Crescent too strong for gallant Glenstal

Crescent 39 Glenstal 17: Crescent turned in a superb second-half performance against Glenstal in yesterday’s Munster Schools Senior Cup game to qualify for next week’s quarter-finals. 

The game was switched from Thomond Park to the 4G all-weather pitch at UL and the surface played a major part in a cracking encounter that contained eight tries, several of a very high quality.

Even though well beaten in the first round by CBC, Crescent always looked a side capable of reviving their interest in the event and so it proved.

Two breakaway tries helped to put a gloss on the scoreboard and Glenstal never deserved to lose by such a wide margin. But Crescent’s speedy back line in which full-back Daniel Hurley, captain and centre Calvin Nash, and left wing Conor Phillips were outstanding, will continue to pose a serious threat, especially with firm underfoot conditions. Still much will depend on the capacity of the forward pack to claim a reasonable degree of possession.

Crescent took an early lead with a Daniel Hurley penalty but there was little between the sides after that until the 23rd minute when Nash used his pace to set up a try for his centre partner Billy O’Hora. Glenstal grabbed a surprise lead when out-half Ben Healy kicked a penalty and then added the points to an opportunist try by skipper Jack Stafford. However, Hurley showed his class as he ran in a splendid individual try to put Crescent 15-10 ahead at the break.

Mark Fleming, Johnny Williams, Ben Healy and Jack Stafford spearheaded gallant Glenstal attempts to resist Crescent pressure, but they were eventually over-run by tries from Michael Sheehan, Conor Phillips, Jake Fehily, and Niall Mulcahy, two converted by Hurley. Glenstal’s resilience was rewarded with a try by George Downes, converted by Healy.

CRESCENT:

D Hurley; G Dickenson, C Nash capt, B O’Hora, C Phillips; M Hanly, J Lyons; J Henchy, J Barry, T Connolly, J Blake, F Coleman, N Mulcahy, P Ian Hickey, B Falloon.

Replacements:

D Feasey for Blake; J Fehily for Phillips; M Sheehan for Hickey.

GLENSTAL:

J Mawhinney; J O’Mahony, L Fitzgerald, J Stafford capt, G Daly; B Healy, R Johnston; P Molony, G Downing, E Bergin, T Broderick, S Downes, R Clarke, J Williams, M Fleming.

Replacements:

S Garry for Bergin; H Downing for Molony; T McCoole for Johnston; D Floyd for Daly; C O’Sullivan for O’Mahony.

Referee:

M Connolly (MAR)..