Rockwell bidding to roll over CBC

ROCKWELL COLLEGE bid to reach a third successive Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup final when they face Christian Brothers College Cork in Clanwilliam today (3pm).

These two cup heavyweights slug it out for a place in the St Patrick’s Day decider against either Crescent Comprehensive or holders Presentation, who meet in Thomond tomorrow (3pm).

Rockwell received a boost with fly half Conor Holland and second row Sean McCarthy back from injury. Though they struggled to defeat Ard Scoil Rís (8-3) last time out, rugby secretary Tony Smith hopes for a repeat of the form that saw off St Munchin’s (33-13).

He said: “If we play against Christians like we did against Ard Scoil Rís then we will have difficulty in winning. Christians are a very big physical side. We’re going to have to be at our best.”

Christians came through the opening round as winners (they scored the first try) although their game with Castletroy College ended in a 10-10 draw, before defeating Glenstal 13-3.

Peter Melia from Christians cited Rockwell’s experience — they have seven of last year’s team in action — and accepts his side will be underdogs. But he warned: “Schools cup rugby is often about what happens on the day so this could be an intriguing contest.”

Crescent beat Ard Scoil 15-5 before overcoming Castletroy (10-3) while PBC overcame Glenstal (21-5) and St Munchin’s (17-6).

ROCKWELL: D McGillicuddy, S Horgan, H McNulty, K Kiely, R Jermyn, C Holland, B. Hough, C O’Donnell (captain), D Mulcahy, M J Murphy, S McCarthy, A O’Sullivan, R Moran, L Cahill, S Dwyer.

CBC: D McNamara, J McCarthy, K Slater (capt), C Barry, C O’Halloran, B Monaghan, C O’Regan, P McCabe, C Scannell, J Quirke, J Brown, C Frost, I Whelan, S Glynn, D Nolan.

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

PBC: S. Glynn, S Dinan, R Scannell, R Caplice, J Kiernan, E Mills, C Bannon, B Scott, W Foley, K Kingston, P. Derham, J Fitzgerald, A Hudson, R Murphy, J Duffy.