Crescent hold firm

HAVING controlled the game for much of the first half after which they led 10-0, Crescent Comprehensive had to withstand fierce final quarter pressure from Castletroy before qualifying for the semi-finals of the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup at Dooradoyle yesterday.

Once they settled down, Crescent, by far the stronger side physically, dominated the opening half. Skipper Sean Monaghan led by example and got great support from Jack Donovan and Jack Dineen and nippy scrum-half Michael D’Arcy was always a threat on the break while also linking well with powerfully built out-half Larry Hanley.

Castletroy had the first scoring chance but full-back Barry Neville pushed a 30-metre penalty right of the posts. After that, it was nearly all Crescent and it was only desperate defence that prevented lively flanker Padraig Ryan from finishing off a superb attack on 20 minutes.

However, they maintained the momentum and there was no stopping Ryan on the half hour as he reached out for the touchdown after the team had pieced together a long succession of phases.

Just before the interval, out-half Hanley displayed admirable footwork and a neat switch of direction to split the Castletroy defence for another fine try and a handsome half-time advantage of 10 points.

Castletroy came out a much more determined unit on the turnover with second-row David O’Brien, the one member of their pack with the physical prowess to match the opposition, leading a number of sorties on the Crescent line ably supported by the ever-more influential number seven Conor Bonfil.

Captain Neil Cronin, a brother of Ireland hooker Sean, was a livewire scrum-half and even though Neville missed his second shot at goal, he made no amends in the 51st minute when battle was joined in earnest.

Castletroy piled on the pressure to such an extent that Crescent were forced into a series of infringements that inevitably led to a yellow card for Jack Donovan. Surprisingly, however, Castletroy scorned the chance of certain points from goal kicks and instead went in search of a converted try but the weakened Crescent defence did well to hold their best efforts at bay.

CRESCENT: B Murphy; P O’Sullivan, D Dee, G Barry, C Buckley; L Hanley, M D’Arcy; C O’Connor, R Kavanagh, N Horan, S Stanley, J Dinneen, S Monaghan capt, P Ryan, J Donovan.

Replacements: B McSweeney for Stanley (67).

CASTLETROY: B Neville; J McDonnell, W Shanahan, E Clancy, A Fullen; S Moran, N Cronin capt; K Kennedy, Darragh O’Brien, B Foley-Friel, David O’Brien, K Reale, M Dooley, C Bonfil, E Carroll.

Replacements: S Shinners for Foley-Friel (h/t); B Burns for Darragh O’Brien, C Burns for McDonnell (both 69).

Referee: F Butler (MAR).