Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup Roundup

A big upset at Ellis Park Ballyanly (Muskerry RFC) as Castletroy College snatched a dramatic win in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup against PBC, while in Limerick Crescent College Comprehensive saw off the challenge of St. Clement’s.

Castletroy College came from behind to defeat PBC 19-17 in their opening round tie in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup at Ellis Park in Ballyanly which sees the Limerick side through to the quarter-finals.

PBC made the better start and they were denied a late opportunity of rescuing the game with time almost up as a missed conversion prevented them from tying the scores and winning the game on the try count rule.

Darragh French opened the scoring for the Mardyke College with a try, which he also converted, after seven minutes following a ruck deep inside the Castletroy 22.

The Limerick side began to turn the screw midway through the opening half and Jack Oliver brought them with in touching distance of PBC with two penalties in as many minutes.

Castletroy continued to have the Mardyke College on the back foot and they took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Oliver slotted over his third penalty from the PBC 22 for a 9-7 interval lead.

The Limerick side took a grip on proceedings from the restart as Oliver slotted over his fourth penalty to increase their lead to 12-7, four minutes after the interval.

Three minutes later, the Limerick side scored their only try as Conor O’Shea barged over in the corner after intercepting a PBC pass inside their own 22. Oliver added the conversion from a difficult angle.

PBC replied with a try by French following the restart and they moved within two points of Castletroy when Daniel Hurley dived under the bar with time almost up.

PBC: Daniel Squire; Timmy Ryan, Daniel Hurley, Ben Coburn, Ronan Wilson; Darragh French, Liam Ormond; Jacob O’Brien, Ben Comiskey, Ciaran O’Connor; Ian O’Keeffe, Sam O’Sullivan; Patrick Campbell, Mark Deane, Darragh McSweeney.

Replacements: Cian Desmond, Matt Moroney, Charlie Walsh, Brian Anthony, Charlie Coughlan, Casey Buckley, Billy Kiernan, JJ O’Connor, John StLeger.

Castletroy College: Rory Murphy; Ronan Lyons, Sam Hanrahan, Reece Kelly, Mark Lyons; Paul Brennan, Jack Oliver; Nesta Nyamakazi, Paul O’Shea, Sean O’Shea; Samuel DanDikken, Rhys White; Conor O’Shea, Dylan McMahon, Jamie McNamara.

Replacements: Xavier Henry Ramblado, Oisin O’Shea, Moses Abewale, Kevin Morrissey, Mark Hickey, James Lammond, Cian Mulkern, Evan O’Halloran, Eoin O’Sullivan, Diromaluwa Lawal.

Referee: George Finn (MAR).

Darragh Fenton reports from UL…

At the UL 4G pitch Crescent College Comprehensive came from behind to defeat St. Clement’s 21-10.

Clement’s started the game very strong with Clement’s flanker Jamie Pearse touching down after 12 minutes to put Clements up 5-0 .

After a strong first-half from Clement’s, Crescent scrum half Tom Barry made a break in this own half to put his second row Dean OGrady over to level the sides at half time .

In the second half, Crescent applied pressure and responded with a penalty which was kicked by the Crescent captain Darragh Casserly to put his team up 8-5.

With Clements still in the game, Crescent won a penalty in the middle of the field and a quick tap from Crescents’ scrum half found Clements’ 22, shortly after Crescents’ Patrick Dolphin touched down to put Crescent up 13-5.

Shortly after, Crescent responded again with another try after great build up play by Crescents’ out half.

Crescents’ second row Dean OGrady was quick to the ruck and scored his second try to out Crescent 18-5.

Both teams still fought until the end, Crescents’ kicker kicked a late penalty to secure his teams’ victory.

Clements would not give up as they got the last score of the game scored by their out half Cian Casey after bulldozing over the try line.

The game ended 21 -10 to Crescent with both teams making their schools proud and playing a great brand of rugby.

St. Clements: Conor Galvin; Liam Kelly, Gary O’Halloran, Tarkan Pinarci, Desmond Cowhey; Cian Casey, Keith Punch; Ronan Madden, Shane Malone, Sean Farrell; Chima Ohanya, Jeffrey Rainsford; Jamie Pearse, Jason Murray, Kian McGrath.

Replacements: Noel Kinnane, Gerard McGrath, Keith O’Brien, Josh Shinners, Ben Murphy, Adam McNamara, Nathan Lane, Sean Patrick O’Halloran.

Crescent College Comprehensive: Ben Cosgrove; Elvis Durusi, John Lyons, Darragh Casserly, Jamie T Duggan; Eoghan O’Connor, Tom Barry; Eoghan Quinn, Luke Moloney, Desmond Fitzgerald; Stephen Parkes, Dean O’Grady; Aaron O’Sullivan, Patrick Dolphin, Jybril Obasa.

Replacements: Adam Godfrey, Oscar Oliszewski, Cian Hanrahan, Paul Lynch, Alex O’Dwyer-Gough, Desmond O’Malley, Patrick Naughton, Dylan Scanlan.

Referee: Sean Moore (MAR).