Schools Senior Cup | PBC Progress With Win Over Rockwell

Presentation Brothers College secured their place in the semi-final stage of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup with a 31-9 victory over Rockwell College at Irish Independent Park this afternoon.

Rockwell College took an early lead through the boot of scrum-half John O’Sullivan, who landed a terrific penalty from the right after two minutes.

O’Sullivan made no mistake with his second penalty opportunity to send the Tipperary school further ahead minutes later.

However, it was Pres who secured the first try of the match with out-half Louis Bruce striking a clever chip through for scrum-half Joe O’Leary to collect and touch down after 12 minutes before Bruce added the extras.

Rockwell responded with O’Sullivan’s third successful penalty as the 20-minute mark approached.

Pres went on the attack again and made significant ground through Number 8, Alex Kendellen, while O’Leary came close before Eoin Quilter crashed over for the Cork school’s second try. Bruce added the conversion.

Pres continued their dominance and were again rewarded with hooker Darragh Murphy barging over after a rolling maul crept towards the line.

Half-time: Presentation Brothers College 19-9 Rockwell College

The Mardyke school came out firing after the interval and it was Kendellen who bustled over from close range to secure his side’s fourth try under the posts. Bruce converted in the 43rd minute.

A yellow card for Rockwell wing Jack Hunt saw the Tipperary school reduced to 14 men in the 50th minute.

Rockwell enjoyed a spell of possession in the closing quarter but Pres capitalised on possession to see Kendellen in right of the posts for his second of the match.

Full-time: Presentation Brothers College 31-9 Rockwell College

PBC: Mark McLoughlin; Daniel Squires, Peter Cunningham, Seán Henry Squires, Daragh French; Louis Bruce (C), Joe O’Leary; Rory Duggan, Darragh Murphy, Darragh McSweeney, David McCarthy, Eoin Quilter, Jack Kelleher, John Forde, Alex Kendellen. Replacements: Ben Comiskey, Brian Anthony, Ciaran O’Connor, David O’Halloran, Mark Fitzgibbon, James O’Shaughnessy, Alex Walsh, Michael Hand, Daniel Hurley, Cuchulain Livingstone.

Rockwell College: Cian Mullane; Jack Hunt, Sam Tarleton, Alan Flannery, Sean Cotter; Eddie Daly, John O’Sullivan; Tom Dowling, James O’Meara, Killian Lane, Robert Browne, Kevin Grogan, Joe Dwan, Harry Tobin (C), Stephen Grogan. Replacements: Cathal Ryan, Dylan Foley, Dara Murphy, Luke Fogarty, Richie Anglim, Brian Flavin, Adam Maher, Josh O’Dwyer, Peter Wall, Dylan Farrelly.

Referee: Richard Horgan (MAR)