Report | St Munchin’s Claim Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup

St. Munchin’s captured the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup for the sixth time in the school’s history with an impressive performance at Thomond Park to defeat holders Christian Brother College 15-10 on Wednesday afternoon.

Christians who were bidding for their 19^th title have yet to win back-to-back titles but they fought to the finish in style.

Munchin’s dominated the opening stages of the first-half and were unlucky not to be awarded a try when they touched the base of the post. However, they took the lead in the ninth minute with a penalty by Darragh Long.

The Christians’ pack began to get on top and were led by their skipper Luke McAuliffe and were rewarded with a try from full-back George Coomber who scored in the corner after 18 minutes for a 5-3 lead.

A minute before half-time Graham Kirwan scored a try for Munchin’s in the corner for an 8-5 half-time lead.

Three minutes into the second half, Munchin’s out-half Alex Wood (son of Keith Wood) scored a wonderful try under the posts and Long converted for a 15-5 lead for the Corbally College side.

Christians did everything to save the game but their only reward was a second try from Coomber in the corner in the 55^th minute.

Munchin’s withstood anything that Christians threw at them in the final minutes to ensure that the trophy would be going to Corbally for the sixth time.

St. Munchin’s: Josh Egan; Joshua Costello, Darragh Long, Seamus McCarthy Burbage, Conor O’Shaughnessy; Alexander Wood, Donnacha O’Callaghan; Kean Sheehy, Joachim Clohessy, Kieran Ryan; Louis McCormack, Graham Kirwan; Dylan Higgins, Evan Hickey, Liam Neilan.

Replacements: Denis Birmingham, Nathan Walsh, Jonathan Kelly, Morgan Bateman, Diarmuid DeBarra, Conor O’Brien Comerford, Scott Quilligan, Joseph Dougan.

C.B.C.: George Coomber; Jack McGrath, Daire Burke, Patrick O’Hara, Ben McGarry; Andrew O’Mahony, Eoin Birchall; Alan McDonald, Luke McAuliffe, Corey Hanlon; Mark Ludgate, James Morrisson; Patrick McBarron, Dylan O’Connor, Ronan O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Luke Buckley, Wanfred Waterman, Gavin Kennelly, Jason Ahern, Kevin Roche, Jack Kennifick, Tom McCarthy, David McPolin, Marcus Corcoran, Tom Maher.

Referee: Ken Imbusch (MAR).

Ronan Calvert reports from Thomond Park…

St Munchin’s took on CBC in the 2018 Junior Cup Final in Thomond Park earlier today in what proved to be a schools rugby classic.

The stage for this game was set beautifully as the weather held up well and the two sets of supporters made for a raucous atmosphere long before kick off.

It was Munchin’s who took control early doors. Some varied attack followed by a brilliantly executed kick by scrumhalf Donnchadh O’Callaghan pinned CBC inside their own five metre line after just a couple of minutes.

Christians eventually kicked clear but Munchins ran back at them with power and purpose, forcing the Cork men to concede a penalty right in front of the posts. Darragh Long struck it over with ease to make it Munchins 3-0 CBC before the ten minute mark.

CBC responded well. While their first prolonged attack of the game only resulted in a turnover, the visitors showed composure to retain possession for a ten minute period as strong carries from their backrowers proved particularly testing for the Munchin’s defence.

And such pressure eventually caused the Limerick side to crack.

As defenders became drawn to the CBC ball carriers, an overlap developed on the right wing and a few passes later fullback George Coomber was over for the game’s opening try. CBC failed to convert but now lead 5-3.

However, Munchins finished the half just as they started it. The forward turned the screw with consecutive carries and at the end of some industrious work, second row Graham Kirwan found his way over for a try tight to the touchline.

HT: Munchin’s 8-3 CBC

Munchin’s again took the initiate in the second half. The teams were barely back out on the pitch when outhalf Alex Wood broke clean through to score an outstanding try for his side. Long converted to stretch the scores to Munchins 15-5 CBC.

From there Munchin’s appeared to be comfortable as the Corbally men strutted their stuff with some lovely patterns of play. However, it wasn’t to be a straight-forward finale as CBC bounced back with a second try from George Coomber, leaving the scoreline at Munchin’s 15-10 CBC with five minutes left to play.

CBC huffed and puffed in pursuit of what proved to be an elusive third try, but Munchin’s held out to win their first Junior Cup in twenty years!

2018 Junior Cup Champions: St Munchin’s College.

FT: Munchin’s 15-10 CBC