Polished Poland a matchwinner as powerful Pres advance to semi-finals
Things did not look well for the Cork College eight minutes before the break as, laying with the wind, they trailed 3-0 to a Peter Meyer penalty. However, Pres skipper Paul Kiernan lifted his side with a wonderful try, which David O’Sullivan converted.
Man of the match John Poland then made it 14-3 on the stroke of half-time with a superb try. Munchin’s had won a scrum against the head in their own 22, but indecision by the Limerick side was punished by Poland, who gathered the loose ball and raced under the posts for O’Sullivan to convert.
Pres extended their advantage six minutes into the second half when full-back O’Sullivan cut through the Munchin’s defence to touch down, and he also converted.
Munchin’s efforts were rewarded with a try by substitute Eoin Brewett which Meyer converted with 12 minutes remaining.
Pres made sure of their semi-final place with a try from Luke Clarke after good work by Poland and with the last play of the game, Darragh McSweeney touched down for Munchin’s.
PBC: D O’Sullivan; C Barrett, P Kiernan, L Clarke, S Guilfoyle; R Reidy, J Poland; J Ring, J Linehan, J O’Donovan; A Ring, D Fitzgerald; M Fitzgibbon, W Buckley, C O’Flynn. Replacements: E McCarthy, G O’Mahony, E Ryan, G Smith, BPope, K O’Leary, D Dennehy, P Hogan.
ST MUNCHIN’S: S Halpin; B Price, J O’Hanlon, K Browne, S O’Sullivan; D O’Dwyer, A Nunan; J Prendeville, E O’Callaghan, A Sheehy; N Nugent, J Foley; P Meyer, S O’Dea, J Healy.
Replacements: H McDonald, C Wells, R O’Sullivan Glynn, D McSweeney, A Fitzgerald, E Mulcahy, E Brewett, D Hayes.
Referee: M Connolly (MAR).
Castletroy College did all their scoring in the first half and then withstood a late rally to hold off Crescent in an entertaining Munster Schools’ Junior Cup tie at Annacotty.
Castletroy went in front with a penalty by Conor Linehan and when Niall O’Shea got in for a try after 34 minutes, Linehan converted to have his side 10-0 clear.
But Calvin Nash hauled Crescent back into the game with a penalty.
The game looked destined for extra-time when Crescent scored a spectacular try five minutes from the end by winger Garry O’Sullivan. Unfortunately Nash failed to convert.
CASTLETROY COLLEGE: B Donovan; P Morrissey, B Nash, S Hoare, J Porter; C Linehan, R Cunningham (capt); E Fitzgerald (D Kennedy), L Lyons, M Finucane, (S Shinnors); J Doyle, S O’Hara; D Rowsome, N O’Shea, R Murphy.
CRESCENT COMPREHENSIVE: G Dickenson; G O’Sullivan, S Eades, C Nash, B O’Hora; J Harrington, P Spillane; C Moloney (D McDonnell), S Hensey, M McGann (capt); E Prendergast, C Reale; A Harrisson (S Naughton), S Fitzgerald, O Quinlan.
Referee: R Horgan (MAR).
CBC will meet Castletroy College in the semi-final, at a Limerick venue in a fortnight, after defeating Glenstal at Temple Hill yesterday.
The Limerick side were first on the scoreboard in the second minute as Max Ryan slotted over a penalty.
Christians opened their account in the 14th minute when tight-head prop Craig Roche was credited with a pushover try from a driving maul. Michael O’Halloran added the extras.
Three minutes later the deficit was down to a single point when Max Ryan converted a long range penalty.
Shortly before the interval CBC increased their lead when Evan Mintern dived over in the corner to leave the half-time score 12-6.
In a tight second half, Glenstal had chances but bad handling in scoring positions denied them a score.
CBC: K Doyle; D Lee, M Clune, P Hyde, B O’Callaghan; M O’Halloran, J Murphy; C Fitzgerald, V O’Brien, G Roche; D Lynch, E Mintern; S O’Hanlon, Dl Walsh, C Barry. Replacements: E Scully for O’Brien and R McGuire for O’Brien (both 46 mins); N Guilfoyle for Walsh (49 mins).
GLENSTAL ABBEY: M Boland; S O’Sullivan, T Costigan, M Ryan, D Kenny; J McAlease, R Johnston; J Hartnett, M Ryan, G Fitzpatrick; N Mulvihill, E Ryan; B Clancy, J Murphy, G O’Hara.
Replacements: C Hogan for Johnston and J Stafford for McAlease (both H/T)
Referee: G Finn (MAR).
