Christians finish strong to see off Rockwell College and reach Munster Schools Junior Cup final
BACK TO THE FINAL: CBC’s Jack Singleton scores a try against Rockwell. Pic: ©INPHO.
Christian Brothers College, Cork 26 Rockwell College 15
Christian Brothers College marched into a fourth final in just five years as their bench made the difference against a gallant Rockwell College.
Tries in the final quarter from Henry Hussey and Theo Murphy, which were both converted by the impressive Jack O’Shea, saw them flip the result. Those scores, as well as a strong and improved defensive showing, which limited the Tipperary school to scraps, sets up a date with a strong looking St. Munchin’s College later this month.
This was a game that ebbed and flowed and was played without the caginess that can often be seen in semi-finals of schools rugby. In total, seven tries, four yellow cards and a 100% Rockwell line-out were among the talking points.
Rockwell set the tempo from the off, and having found touch with a Jonty Purcell penalty, they powered over through Fabian Shiel. There was an immediate and effective reply from Christians, who saw Jack Singleton skip inside and dot down in the corner after impressive play close to the Rockwell line.
But the pendulum swung back when captain Jack Landy ghosted in at the other end, 10-5 to Rockwell.
The clash, played in Fethard Town Park’s astro pitch, was littered by penalties in the opening half with a total of 15 awarded by referee Michael Reidy.
The match officials were busy on the quarter-hour as things boiled over. Practically all 30 players were involved in mini brawl following a forceful tackle on Purcell.
The net result was a sin-binning for a player each – Sean Mohally in the blue corner and Rory Barry in the red.
By half-time, there had been another swapping of tries. Sean Riordan found a hole to level the scores with O’Shea’s conversion giving CBC a first lead.
The final act of the first half saw Ethan Kendrick bulldoze his way over to regain the advantage, with a 15-12 lead about right given the quality shown by Rockwell.
However, they wouldn’t score again. It was a fragmented third quarter, with neither side really coming close to adding to their tally.
Instead, there was moments of quality from Jamie Swords’ lineouts, as the likes of Shiel, James Julian and David McCarthy all matched his input consistently throughout the afternoon.
Unfortunately, as good a platform as that was, Rockwell couldn’t find a way of making this a two-score game. Christians added a quintet of replacements into the action as the game wore on.
One of those was Henry Hussey and he galloped for the corner to regain the lead, with O’Shea’s touchline conversion giving the Cork side a 19-15 advantage.
Struggling to gain territory against a stiffening breeze, Rockwell saw their dreams dashed when great work from Christians moved the ball from right to left with another replacement, Theo Murphy applying the finishing touch.
The coaching ticket, which includes Stephen Archer, will recognise an improved disciplinary showing as the game wore on, but they will know a full sixty-minute performance will be required to see off St. Munchin’s in an exciting looking final.
J. Landy; J. Griffin, S. Mohally, L. Guitierrez; D. Ahern; J. Purcell, M. English; D. Keating, J. Swords, S. Power, J. McGarry, J. Julian, F. Sheil, D. McCarthy, E. Kendrick.
E. Neville, R. Everard, W. Tuohy, J. Tung, M. O’Mahony, A. Marigomez, M. Vukevic, P. O’Callaghan, W. Riordan, G. Fitzgerald.
J. O Shea; J. Singleton, S. Riordan, E. Dawson; R. Barry; S. Lynch, T. Murphy; C. Dockray Arundel, O. O’Farrell, B. Hogan, T. Dineen, J. McCall, C. Murphy, C. McElwain, M. McGrath.
H. Hogan, D. O Connor, T. Kiely, J. Varley, M. Keane, A. Lawlor, H. Harty, J. Mahony, T. Murphy, H. Hussey,
Michael Reidy (MAR).
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