Crescent turn on the style to beat Castletroy in Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final

Crescent 33 - Castletroy 12 

Crescent Comprehensive ran in five stunning tries in a blistering second-half performance at Thomond Park yesterday to turn a 12-0 half time deficit into a 33-12 victory over Limerick rivals Castletroy in a sensational semi-final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup.

While flattered by the winning margin, Crescent displayed commendable character in recovering from a poor first-half display to completely turn the tables on their opponents while their attacking play on the turnover was of the highest quality. Given the manner in which CBC accounted for PBC in the first semi-final 24 hours earlier, the stage is set for a mouth-watering final at Musgrave Park on March 13.

Christians beat Crescent 17-5 when the sides met in the first round but that score line also gave a slightly distorted picture of a game that was closely fought until the closing moments.

Interestingly, only two teams, the two finalists, Christians in 2009 and Crescent in 2013, have lost before the knock-out stages and went on to capture the trophy!

This was a remarkable contest considering a side that rarely looked like scoring in the first-half should manage 33 in the second.

The supremacy of the Castletroy forwards with Mark O’Mara back after injury to lead from the front and Sean English and Dylan Reeves-Wasik in towering form led to tries following close range line-outs for scrum-half Stephen Atkinson and prop Conor Myers, with Jamie Heuston converting the first.

To Crescent’s credit, they never lost their composure but they were still 12 points in arrears 13 minutes into the second-half before making the all-important breakthrough.

Centre Billy O’Hora had been held up over the Castletroy line before replacement flanker Peter Ian Hickey forced his way through at the posts and Daniel Hurley converted to set the revival underway.

Within two minute, they were back for a second try: centre Calvin Nash made a brilliant break from deep in his own half and drew the cover before delivering an inch perfect pass to full-back Hurley who scorched away for a try which he converted.

From the restart Castletroy were awarded a penalty on the 22 and midway out but went for the corner when a successful kick at goal would have put them back in front. It was Crescent’s turn to show off their defensive qualities and especially when Castletroy won a scrum against the head. But their last chance went when they were penalised for holding on.

After that, Crescent were seen at their best. Right wing Conor Phillips, skipper and number 8 Bailey Faloon along wiht centre Billy O’Hora went over for fine tries, two of which Hurley converted.

Fitness and tempo key as Crescent coach McGovern focus turns to CBC

Fitness and tempo were the chief characteristics of Crescent’s remarkable 33-12 victory over Castletroy in yesterday’s Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final according to their head coach, former Munster prop Eugene McGovern.

“We didn’t perform in the first-half,” McGovern admitted. “Castletroy were a very well-coached, structured team that played to its strengths, the mauls and the pick and go game. But the good thing about our team is that we place a lot of importance on our fitness and we play a high tempo game and maybe that’s what got us the tries in the end.”

“Our lads weren’t rattled because they came back into the game and got their heads right and pushed on.

“Twelve points are only two scores really. We just needed to go back and stick to our gameplan. You can accumulate a lot of points in 35 minutes as we showed.

“I was very impressed with some of our tries and again it came down to the tempo our guys can play at. We have a lot of good individuals who have that little bit extra.”

The final will be a repeat of the first-round clash with Christians, which Crescent lost 17-5.

McGovern said: “The first game against CBC is a long time ago and we’re a far better team now. We’ll analyse them as they will analyse us.”

The outcome yesterday could well have swung on a Castletroy decision to fruitlessly chase a seven-pointer when a kickable penalty came their way just after they had lost their 12-point advantage midway through the second half.

Castletroy head coach Richie Feeney said: “I wouldn’t criticise them for that at all. They make those calls as they see them.

“We knew Crescent were a very dangerous team and while we were able to limit what they could do in the first half, the longer the game went on it was harder and harder to do that.”

CRESCENT:

D Hurley; J Fehilly, C Nash, B O’Hora, C Phillips; M Hanly, J Lyons; J Henchy, J Barry, T Connolly J Blake, F Coleman,N Mulcahy, D Feasey, B Faloon capt.

Replacements:

P I Hickey for Sheahan half time; S Leahy for Faloon 50; T O’Hora for B O’Hora 69; A Cosgrave, A Thai, E O’Halloran, M Sheahan for Lyons, Mulcahy, Barry and Hickey, all 70.

CASTLEROY:

S Hogan; S Mullins, R McDonnell, P Clancy, M Rowsome; J Heuston, S Atkinson; J Conway, M O’Mara, C Myers, D Reeves-Wasik, S English, D O’Neill, N O’Shea capt, A Fitzgerald.

Replacements:

A Myers for O’Neill 70; M Bromell for O’Shea 60; E Slattery for Fitzgerald 55; E Hourigan for Reeves-Wasik 64; C Bermingham for Myers for 65; C Lyons for Atkinson 68; E Carew for Mullins 60.

Referee:

T O’Donoghue (MAR).