Mulrooney the ace as Christians battle through

WARM favourites Christian Brothers College Cork advanced to the semi-finals of the Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup at a windswept and wet Mardyke yesterday, but only after they overcame a strenuous and brave challenge from battling Ard Scoil Rís.

The prize for a workmanlike performance in difficult conditions was a game against the winners of today’s quarter-final between Crescent Comprehensive and Glenstal Abbey, but it’s clear that Christians will have to show an improvement when they bring the team on the road in the next round.

For now, they will be satisfied at the manner in which they secured victory against dogged opposition, who coughed up just the one try and then hit back to almost snatch a draw in the closing minutes.

Overall, Christians deserved their triumph, even if Ard Scoil Rís disrupted the lineouts in the opening minutes and dominated the scrums as the game drew to a close.

The visitors had quality performers in scrum half Colm Moore, centre Cian O’Brien, second row Conor Power and flankers Jerry Moore and Barry Sheehan.

Christians did overcome early nerves though and Kyle O’Dwyer and James Mulcahy came to grips with the aerial battle, while captain Brian O’Callaghan and flanker Willie Ryan were in the thick of the good moves.

Well served by Daryl Foley, CBC’s Pat Parfrey’s pace might have been more devastating on a lighter pitch. As it was, he still posed a threat.

The sides had to slug it out with penalties with from Jamie Gavin in the second and 21st minutes, either side of one from Odhran Mulrooney.

Mulrooney kicked his second after six minutes of the second half and, with the wind at their backs, CBC were expected to build on a territorial advantage.

It never materialised, however, partially because the weather restricted any risk-taking and also because Ard Scoil Rís defended quite heroically.

Eleven minutes from the end, Christians finally made the breakthrough with a try that had its origin in a breakdown by the visitors.

When the ball did go to ground on halfway, O’Callaghan hacked it on and Moore was engulfed by four CBC players, who helped win the ruck. Sweeping the ball wide, the back division had numbers in hand and Mulrooney was sent in for an excellent try that he converted himself.

CBC coach Peter Melia was happy as he noted: “Ard Scoil won the junior cup three years ago and we knew they would be well organised and physical. It was a tough game and hopefully it will steel us mentally for the remainder of the tournament.”

CBC: O. Mulrooney, D. Loftus, J. Holland, B. O’Regan, B. O’Leary, P. Parfrey, D. Foley, C. Corkery, K. Stokes, J. Bransfield, J. Mulcahy, K. O’Dwyer, J. Crowley, B. O’Callaghan (captain), W. Ryan. Replacements. A. Joyce for Corkery.

ARD SCOIL RÍS: C. O’Shea, E. O’Driscoll-Collins, C. O’Brien, K. Hodnett, J. Murray, J. Gavin, C. Moore, A. Grimes, D. Rowley, D. Cantillon, C. Power, J. Perrott, J. Moore, J. Deegan, B. Sheehan (captain). Replacements. P. Clayton for Grimes, B. Storan for Hodnett (injured).

Referee: D. McCormack (IRFU).