Bandon Grammar overcome Crescent College Comprehensive in tense Munster Junior Cup
MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP: Bandon Grammar School have overcome Crescent College Comprehensive in a tense affair. Pic: Bandon Grammer School
Tries from Christopher Woodland and Jamie Hicks were enough to see Bandon Grammar School into the Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-finals with a tense victory over Crescent College Comprehensive at Virgin Media Park.
After Wednesday’s Senior Cup classic between these two schools went Crescent’s way, the Grammar gained some measure of revenge with this three-point victory.
They advance to face reigning champions PBC in the quarter-finals after the mid-term break.
Bandon’s set piece was fundamental to this success. Captain Mark Whelton dominated in the air as last year’s semi-finalists registered a perfect 14 from 14 on Nick Baker’s line-out throws.
The Grammar enjoyed more first-half territory as they marched Crescent backwards through a series of penalties.
Each time they threatened, however, the visitors were able to force ruck penalties through David Fitzpatrick, Seán Ryan, and Harry O’Dwyer.
In the 13th minute, Crescent fly-half Eoghan Hogan was sin-binned after taking out Whelton in the air under a chip and chase.
Matthew Buttimer came close to a try by skipping two tackles before playing a key role in Bandon’s 20th-minute breakthrough.
From Billy Canniffe’s charge down, Buttimer forced a penalty on the Crescent 22. Jack Hurley booted to the corner, Whelton made an eighth line-out take, and winger Woodland got in under the radar to score from close range. Hurley missed the difficult conversion.
Back to 15 players, Crescent got a try of their own within five minutes. From a scrum on halfway, the ball went through the hands of their entire backline with Adam Bennett making the break and GearĂłid Hickey finishing in the corner.
The Crescent fans had a perfect angle to cheer Hogan’s touchline conversion all the way over for a 7-5 lead, which they held into the break.
Before long, Bandon’s four half-time replacements would play a key role in punishing further Crescent indiscipline.
From another line-out inside the 22, Whelton secured possession and Daniel Kent almost broke through off the first phase. It was another half-time impact sub, Jamie Hicks, who produced the finish to reach for the corner.
Hurley’s conversion tailed off as their lead remained three points with 20 minutes to play.
Crescent try-scorer Hickey made two major breaks in quick succession to gain ground but that opportunity fell by the wayside with a second movement close to the line.
The winger later drew another penalty, which was kicked to the corner, but their line-out didn’t retain the throw.
Into the final play, Canniffe showed good hands to deal with Hickey’s bouncing kick ahead but Crescent almost got a lifeline as Bandon looked to put the ball dead.
The kick rebounded off of Danny Fitzpatrick’s chest and into Hickey’s hands, only for the dangerman to be bundled into touch before he could react.
Tries: C Woodland, J Hicks.Â
: Try: G Hickey; Con: E Hogan.
: L Dukelow; C Woodland (J Keating 47), É Burke, B Canniffe (J Hicks 31), J Gilsenan (A Bramoulle 31); J Hurley (B Canniffe 40), D L’Estrange; D Burke, A Coleman (J Canniffe 31), B Hayes; N Baker (A Coleman 52), M Whelton (capt); I Wade (D Kent 31), S Murphy (I Wade 51), M Buttimer.
: A Bennett; G Hickey, Danny Fitzpatrick, C Robertson (capt), D Sheehan (H O’Connor 31-40); E Hogan, O Cantrell; D Donohoe, H O’Dwyer, S Ryan; F Slattery Coll, I Killing; C Kilroy, D Kidney, David Fitzpatrick.
S Donaldson (MAR).
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