Casey’s penalty treble prompts Rockwell win

NOT the most spectacular game ever played, but that will hardly bother Rockwell College today as they look forward to the quarter-finals of the Munster Junior Cup.

Three penalties from centre Liam Casey proved enough to overcome brave resistance from a Glenstal team who were willing but couldn’t manufacture more scores when needed.

The try-line was not breached at any stage but it was always Rockwell who looked more likely to do so, with numerous sniping breaks from the half-back partnership of Ben Riley and Joss Murray along with strong ball-carrying on occasion by number eight James Feehan and the centres Liam Casey and Óisín Leahy.

Rockwell took early control of the match at a cold Clanwilliam ground, with Casey drilling over two penalties in the opening eight minutes.

Glenstal had their moments, with Hugh Connors coming close but defied by stubborn defending and Andrew Grey missing a pass on the left wing with the line close at hand. But Rockwell kept their noses in front, despite Kevin O’Keeffe pulling Glenstal back with a penalty, and Lukas Kaminski almost breached the line but was also kept at bay.

Their third penalty 10 minutes from time ensured the victory and a home quarter-final against Castletroy College.

ROCKWELL COLLEGE: W Coffey, R Deeleman, O Leahy, L Casey L Kaminski, B Riley, J Murray, K Farrell (captain), S McNulty, D O’Connell, J Smyth, T Brophy, J Brophy, E McCarthy, J Feehan. Replacement: J Burke for J Brophy.

GLENSTAL ABBEY: C Healy, L Kelly, M Boland, H Connors, A Grey, K O’Keeffe (captain), O Bradley, A Plettenberg, J Healy, J Murphy, B Clancy, N Mulvihill, K Glynn, G O’Hara, J Boland. Replacements: V Garrett for A. Grey, H Healy (temp) for K. Glynn.

Referee: A. Costello (MAR)