PBC, Cork secure final berth in exciting seven-try thriller

PBC, Cork 26

The prize for the winners is a place in the final of the Coca-Cola Munster Schools Senior Cup against old rivals Christian Brothers College at Musgrave Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Árd Scoil Rís had been portrayed as being one dimensional but they brought a lot of extras to this game and forced Pres, last year’s beaten finalists, to the limit to survive.

The visitors led 14-12 at the interval after taking first half opportunities and Pres had to call on all their resources to pull away.

When they did take the lead midway through the second period, they looked irresistible, but Árd Scoil refused to give up the fight and had the last say in injury time to leave Pres with a one-score win margin.

Pres will have to have a long and very hard look at their line-out. Sure, they got it right in the second-half but struggled for long periods without possession in the first. They lost three of their own throws in that spell.

The positives came in the scrums and in their ability to use a lively back division from limited possession.

When they enjoyed a 50-50 share of the ball in the second spell, Pres looked much better and struck brilliantly for two tries courtesy of left winger Ed Mills.

They turned the tide and Ard Scoil had to withstand mounting pressure before coming away to score a consolation try in injury time.

Still, this will be a game remembered for its excitement, the mistakes were plentiful but both sides also produced quality rugby to keep the respective supporters on their toes.

Stephen O’Brien set the ball rolling in 20 minutes when Robert Brockert and Sean Ryan created the opening for the visitors.

O’Brien finished the move off and David Sherry converted from wide out for a 7-0 lead.

Pres, starved of possession for most of the opening exchanges, finally got into an attacking position and they made full use of the space.

Martin Gatley made the first drive and Brian Barry picked up to plough his way over. Tom Gleeson converted.

The drama continued from the kick-off when Darragh Murphy intercepted a pass inside the Pres 40 metre line and made it all the way for a second try that Sherry converted.

Five minutes later Finbarr Dennehy was sent in at the corner by Gleeson and Pres trailed by just two points at the break.

Pres exerted pressure after the break, were held up over the line and then Gleeson missed a penalty.

The turning point came in the 48th minute when the Limerick side failed to take advantage of rare pressure.

Pres came back and Mills fastened onto a loose ball in the middle of the pitch to race away for a try that Gleeson converted.

The winger scored again ten minutes later to put daylight between the teams and Gleeson converted.

With seconds remaining, Patrick Keating skipped through for an Ard Scoil Rís try that Sherry converted.

It was too late and Pres set themselves up for another Cork showdown later this month.

PBC: D. Kingston, F. Dennehy, T. Gleeson, A. Kelleher, E. Mills, E. Ryan, D. O’Leary, M. Gately, J. Sommerfield, B. Barry, C. Kenefick, D. Prendergast, D. Daly, D. Long, R. Geoghegan. Replacements. S. Clinch for Daly (45), J. Moynihan for Sommerfield (70), K. McCarthy for Kelleher (72).

ARD SCOIL RÍS: S. Leland, S. Barry, B. Hughes, S. Ryan, S. O’Brien, C. Doyle, P. Keating, P. Allen, J. Ryan, R. Brockert, D. Leahy, J. Gilmartin, D. Murphy, D. Sherry, M. O’Mahony.

Replacements: M. O’Connell for Leahy, S. Baynes for O’Mahony (both 63), L. Casey for Allen (70), M. Tynan for J. Ryan (72).

Referee; G. English (M.A.R).