Crescent put icing on cake late on

Crescent 29 Castletroy 3

Two late converted tries put a flattering appearance on the scoreboard but Crescent looked a class act in crossing the Castletroy line on five occasions in yesterday’s Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final clash at Thomond Park.

When the Castletroy forwards got motoring, especially in the second half, there could be only one outcome as they cruised through to a semi-final meeting with PBC at Musgrave Park.

Wingers Ben Carew and Tim Duggan scored three of the five tries through a combination of devastating pace and intelligent lines of running, making the Limerick side strong contenders for their first title since 2011.

Carew touched down in the right corner to put Crescent ahead after 15 minutes and even though Castletroy narrowed the gap through an Eoin Murphy penalty the lead was stretched to 10-3 at the interval by a Jamie Hoffman try.

Then Crescent cruised into top gear and there was a great deal to admire in the way second-row Cian McDonagh and Duggan and Carew went over for tries, two of which were converted by out-half John Hurley.

CRESCENT:

D Larkin; T Duggan, J Hoffman, J Delaney, B Carew; J Hurley, D Ahern; R Gallery, R Reynolds, C Fitzgerald, C McDonagh, C O’Leary, O Evans, A Garland, J Madden.

CASTLETROY:

D Crampton; R Lazurath, L Callanan, E Murphy, C Fitzgibbon; S Madden, M O’Hanrahan; PJ Allen, K O’Shea, R Magill, G Bourke, J Coates, G Moore, C Whyte, R Keavney capt. Replacements – C Toland for Lazaruth 28;

Referee:

A McInerney (IRFU).

* The draw for the semi-finals was made after this game and resulted:

CBC v Glenstal, PBC v Crescent. Both in Cork on the week beginning February 22.