St. Munchin’s Hold On for Semi Final Place

St. Munchin’s College booked their Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup semi final place with a narrow 13-11 victory over Castletroy College in Thomond Park today.

St. Munchin’s College 13-11 Castletroy College
Thomond Park

Defending champions St. Munchin’s College clung onto a narrow lead to claim their Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup semi final place, after a determined effort from Castletroy College at Thomond Park today.

St. Munchin’s were firmly in control in the first half, with their dominant pack creating a solid attacking platform for the defending champions. Scrum half Conor Murray put their first points on the board with a successful penalty kick after three minutes, with Murray crossing the line for a try twelve minutes later. Centre Anthony Barry put St. Munchin’s 13-0 ahead after 25 minutes, where the score remained until the break.

Despite St. Munchin’s holding onto possession for long periods of the second half, Castletroy College found their way back into the game. Second row Darragh Frawley kicked a successful penalty ten minutes into the half and the score remained static until ten minutes to go when full back Ronan O’ Mahony, now switched to outhalf, kicked a drop goal to narrow St. Munchin’s lead. With just two minutes to go before fulltime, No. 8 Sean Rennison crossed the line to set up a nailbiting finale. A difficult conversion attempt from the sideline that would have levelled the game didn’t find its target, and the champions held on for the narrowest of victories. Best for St. Munchin’s College included the half back partnership of Conor Murray and Robert Guerin, with the pack doing Trojan work throughout the game. For Castletroy, prop Tadhg Casey had a terrific game, as did second row Darragh Frawley and try scorer Sean Rennison.

St. Munchin’s await the result of the Glenstal Abbey School and Christian Brothers College quarter final on Saturday before their semi final opposition is determined. In the other half of the draw, PBC and Crescent College Comprehensive will face off after coming through their respective quarter finals on Wednesday.

St. Munchin’s College
15. Craig O’ Hanlon, 14. Diarmuid McMahon, 13. Michael Kelleher, 12. Anthony Barry, 11. Gareth O’ Hanlon, 10. Robert Guerin, 9. Conor Murray, 1. Darren Kavanagh, 2. Robert Meyer, 3. Timothy O’ Sullivan-Glynn, 4. Stephen Gallagher, 5. Eoin Cunnane, 6. Ger Burke, 7. Liam Og Murphy (Captain), 8. Ian Houlihan
Replacements:
Kevin Hartnett for Gareth O’ Hanlon (injured) (45), Evan Culhane for Stephen Gallagher (60), Robert Guerin for Craig O’ Hanlon (injured) (62)

Castletroy College
15. Ronan O’ Mahony, 14. Finbarr Ryan, 13. Diarmuid McCarthy, 12. Eoin O’ Neill, 11. Colm Dillon, 10. Mike O’ Shea, 9. Ralph Parkes, 1. Tadgh Casey, 2. Padraig Hogan, 3. Lorcan Carroll Captain, 4. Darragh Frawley, 5. Ciaran Hannon, 6. Michael Dunphy, 7. Gareth Clarke, 8. Sean Rennison
Replacements: Brian Creagan for Mike O’ Shea (60), John O’ Gorman for Lorcan Carroll (60), Mark Foley for Ronan O’ Mahony (BS)

FIXTURES/RESULTS
Quarter Finals
Presentation Brothers College 13-0 Rockwell College
Ard Scoil Ris 7-9 Crescent College Comprehensive
St. Munchin’s College 13-11 Castletroy College

Saturday 10th February
Glenstal Abbey School v CBC, Clanwilliam, 3pm.

Semi Finals
Tuesday, 6th March 2007
Glenstal Abbey School/CBC v St. Munchin’s College, 3pm, Venue TBA.

Wednesday, 7th March 2007
PBC v Crescent College Comprehensive, 3pm, Venue TBA.

Final
Monday 19th March 2007