Pres get Munster Schools three-in-a-row bid off to flyer with victory over Munchins

CLEARING THE LINES: Scott Fuller of Bandon Grammar clears the ball away against Ardscoil Ris in the Munster Schools Senior Cup Group B clash at Fitzgerald Park. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

PBC got their bid for a third Munster Schools Senior Cup campaign in a row off to a good start with a 26-15 win over St Munchin's College in Corbally.

Pres recovered from a poor start to the game to lead by two points at the break. The 32-times champions dominated the second half to earn an 11-point winning margin.

It was the hosts that were on top in the early stages with a turnover penalty from Brian Carr helping Munchins into PBC territory.

A couple of darts towards the line nearly ended in a try but Brendan Naughton’s effort was ruled out for a double movement.

However, Munchins didn’t have to win long to make the breakthrough with Dave Geoghegan crossing after good work from Charlie Grace and Darragh Geoghegan.

Munchins doubled their advantage on 19 minutes when Grace powered through a couple of would-be tacklers following successive penalties close to the Pres line.

However, PBC got back on track moments later. A couple of big carries by the forwards opened the door for Eddie Dooley to crash through the home defence for the try that was converted by Daniel Murphy.

PBC then took control of the game on the half hour with their second try courtesy of Bobby O’Callaghan. He went in on the right corner after a set move off a scrum opened up the Munchins defence. That left the score at 12-10 in Pres’ favour at the break.

It was one-way traffic in the second half with PBC dominating territory and possession. The title holders had to wait 13 minutes to get their third try with Daniel Foley touching down and Murphy adding the extras.

Dooley capped a fine showing in the 61st minute when he dotted down for a second try after excellent work from O’Callaghan.

Munchins did muster a third try late on through Naughton but it was PBC that earned an 11-point winning margin.

Elsewhere, Crescent College Comprehensive opened their campaign with a 44-29 win over Munster CSP in Dooradoyle.

Crescent ran in for five tries in an impressive display but were matched all the way in the second half by a CSP side that were left to rue a poor start.

The impressive Comp outhalf, Alan Cleary, kicked an early penalty to put his side in front and they were soon in for a try courtesy of Aleks Reddan. Cleary added the extras to give Crescent a 10-0 advantage.

CSP responded through hooker Callum Tutty but Crescent soon wrestled back control with Andrew Clery and Ronan Ryan touching down. Cleary converted both to see Crescent to a 24-5 lead after 20 minutes.

A response was needed by CSP and it arrived via a well worked lineout move that saw the ball moved inside before being fired back out to Tutty, who showed serious gas to finish in the left corner from 20m.

However, it was Crescent that had the final say of the half when a superb combination between Evan Cusack and Gerry Joyce saw the latter burst into space.

CSP full back Ryan O’Connor did brilliantly to stop the flying Crescent winger but Cusack was able to gather the ball and add to the score. Cleary’s conversion put Crescent 31-10 up at half time.

Cleary landed a penalty at the start of the second half to stretch that lead to 24 points but CSP were soon back on the board when Rhys Morgan bulldozed his way over the try line with Rory Forde adding the conversion.

CSP were soon in for another five-pointer after scrum-half Marco Cleary spotted a gap in the Crescent defence and sniped off the back of a maul. Again, Forde did the necessary from the kicking tee to make it a 10-point game with plenty of time remaining.

Crescent didn’t panic and dominated the next 15 minutes and got a deserved try by the impressive Fionn Rowsome.

Cleary added the conversion and followed with a penalty in added time to put the game out of reach.

CSP did record the final score of the game when Stephen Turner was first to Daniel O’Donnell’s kick through but it was Crescent that came out on top.

In Wednesday's final game Ardscoil Rís suffered an agonising defeat to Bandon Grammar in Group B. Fitzgerald Park saw a tight encounter between the sides where six tries were shared evenly, but Bandon's ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over counted in the end as they won 23-20.