Murray stars as Castletroy stun Pres

CASTLETROY College enjoyed the biggest day in their seven-year history at Thomond Park yesterday when they defeated Presentation College Cork by 5-3 in the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup.

Castletroy’s delight was understandable given that they are still a fledgling academy, whereas Pres is one of the most famous rugby schools in the country and captured this title first in 1933, a year after its inauguration.

The Limerick side is now into the semi-finals, whereas Pres still have a game to play that will keep their interest alive if they are successful.

Pres enjoyed almost total territorial supremacy in the second half and could manage no more than a close-range penalty by Pat Deasy.

However, all credit must go to the magnificent Castletroy defence, who withstood a powerful Pres pack in which number eight Brian Carroll and flanker Dave O’Mahony were a constant threat. When awarded a penalty in the right corner of the Castletroy 22 in the last minute, Pres kicked for touch even though three points would have won the match. They mauled their way to the opposition line but Castletroy hooker Alex de Sousa somehow stole the ball.

It was the last throw of the dice for Pres and in many ways the honours rested where they deserved, not least because of the manner in which Castletroy grabbed the game’s only try.

It came in the 16th minute when out-half Peter Murray scorned a penalty close to the Pres posts and sprinted diagonally to his left to touch down before the defence had time to react.

PBC: P. Deasy; W. Murphy, C. Bohane, G. Murray, S. Og Murphy; J. Costigan, M. Kelleher; N. Scannell (Capt.), B. Vaughan, I. Mullarkey, R. O’Herlihy, K. Kingston, D. O’Mahony, K. Ryan, B. Carroll. Replacements, B. Coughlan for K. Kingston 47 mins; P. MacKeown for Ryan 50.

CASTLETROY: A. Collins; A. Dolan, P. O’Connor, P. Quinn, S. Cunningham; P. Murray, D. Foley; K. Kennedy, J. Rael, A. De Sousa, M. O’Dwyer, B. Stokes, M. Dooley, K. Doyle, D. Hannon (Capt.) Replacement, G. Keane for Stokes 55.

Referee: R. Coughlan (Munster).