Hanrahan drops bombshell as Rockwell steal semi-final victory over Castletroy

THEY really don’t come any more dramatic than this!

No fewer than 11 additional minutes had been played at Clanwilliam Park yesterday when Rockwell out-half J.J. Hanrahan dropped a goal to send his side into the final of the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools’ Senior Cup final at the expense of Castletroy.

The Tipperary college looked dead and buried when the game entered stoppage time, with Castletroy leading 10-9 and seemingly in control. However, inexperience proved their undoing for, when awarded a penalty about 40 metres out, they opted to kick for touch.

Murphy’s law inevitably clicked in. Rockwell pinched possession from the line-out and piled into the attack. Number eight Luke Cahill was held up over the line in the 40th minute but still play continued. Rockwell regained possession in the right corner but when Hanrahan’s attempted cross kick sliced off his boot, it looked as if their last chance was gone.

However, as the ball landed in the in-goal area, a desperate scramble ensued. Olly Hodges (who had taken over when the original official, Dermot Moloney, had to retire after 43 minutes), seemed unsure as to what had happened and consulted with his touch judge Roger Lonergan, and awarded an attacking scrum to Rockwell.

Their initial attack was repelled by a typically resilient Castletroy defence but from the second set piece, scrum-half Tim Rafferty found Hanrahan with a fine pass and the out-half showed an icy nerve to send his drop kick sailing between the uprights.

“Any team that wins a game in the 12th minute of stoppage times has to be lucky,” conceded Rockwell manager Tony Smith.

“Castletroy made a real game of it and it was undoubtedly one of the greatest escapes in Rockwell’s history.”

The game generally failed to live up to expectations and Rockwell will know that they need to step up on yesterday’s form if they are to cope with the winners of Sunday’s second semi-final between St Munchin’s and PBC in the St Patrick’s Day decider at Thomond Park. The first half was a particularly drab affair with Padraig O’Connor kicking Castletroy ahead with a penalty after five minutes and JJ Hanrahan equalising for Rockwell shortly afterwards.

It remained 3-3 to half time and immediately afterwards the Limerick college threw away an almost certain three points when opting for a scrum when awarded a penalty close to the posts. They were unable to control the resultant possession and you felt it was a decision they would rue.

The departure of referee Moloney after 43 minutes with an Achilles injury was one of many stoppages that led to the prolonged second half. Hanrahan knocked over two penalties to push Rockwell 9-3 in front but Castletroy proved dogged fighters and after intensive pressure, out-half Padraig Quinn slipped a tackle and darted through for a well-taken try in the 67th minute that O’Connor converted with a magnificent kick from close to the right-hand touchline.

However, they were unable to cling on to their single point advantage as Hanrahan’s drop goal deprived them of the spoils at an unbelievably late hour.

That Rockwell were fortunate to prevail in the circumstances would be an understatement but they have a big, strong and well-drilled pack of forwards and will prove a handful for all comers in this area.

That is especially the case in the back row where skipper Shane Buckley on the blind side flank and Luke O’Dea at number eight are two particularly able performers. There was also much to admire in the work of second-rows Stephen Maguire and Sean McCarthy. Match winner Hanrahan, the current Ireland U18 and U19 out-half, kicked all their points, although in truth he has the capacity to make a bigger impression than this in general play.

Hooker James Rael was an inspirational leader for Castletroy although his team’s decision not to try for three points from two penalty awards at crucial stages was difficult to understand. Michael O’Dwyer was also a towering figure in the second row while nippy scrum-half Neil Cronin and Padraig Quinn made an excellent half-back partnership.

ROCKWELL: B. O’Rahilly; S. Horgan, H. McNulty, D. McGillicuddy, R. Mullane; J.J. Hanrahan, T. Rafferty; T. Doyle, R. Moran, C. O’Donnell, S. McCarthy, S. McGuire, S. Buckley cpt, J. Meagher, L. Cahill.

CASTLETROY: P. O’Connor; S. Cunningham, P. Murray, S. O’Carroll, A. Fullen; P. Quinn, N. Cronin; K. Kennedy, J. Rael cpt, A. De Souza, D. O’Brien, M. O’Dwyer, K. Doyle, M. Dooley, E. Carroll.

Replacement: W. Shanahan for Cunningham 57.

Ref: D. Moloney (replacement O. Hodges 43).