Adam O’Conor; Eoin Monahan, Jack O’Riordan; Mark Donnelly, Daniel O’Connor, Luke Masters, Anthony Ryan, Cian Hurley, John Willis, Ronan Barry, Ben Roche (C).

Replacements: Charlie Rasmussen, David Good, Robert Loftus, Dillon McAulliffe, Scott Buckley, Daniel O’Hara, Louis Kahn, Cian Whooley, Cillian Coughlan, JD O’Hea.

Referee: Robert O’Sullivan (MAR)