Holders Ard Scoil Rís on course

HOLDERS Ard Scoil Rís remain on course for a second Coca Cola Munster Schools Junior Cup after yesterday's hard-fought 12-8 semi-final victory over Presentation College at Dooradoyle.

Ard Scoil Rís 12 PBC 8

This is a game Pres will feel they left behind. Backed by the bitterly cold wind in the first half, they scored their only try in the second minute and dominated territorially from there to the half-time whistle, yet enjoyed only a single point advantage, 8-7, at the break.

The second period was more evenly contested but Ard Scoil grabbed a second try and then defended manfully to join CBC in the final at Musgrave Park in a fortnight's time.

When the Cork boys piled into attack from the kick-off and prop Chris O'Donovan forced his way over for a try almost immediately, it looked as if they were very much on the right road.

However, Ard Scoil Rís were quick to fight back for a try of their own at the other end after seven minutes when number eight and captain David Toomey crashed over between the posts for Declan O'Rahilly to convert.

It was one of the few occasions Ard Scoil managed to gain a foothold in Pres territory throughout the opening half.

They defended for the most part and looked to have been stretched after 25 minutes when a flowing movement saw Sean Quinlan go over in the corner only to have the pass from Stephen Guerin judged forward. In the end, they had to rely on a penalty landed by skipper Scott Deasy from 40 metres for their meagre half-time advantage.

Pres were anxious to bring speedy wingers Quinlan and Jack O'Sullivan into the action as much as possible.

Both looked extremely dangerous but were foiled time and again by some superb cover tackling by Ard Scoil who struck for the decisive try in the 45th minute when centre Colm Finnegan broke a couple of tackles to get to the Pres try line where second-row Gerard Leyden finished it off.

ARD SCOIL RIS: D. O'Rahilly; P. Gleeson, S. Donohoe, C. Finnegan, S. Lipper; C. Quinn, M. Rowley; D. Kilcoyne, J. Byrne, J. Burton, G. Leyden, V. Manning, B. Sheehan, J. Keogh, D. Toomey capt. Replacements: D. Lynch for Quinn and J. Noonan for Manning, both half-time.

PBC: S. Guerin; S. Quinlan, S. Deasy capt, T. Cullinane, J. O'Sullivan; B. Kelleher, A. Rose; C. O'Donovan, R. Corkery, P. Ryan, D. Touhy, M. Kenefick, D. O'Hara, D. O'Driscoll, N. Barry. Replacement: E. O'Mahony for O'Donovan, temporary, 20-25 mins.

Referee: K. Imbusch (Munster).