Pres and Christians allowing seamless transition to the pro game, says Cian Bohane

Former Munster centre Cian Bohane says both Cork schools are providing a perfect environment for future stars.

CBC’s Danny Rock and Pres’ Gene O’Leary Kareem ahead of this afternoon’s Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Boys final. Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

It’s four days before the Munster Schools Senior Cup final and Cian Bohane is in his element. Out on the pitch, talking players through some last-minute reps before they launch into a 75-minute skills and attack session.

The former Munster centre is a role model for this PBC squad as they congregate around him at their Wilton home ground. It was here they first came together last May for a few sessions and since the end of June, they have been building steadily towards Tuesday’s final at Virgin Media Park.

The form looks good. After activation exercises with S&C chief Ciarán O’Regan, the balls laser through quick-passing drills before they settle into their attacking routines.

It all flows in a chaotic structure. Head coach Ger Burke launches the ball to a random spot, a breakdown forms, and the phases begin with speed, width, and accuracy. All backed by the encouraging observations of coach Don Buckley and manager Ian Lehane.

While it’s not a contact session, the players are reminded it isn’t touch rugby either as they’re emboldened to break the lines.

“In terms of rugby IQ, they make my job a whole lot easier. It’s a very player-led environment,” says Bohane after escaping the spring chill for the Pres pavilion.

“That’s what they thrive in. It allows them develop and explore different areas of their game.” 

The continuity from last year’s title-winning campaign in the half-back and centre pairings certainly helps.

“Gene (O’Leary Kareem), James (O’Leary), and Harry (Murphy), having representative honours, and Bob at nine, Liam Tuohy, he’s one of the unsung heroes on the team. Having him there makes everything flow. I just stand back to let them do whatever they want!” 

Bohane is in his fifth year working at Pres, teaching an “eclectic mix” of PE, science, biology, and history. All that extra-curricular time dedicated to rugby he labels a “labour of love”.

He recalls describing the commitment to last year’s Senior Cup hat-trick hero James Wixted: “We actually spend more time with ye than we do with our own families.

“That’s how close it is because of the amount of time,” Bohane continues. “You know everything about them by the time you finish up.

“And it is sad in one way when you get to the end. The likes of Gene, for example, Alex Alderson, Danny Noonan, Liam Tuohy, this is their third year with us. So it’s going to be sad come Tuesday.

“The build-up to finals is bittersweet because you’re in a final but you’ve realised that these lads are going to be gone from under your wing. You nearly feel like a mother hen at times with them.

“But they’ve had a great run to be fair to them and hopefully they can finish it off on a high.” 

Some players began their Pres journey during Covid or lost their Junior Cup season to the pandemic, which made their Wilton base a vital escape as rugby returned.

“It's amazing the amount of time they spend out here running about. You see them developing from babies, as we’d see them, into men,” says Bohane.

“I don’t think people realise what goes into it. The lads are on the pitch four days a week. They’re in the gym two mornings before school. They get another session done themselves in the afternoons. There’s analysis sessions going on every week.

“Having been involved in an environment that is professional, they genuinely train more than professional teams on field.

“It’s astounding the amount of work they get through while also managing academics on top of it. It’s a frightening commitment for them and their families.” 

The achievement of Ben O’Connor, a Senior Cup-winning teammate of many of this squad, in making an immediate impact with Munster and Ireland U20s underlines the stature of the schools’ game.

“It makes it very realistic for our group and Christians players. What we’re producing, especially here in Cork, players are leaving school now and they’re being capped professionally the year after.

“It’s a testament to what we’re doing here in Pres but equally what’s going on up in Christians as well.

“It just makes that transition to the professional game seamless. We must be doing something right. Maybe it’s the water here in Cork…” 

Pres emerged 24-0 winners last year but Bohane believes Christians will also be stronger for their final experience.

“The Pres-Christians thing is moreso for everybody else that’s not on the pitch.

“There’s a bit of a circus around the game so being exposed to that environment, hopefully it’ll stand to us, but they’re the same.

“Michael Foy, Charlie (O’Shea), these really high-quality players were also exposed to that. I’m sure it’ll stand to them as well.”  

The Irish Examiner will have live coverage of this year's Munster Schools Senior Cup final between Christian Brothers College and Presentation Brothers College on Tuesday. The game, which kicks off at 2pm, will be available for subscribers.