Crescent off to a winning start

CRESCENT made a winning start to their Avonmore Munster Schools Junior Cup title defence at Rosbrien yesterday.

The strength of their forwards was key to this success in difficult conditions. They dominated the line-out and shone in the tight with Jay Kavanagh, Cormac Blake and John Tuohy always to the fore. Ed Barry was an excellent scrum half but their midfield defence will be a worry as the competition progresses.

Despite first-half dominance they had to rely on three penalties for the 9-0 interval lead. Gearoid Lyons landed the opener after 20 minutes with Greg O’Shea kicking two more in the closing minutes.

Castletroy spurned three penalty chances ten minutes into the second half in a bid for a try and their decision paid off when Mark McCarthy got through to touchdown. Seven minutes from the end Paul Butler added a penalty to set up a grandstand finish but Crescent weathered the storm.

Halfbacks Rory Cunningham and Mark McCarthy impressed for the losers as did Pat O’Kane and Jack O’Neill.

Scorers for Crescent Comp: G O’Shea 2 pens, G Lyons 1 pen

Scorers for Castletroy: M McCarthy, try, P Butler pen.

CRESCENT COMPREHENSIVE: G O’Shea; J Beary, J O’Sullivan, JJ O’Neill, A Crean; G Lyons, E Barry; J Tuohy, J Greene, L McMahon; R Scott M O’Donnell; R Noone, J Kavanagh, C Blake.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: P Butler; J Fox, C Malone, R Phelan, R Joyce; M McCarthy, R Cunningham; C Humphreys (E Fitzgerald), R Sweeney, A Clancy; J O’Neill; R Larby (N Clohessy); P O’Kane, D Kennedy, R Murphy.

Referee: T O’Donoughue, (MAR).