Castletroy hold nerve to take Limerick derby against Ardscoil Rís in Munster Schools Senior Cup 

Castletroy now play Rockwell in a knockout clash at the end of the month in Fethard. Pic: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Munster Schools Senior Cup: Castletroy College 33 Ardscoil Ris 21

Castletroy College came out on top of their Munster Schools Senior Cup Limerick derby with Ardscoil Ris on a 33-21 scoreline at a wet Liam Fitzgerald Park.

Castletroy were full value for their victory, outscoring Ardscoil by five tries to three in a game that was played in dreadfully difficult conditions.

Ardscoil came back from a five-point half-time deficit to lead twice in the second half but Castletroy held their nerve to win the game in the closing stages.

Castletroy now play Rockwell in a knockout clash at the end of the month in Fethard.

It was Castletroy that drew first blood in an opening quarter that they dominated. Strong carries from Charlie Hogan and Conor Ryan eventually opened the door for Robert Griffin to bulldoze over in the right corner.

Castletroy then added a second try just past the 20 minute mark. A scintillating Robert O’Donnell break opened the Ardscoil defence with full back Evan Boland powering over after Cormac Devitt’s defence-splitting pass. Devitt added the extras to put his side 12-0 clear.

Ardscoil got back into the game in the closing stages of the half when Charlie Casey’s cross-field kick was superbly taken by Oisin Healy and the speedy winger darted away for a superb score. Casey kicked the conversion to leave five points in it at the break.

It was Ardscoil that got the faster start to the second half thanks to a Cathal O’Doherty try.

Leo Carman and Gareth Murphy had both gone close before that but it was O’Doherty’s long arm that proved crucial for a score that Casey converted to put Ardscoil ahead for the first time.

Castletroy responded in emphatic fashion to go back in front heading into the final 20 minutes.

A number of cynical penalties close to their own line saw Ardscoil down to 14 players and Cormac Ryan took advantage with a powerful drive to the line aft4er a tap penalty. Devitt’s conversion ensured Castletroy went into a 19-14 lead.

Ardscoil came back down the other end of the field almost immediately with ill-discipline costing Castletroy a man as well.

Casey’s kick to the corner resulted in a brutal lineout maul taken by Murphy and finished by the Ardscoil hooker Carman. Another Casey conversion then swayed the game back in Ardscoil’s favour.

However, there was a sting in the Castletroy tail late on. A missed kick to touch saw a superb counter attack from Castletroy with O’Donnell first to Ben Kiely’s kick through the Ardscoil defence.

Davitt kicked a superb touchline conversion to see his side 26-21 in front and then provided a pinpoint kick wide for Boland to score their fifth try in the closing moments. Again, Davitt added the extras to seal a 12-point victory.

Castletroy College: E Boland; C Lacey, R O’Donnell, T Kelly, R Sheehan; C Devitt, E Collins; M Hickey, K Griffin, J Ward; B O’Connell, A O’Connor; C Hogan, J Walsh, C Ryan.

Replacements: D Brown, A Berkery, A Brazyte, R McInerney, R He, J Michaelczyk, L Hogan, S Quilter, B Kiely, R O’Dwyer.

Ardscoil Ris: N Jagana; O Healy, D Quirke, J Thorne, C McNamara; C Casey, O Desmond; T Maher, L Carman, D Geaney; D Sheehan, G Murphy; M Glennon, B Morrisey, C O’Doherty.

Replacements: C O’Connell, S Golden, J Hartigan, B O’Loughlin, J Boyce, R Curtin, G O’Mahony, D Curran, J Bell, B Power.

Referee: P Roche (MAR).