CBC dig deep to edge out Crescent

It took a last-gasp try from centre John McCarthy for CBC to claw past a classy Crescent outfit at Musgrave Park yesterday, booking their place in the Munster Senior Cup semi-final.

It was a heartbreaking blow for the Limerick school but great credit goes to CBC for the belief and resilience they displayed, especially after falling behind to a Gearoid Lyons try deep in the second half, just minutes after Michael Ryan had handed the Cork side the lead.

The potency of the Crescent backline was revealed in seven ruthless first-half minutes which earned the Limerick school 12 points.

A knock-on from fly-half Dave O’Riordan — who put CBC ahead with a penalty in the first minute — was kicked ahead by a Crescent boot. Quick ball at the ruck enabled the visitors to put JJ O’Neill in the corner for the first try after six minutes.

Seven minutes later winger Jack Hogan crossed to double their tally after a Crescent maul. Lyons added the extras to make it 12-3.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Christians enjoyed greater possession and territory with Ryan, Dylan Stokes and Darragh Moloney carrying well. O’Riordan slotted two penalties to close the gap to three points with 25 minutes to go. And relentless CBC pressure told in the 65th minute with Ryan crossing in the corner after several phases on the line.

The score was instantly cancelled out as the Crescent backline sparked into life. Lyons rightly backed himself to make the line after a break from Greg O’Shea, leaving his team 17-14 ahead.

Christians refused to give up however, and were handed one last chance with a lineout inside the Crescent 22, with the clock ticking towards 80.

After several phases the Limerick side had no answer for McCarthy’s rampaging burst which saw him crash under the posts and leave O’Riordan with a simple kick to seal the win.

Scorers for CBC Cork: Tries: M Ryan, J McCarthy; Con: D O’Riordan; Pens: D O’Riordan (3).

Scorers for Crescent: Tries: JJ O’Neill, J Hogan, G Lyons; Con: G Lyons.

CBC CORK: T Quinlan; G Ryan, T Morehead, J McCarthy, C McAuliffe; D O’Riordan (capt), C O’Regan; C Slowey, R Daly, R Burke, T Arrigan, D Moloney, A Mintern, M Ryan, D Stokes.

Replacements: A McCArthy for Mintern (45), R Foley for O’Regan (51), L O’Connor for Daly (76).

CRESCENT: G O’Shea; J Frawley, G Barry, JJ O’Neill, J Hogan; G Lyons, R O’Doherty; S McGee, J Greene, N Horan capt, S Gleeson, E Casserley, D Dee, J Kavanagh, C Blake.

Replacements: J Dineen for Barry (51), N Kerr for McGee (51), C Monaghan for O’Doherty (80).

Referee: D McCormack.