Glenstal gutted as PBC comeback forces replay

AFTER an amazing Avonmore Milk Munster Schools’ Senior Cup tie at Cork Institute of Technology yesterday, both sides must battle again for the right to meet either St Munchin’s or Ardscoil Ris in the semi-final.

When Glenstal pushed into a 14-point lead with 15 minutes remaining, the minnows dared to dream. In the end, however, Glenstal will feel most disappointed although Pres deserved another chance.

That fight-back was mainly down to a common sense approach in those closing minutes when they finally decided to take the shortest route to the line and made full use of captain John Fitzgerald and flanker Paul Derham, who caused most of the problems at close quarters for a tiring Glenstal.

Pres started dominated early on and Steve Dinan broke the deadlock with a 15th minute try of quality. Unleashed near half way, Dinan scythed through a gap and scored in the corner.

Glenstal hit back six minutes later when Andrew Boland left the Pres defence for dead 60 metres out and his inside pass was picked up by winger Hugh Connors, with Luke Bradley brilliantly converting for a 7-5 lead.

Seven minutes later Boland picked up Rory Scannell’s ill-judged garryowen and raced away from inside his own ‘22 before sending fellow centre Ian Kenny in for another excellent try to stretch the advantage to seven.

Dinan and Bradley swapped penalties to begin the second half before Glenstal scorched over for their third try, courtesy of centre Kenny. Bradley’s conversion set up what appeared to be an unassailable 22-8 advantage.

But Pres were back in the hunt five minutes later courtesy of a try scored by skipper Fitzgerald, with Dinan converting to give his side a lifeline.

And with the pack getting a firm grip, there was to be a dramatic climax and Pres finally burrowed over for another try from Fitzgerald. Dinan’s kick from the touchline levelled the match with just 50 seconds left.

PBC: S Dinan, J Barrett, S Glynn, C Murphy, B Crowley, R Scannell, P O’Leary, A Slattery, M Abbott, D Hartnett, R McCarthy, I Silke, W Foley, J Fitzgerald (captain), P Derham.

Replacements: R Callanan for Slattery (half time, injured), K Farmer for Silke, D O’Keeffe for Crowley (both 47).

GLENSTAL: S Gleeson (captain), H Connors, A Boland, I Kenny, R Shanahan, L Bradley, A Devereux, D Higgins, C McCarthy, K Grennan, K Lynch, M O’Riordan, I McCarthy, T Ryan, R Dooley.

Replacements: D Higgins for Grennan (70)

Referee: T Collins (MAR)