Schools Senior Cup Report | Rockwell College Overcome St Munchin’s

Rockwell College defeated St Munchin’s College 36-5 in the first round of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup competition at Irish Independent Park this afternoon.

Rockwell made an impressive start to the match with prop Tom Dowling showing power and pace to go over for the first try after six minutes.

Minutes later, St Munchin’s Jamie Ryan pushed a penalty opportunity wide of the sticks.

Rockwell secured their second try just after the 15-minute mark with impressive interchanges from the backs creating space out-wide for prop James O’Meara to barge over left of the posts.

Scrum-half John O’Sullivan added the conversion to extend Rockwell’s lead to 12-0.

After a break in play for injury, the Rockwell back-line made the most of fast ball on the half-way line to find Jack Hunt down the right flank.

The winger showed fantastic pace to evade the Munchin’s defence and go over in the right corner.

A break up the middle from centre Alan Flannery resulted in a penalty opportunity for O’Sullivan before half-time, however the scrum-half pushed his attempt wide.

Half-time: Rockwell College 17-0 St Munchin’s College

After the break, Rockwell’s Cian Mullane made a break into the 22 before offloading to Stephen Grogan who found centre Sam Tarleton to go over under the posts.

O’Sullivan then added the extras to push the Tipperary school further ahead.

A rolling maul close to Munchin’s line provided the platform for Rockwell and it was Captain, Harry Tobin, who dotted down in the left corner after 58 minutes.

St Munchin’s then responded with a charging run from Number 8, Liam Neilan, through the Rockwell defence before prop Keith Hyland carried the ball down the right wing.

The Munchin’s forwards drove towards the line and it was Hyland who bustled over from close range in the 67^th minute.

Rockwell then responded with winger Sean Cotter racing down the left flank to score his side’s sixth try of the match, before Eddie Daly slotted the conversion.

Full-time: Rockwell College 36-5 St Munchin’s College

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, Stephen Grogan. Replacements: Cathal Ryan, Dylan Foley, Dara Murphy, Luke Fogarty, Richard Anglim, Brian Flavin, Adam Mayher, Joshua O’Dwyer.

St Munchin’s College: Conor Sheahan; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Tyrone O’Halloran, Jamie Ryan, Joshua O’Neill; Donnacha O’Callaghan, Conor McInerney; Cathal Hynes, Keith Hyland, Craig Finn, Mark Crowe, Joachim Clohessy, Dylan Higgins, Conor Nesbitt, Liam Neilan. Replacements: Jack Devanny, Evan Kelly, Kean Sheehy, Jamie Hamilton, Louis McCormack, Aaron Deegan, Josh Egan, Ewan O’Brien.

Referee: Kieran Barry (MAR)