Christians see off Crescent to secure return to Munster Schools Senior Cup final

BACK TO THE FINAL: CBC scrum-half Christopher Barrett touching down for his side's opening try against Crescent Comprehensive during their Pinergy Munster School Boys Senior Cup semi-final match at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final

CBC 18 Crescent College Comprehensive 8

CBC have made it back to the Munster Schools Senior Cup final after seeing off Crescent College Comprehensive by 10 points.

In a repeat of last year’s replayed semi-final, a pair of 50-metre dashes to the line by Chris Barrett and Darragh Prenter gave Christians the first-half advantage before Charlie O’Shea made the victory safe.

The Cork school did end with 13 men after stoppage-time yellow cards for Craig Hughes and Gavin O’Riordan, while Michael Foy was also sent to the sin bin earlier as the penalty count finished 16-6. An area to work on for Tommy Crowe’s side ahead of the final against either PBC or St Munchin’s.

Christians had lost Irish U19 second-row Conor Kenneally and hooker George Good to ankle injuries which made the return of vice-captain and Ireland international Foy to the pack all the more timely. 

His impact was immediately evident with an early line break before adding a charge-down to his collection.

Barrett scored tries in both the drawn and replayed semi-final last year as a winger. Back in his favoured position of scrum-half, he continued to get joy from the Crescent defence with the seventh-minute opener.

Daniel Rock, CBC breaking past Michael O'Mara, Crescent Comprehensive during their Pinergy Munster School Boys Senior Cup semi-final match at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

From a scrum in their own half, O’Riordan made a strong carry before Barrett picked up the ball on halfway.

He was twirled around in a tackle which ended up slingshotting him into space. After a lung-busting charge, he just about beat Fionn Rowsome’s despairing grab to reach the line. O’Shea’s conversion was narrowly wide.

They appeared to have doubled their lead in the 12th minute but referee Paul O’Connor harshly adjudged that the final pass from Bill McCarthy to Alex O’Connell was forward, much to the surprise of the celebrating Cork crowd.

Penalties were handing Crescent some good field position but each time, line-out troubles would ruin the opportunity. McCarthy and O’Connell combined again for an 80-metre gain but this time, Christians’ line-out infringed.

The other injury-enforced Christians change saw Prenter in at hooker and he produced a huge moment before half-time.

A Crescent line-out was palmed back but Prenter won the race to the ball and his expert hand-off allowed him sprint from halfway to the corner. O’Shea’s kick hit the post.

Christians’ dominance was worth more than a seven-point lead but that was all they had by the break after Evan Cusack landed a late penalty. 10-3 the scoreline but a 7-2 penalty count was the metric the leaders were focusing on in their team talk.

CBC hooker Darragh Prenter is congratulated after scoring his side's second try against Crescent Comprehensive in their Pinergy Munster School Boys Senior Cup semi-final match at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

They tacked on another five points in the 40th minute after tighthead prop Cian Walsh rescued an overthrown line-out. Three carries later and O’Shea punched through a hole to dot down, although his conversion missed the posts.

But they didn’t tidy up their ruck penalties and would concede the next six in a row. Foy produced a goalline steal and relieving kick to lift one siege but when ref O’Connor finally lost patience, it was Foy who was sent to the sin bin.

Crescent took advantage with a Ronan Ryan line break and Cusack’s skip pass bounced into Ryan Scanlon’s hands to dive over. Cusack’s miss left it poised at 15-8.

The 14 CBC players won a vital penalty, though, after good work from replacements Daire O’Callaghan and Ian Morton. O’Shea padded out the cushion to 10 and that was enough despite ending with 13 on the field.

Scorers for CBC

Tries: C Barrett, D Prenter, C O’Shea

Pen: C O’Shea

Crescent College Comprehensive

Try: R Scanlon

Pen: E Cusack

CBC: R O’Keefe (Daire O’Callaghan 42); A O’Connell, L O’Leary, G O’Riordan, B McCarthy; C O’Shea, C Barrett; Dennis O’Callaghan (R O’Callaghan 72), D Prenter (C Hughes 70), C Walsh (S McDonald 58); M Foy, M Skelly; C Galvin (I Morton 42), J Barrett (C Galvin 62), D Rock (capt).

Replacements not used: R O’Sullivan, J Lane, C Boylan, C Corkery, A Brady.

Yellow cards: M Foy (54), C Hughes (72), G O’Riordan (74).

CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE: F Rowsome (G Joyce 63); R Scanlon (J Okafor 68), M O’Mara (H McDonogh 72), B Gallagher, S Jordan; E Cusack, A Clery; R Ryan (N O’Riordan 68), J Byrne, C Lanigan Ryan (A Reddan 72); O Copley (D Magee 57), C Ryan (capt); C Fenton, T O’Brien (J Carmody 63), C Quinn (D McKeogh 72).

Replacements not used: M O’Brien, R O’Connor.

Referee: P O’Connor (MAR).