Pres beat old foes to reach final

PBC Cork 11, CBC Cork 8

Both sides scored a quality try, both kicked a penalty, but then Presentation, the cup holders, edged in front with a second penalty midway through the second half.

The biting wind did nothing to help either side yet it was an entertaining match amidst the struggle to cope with the conditions.

Certainly, it was a fascinating struggle up front. Christians took two early strikes against the head before Pres clawed back to take two of their own in the second half.

The lineouts were frustrating for both sides and the high wind made it virtually impossible for the throwers to find the target.

Behind the scrum there was some fine fare despite the occasional handling lapse. Both scrum-halves, Philip Hogan for Pres and Dermot Collins for Christians, looked capable of doing damage.

Peter O’Driscoll and Ivan Dineen were the next best of the Christian back division, although Pres had a more balanced look overall and equally dangerous runners in Scott Deasy and Ronen Tollman.

Christians bounced into an early lead with a penalty from Mark O’Donovan but they were pegged back when Eoin Cotter equalised eight minutes later.

A couple of minutes before the break, Pres went ahead 8-3 thanks to a magnificent try. Robert Allen sucked in the Christians cover with a storming run through the middle and slick handling through the backs saw wing Tim Kenneally touchdown.

But Christians were right back in the hunt early in the second half. Scrum-half Collins did the initial damage. They won a ruck in front of the Pres posts and swept left to where second row Stephen Holland put the finishing touches to a great move.

Cotter got a vital penalty for Pres midway through the half to secure a place for the holders in another final.

PBC: S Costigan, E Cotter, R Tollman, S Deasy, T Kenneally, B Dennehy, P Hogan, S Malone (captain), R Love, J Crotty, R MacCarthy, T Hennebry, O Cummins, R Allen, R Owens.

CBC: I Dineen, P O’Driscoll, F Tummon, D Houlihan, L Melia, M O’Donovan, D Collins, N Murphy, J Noonan, J Erangey, P Murphy, S Holland, S O’Sullivan (captain), I McCarthy, K Essex.

Referee: R Coughlan (MAR).