Murphy inspires mighty Munchin’s
Munchin’s made light of the fact that Ard Scoil Ris went into the game as favourites on the basis of the representative experience gained by one third of the team this year.
But Ard Scoil will bemoan the fact that they opted to play against the breeze in the opening half, because the game was effectively over at the interval with Munchin’s leading 17-3.
Ard Scoil Ris mounted a spirited revival but their efforts were undone by a series of errors, along with the contribution of Munchin’s cool out-half Wayne Murphy, whose second-half scoring contribution was decisive.
“Nobody but ourselves believed we could win this game,” said winning coach John Broderick: “All the talk was about Ard Scoil and I suppose in terms of this season we were late developers.
“Maybe we didn’t take our full complement of chances in the first-half but I thought the lads fought very well against a well organised defence, and I thought our hooker Gerard Slattery had a huge game, not bad for a Bowen Shield player.”
While Liam Casey, Marcus O’Mahony, David Sherry, Ross O’Loughlin and Conan Doyle stood out for the losers, Munchin’s produced the classic team performance.
The pack was well drilled, worked hard for each other, and David Gardiner stood out from start to finish. Although individual brilliance was at a premium, wingers Eric Moloney and Frankie Daly and out-half Murphy had their moments when given space.
Munchin’s thoroughly deserved their half-time lead, even if there was a hint of good fortune about their opening try in 13 minutes.
They dominated territory and created all of the realistic scoring chances. Fergal Walsh blocked down a clearance in the opening minute but the ball skidded away from him to the safety of the dead ball line. Fintan Cross and Moloney were both stopped on the line in the 3rd and 9th minutes before Murphy finally opened Munchin’s account.
John Clogan appeared to knock-on, but referee Olan Trevor allowed play continue and Murphy was first to the ball for a try that he converted himself, via an upright.
It got worse for Ard Scoil when Gardiner intercepted inside his own half and the number eight had the speed and the strength to make it all the way to the line. Murphy added the points and, after further pressure, he added a 35th minute penalty. The only source of consolation for Ard Scoil was an excellently struck drop goal from Doyle.
The course of the game changed quickly though after the break. Ard Scoil’s man of the match Casey linked brilliantly with Ross O’Loughlin and sent winger Walpole in for a try at the corner early in the second-half.
When Doyle kicked a penalty after 16 minutes it was, at 11-17, and game on. However, Murphy then brought his skills to bear and the game was quickly over when he kicked a 22nd minute penalty and dropped a goal two minutes later. These chances arose from isolated St. Munchin’s raids but were enough to tilt the balance back in their favour. They retained their composure to the end despite a late Ard Scoil Ris rally, which yielded a penalty try that Doyle converted.
St. Munchin’s reward is a place in the last four against the winners of the Bandon/Crescent tie on Monday and they must now be favoured to make it to the final.
J. P. Hartigan, F. Daly, A. Ajoung, J. Clogan, E. Moloney, W. Murphy, T. Cahill, S. Foster, G. Slattery, A. Cotter, N. Keogh, F. Walsh (captain), L. Mullane, D. Gardiner, F. Cross. Replacements. T. Nihill for Keogh (4), T. Bennett for Cahill (47), D. Lavery for Foster (59)
T. Finnucane, B. Walpole, P. Clarke, P. Nicholas, L. Keehan, C. Doyle, A. Airey, S. Cronin, L. Casey, S. Daly, J. Goggin, C. Griffin, D. Sherry, M. O’Mahony (captain). Replacements. A. Quilligan for Griffin (50), temporary replacement, M. Flood for O’Loughlin (53-59).
O. Trevor (Munster)
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