Pres demolish Munchins to set up Munster Senior Schools Cup final repeat with Christians

BACK TO THE FINAL: PBC captain Gene O'Leary Kareem about to touch down for a try against St Munchin’s in 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

Presentation Brothers College 45

St Munchin's Colleghe 12

It’s an all-Cork final in the Munster Schools Senior Cup for the second year in a row as PBC produced a sublime attacking performance to book their ticket to face CBC.

The Pres attack was simply sensational in overpowering St Munchin’s for seven tries with Harry Murphy, James O’Leary, and Gene O’Leary Kareem exchanging first-receiver duties to devastating effect.

O’Leary Kareem, the inspirational captain, scored two tries as part of an 18-point haul, while his cousin Neville O’Leary added two more.

John Wigginton Barrett, Alex Alderson, and Mark Hetherington were the other try-scorers as Pres ensured their qualification to a fifth consecutive final.

In a repeat of last year’s 35-29 semi-final thriller, Pres sought to impose their expansive attacking game from the start to immediate success.

After Munchin’s knocked-on from the kick-off, they retained possession for two minutes, through 12 phases, gaining 70 metres, with Wigginton Barrett making two telling line breaks.

PBC cheer leaders urge on their side against St Munchin’s in their Pinergy Munster School Boys Senior Cup semi-final match at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

The first took play to the 22, the second saw the winger burst through three attempted tackles to the line. O’Leary Kareem added the conversion.

Munchin’s pack were bulling to impose their own game too. Their first line-out maul was illegally collapsed but the second wouldn’t be stopped, Adam O’Shaughnessy applying the finish. Tom Wood’s conversion missed, leaving Pres a two-point lead.

The Pres backs were a constant threat and regularly made Munchin’s defenders miss. O’Leary Kareem rerouted into space but was just held onto by Rory McDermott.

Wigginton Barrett was wrestled into touch five metres short of the line by Matt Te Pou.

Wigginton Barrett came close again moments later before a flat pass from Liam Tuohy found O’Leary Kareem’s perfectly angled run to score in the 20th minute. His kick extended it out to 14-5.

It was the same again four minutes later when from a disguised tap-and-go move, Tuohy picked out O’Leary Kareem to crash over. After receiving treatment, he continued his perfect record with the boot.

That injury was the only delay to Pres adding a fourth try within two minutes. James O’Leary fielded the restart and broke through the slack kick chase.

From there, it was a waiting game until his older brother Neville appeared on his shoulder to race to the corner. O’Leary Kareem’s narrow miss left it at 26-5.

Neville almost added another after Tuohy made a clean break off a scrum. Wood made the saving tackle but conceded a penalty, from which Alderson was held up over the line. Another close escape.

It was the briefest stay of execution. O’Leary Kareem steered around the outside of the Munchin’s defence before giving a sublime offload to Deckie Fitzgerald. He released Alderson for his try, converted by the captain. 33-5 at half-time.

Alexander Alderson, PBC touching down for his side's fifth try against St Munchin’s in their Pinergy Munster School Boys Senior Cup semi-final match at Virgin Media Park, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Their next try was all about Neville O’Leary’s breathtaking pace, taking the ball from O’Leary Kareem to sprint in from 60 metres out.

An all-in scuffle saw both teams reduced to 14 players in the 51st minute. Referee Stuart Donaldson accidentally flashed a red card before switching to two yellows for Maurice Minogue and McDermott. Pres were down to 13 when Oscar Squires followed moments later.

From the subsequent line-out maul, Oisín Minogue broke away for his fourth try in three games. Wood’s conversion made it 38-12.

Wood prevented another try when forcing James O’Leary into touch before the centre became the third Pres player sent to the sin bin shortly after for a high tackle.

They finished with a flourish, Fionn O’Sullivan with a charge-down and Mark Hetherington crossing before Murphy kicked the extras.

Scorers for PBC

Tries: G O’Leary Kareem (2), N O’Leary (2), J Wigginton Barrett, A Alderson, M Hetherington.

Cons: G O’Leary Kareem (4), H Murphy.

Scorers for St Munchin’s

Tries: A O’Shaughnessy, O Minogue

Con: T Wood.

PBC: D Fitzgerald (H Murphy 47); N O’Leary (L Sisk O’Mahony 57), G O’Leary Kareem (capt) (R Barrett 70), J O’Leary, J Wigginton Barrett (D Fitzgerald 51); H Murphy (M Hetherington 42), L Tuohy (F Óg Sheahan 57); M Minogue, P Doyle (R McLoughlin Barry 70), B Cronin (D Sheehy 66); D Foley (E O’Dowd 66), D Murphy; O Squires (F O’Sullivan 63), C Bohan, A Alderson (C Donnelly 38).

Replacement not used: G O’Keeffe.

Yellow cards: M Minogue (51), O Squires (53), J O’Leary (69).

ST MUNCHIN’S: M Te Pou; B O’Mahony (A Quinn 35), A Cusack (B O’Mahony 43) (C Glynn 60), D Williamson (J Arenhold 66), G O’Brien; T Wood, R McDermott (B Minogue 70); P Dougan, A O’Shaughnessy (D Geoghegan 63), O Vitolins (E O’Callaghan 69); T Foley, C Black; T O’Driscoll, C Grace (B Power 63), O Minogue (capt).

Replacements not used: D Colgan, D Fogarty, A McGlynn.

Yellow card: R McDermott (51).

Referee: S Donaldson (MAR).