Glenstal progress against battling Kinsale in Munster Schools Senior Cup 

After a  hard-fought display, it's CBC Cork next up. 

John Kerr, Glenstal Abbey and Kinsale's Conor Looney amongst their Senior Cup counterparts. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Glenstal Abbey 34 Kinsale Community School 10 

Glenstal Abbey overcame a gallant effort from rookies Kinsale Community School in a Munster Schools Senior Cup first round knockout tie in Dooradoyle.

First-half tries from exciting winger David Goode and lock Flynn Cooke did the early damage and a quick-fire brace of tries early in the second half killed and Kinsale hopes of an unlikely comeback.

With the winter sun piercing through the Limerick skyline both sides brought a level of excitement that one could expect in a knockout tie. Kinsale’s energy perhaps was pent-up following a two-hour spin to Dooradoyle, and they showed plenty of endeavour throughout.

Kinsale, making their bow at this stage did not look out of place. They defended manfully, played the percentage play and often threatened to deliver a moment of magic that could have ignited their challenge.

The dry conditions ensured it was cold but there was little to choose between the schools early on. It took a moment of inspiration from Goode to deliver the first try – he raced beneath the posts, coming in from the right-flank after a neat switch from a scrum on half-way.

Goode showed his soft hands for the second try, taking a pass from a powerful Rory O’Neill before offloading to Flynn Cooke, who finished from close-range.

The extras, on both occasions were added by full-back Oisin Rowan, including a superb second from the sideline.

The Cork outfit owned the final six or seven minutes of the opening half, but too often, they failed to make it count. First phase play was often good but passes two and three were an issue, regularly knocking-on when they’d crossed the 22-meter line.

They were left to rue those missed openings when the Murroe college got a third try within a minute of the restart. With it, they all-but secured the victory.

Goode ran back a poor clearance kick, fed Rowan, who raced into the corner. Three minutes later Sean Roche ran in another, a sublime defence splitting run from deep. The extras were added for a 26-0 advantage.

However, John Quinn and then Cillian Fitzpatrick both crossed over for tries, with Quinn getting the honour of scoring their first try at this stage.

Despite three-second half yellow cards, Glenstal always had some level of control and Rowan’s converted penalty immediately after the concession of a second try refocused their challenge.

The final score came from Roche who crossed in the left corner for his second.

The daunting prospect of CBC Cork on January 29th is a problem for another day, though they will know their discipline will have to be significantly improved. That clash will take at Virgin Media Park.

Scorers for Glenstal Abbey: Tries: D Goode, F Cooke, O Rowan, S Roche (2); Cons; O Rowan (3); Pen; O Rowan Scorers for Kinsale CS: Tries: J Quinn, C Fitzpatrick.

Glenstal Abbey: O Rowan; D Goode, J Kerr, S Connolly; S Roche; P Peters, H McGowan; C Smith, Harry Heagney, Hugh Haegney; R O’Neill, F Cooke, D McCarthy, L O’Connor; A O’Loughlin.

Replacements: H McGurik; P Concannon, C Jackson, E Biggins, J Kennedy, R Wright, C Rowan, T Buckley, J Frawley, H Dillon.

Kinsale CS: R Walsh; D O’Callaghan, C Fitzpatrick, B Mullen; J Quinn; J Lehane, B O’Callaghan; R Mohammed, I O’Riordan, E J Harrington, E Griffin, R Cusack, G Whelton, C Looney, H O’Leary.

Replacements: E McAlonan, P O’Regan, E Dillon, D Merwick, D Tracey, J Hayes, C Kelly, J Edwards, L M Harrington, D Coughlan.

Referee: F Brislane.