Pres through to Munster Schools Cup semi-final in impressive fashion

Presentation Brothers College 21 Crescent College Comprehensive 8

PRESENTATION Brothers College Cork are through to the semi finals of the Clayton Hotel Munster Schools Senior Cup as they deservedly defeated Crescent College Comprehensive of Limerick 21-8 at Musgrave Park on Wednesday evening.

Tries from Patrick Campbell, Billy Kingston and Alex Kendellen was enough to see Pres through to the last four while Crescent have to settle for a place in the quarters.

Pres suffered huge disappointment in the final of this competition last year as they were narrowly beaten by five points to three at the hands of local rivals Christian Brothers College.

The Cork school were looking to move a step closer to winning this tournament for the first time since 2017 when they edged past Glenstal Abbey School 11-3.

They started on the front foot and with just under five minutes on the clock they grabbed the first try of the game thanks to Patrick Campbell.

The number 15 collected Daniel Hurley’s clever hand off and charged over the line shortly before Alex Walsh kicked the conversion from a difficult angle.

They had the chance to add to their advantage from another deadfall situation moments later but on this occasion, Darragh French took responsibility for the kick and sent his penalty from close to the halfway line narrowly wide of the right post.

Crescent College finally got on the scoreboard midway through the first half as Ben Davey calmly split the uprights from close range to keep them in contention, 7-3.

But the 29-time winners of this cup responded well to that setback and they scored their second try of the contest in the closing stages of the first half.

Billy Kingston gained possession following a sustained period of pressure close to the opposition’s goal and he powerfully forced his way to touch down with Walsh again adding the conversion to give them a 14-3 lead at the interval.

Crescent, to their credit, continued to battle in the second 35 and they set up an interesting finale when they got a try through Eoghan Cantillion to make it 14-8 before the hour.

But Pres were too strong and they sealed the win late on when Alex Kendellen touched down with Darragh French firing the conversion.

Scorers for Presentations Brothers College: Try: P Campbell, B Kingston, A Kendellen. Con: A Walsh (2), D French.

Crescent College Comprehensive: Try: E Cantillion Pen: B Davey.

PRESENTATION BROTHERS COLLEGE: B Kingston, B Comiskey, D McSweeney, M Deane, S O’Sullivan, J Kelleher, J Forde, A Kendellen, A Walsh, A O’Brien, J Keohane, D Squires, D French, D Hurley, P Campbell.

Replacements: C O’Connor, R McAuliffe, S Patricio, J O’Brien, T Gough, L Ormond, B Kiernan, P Hyland, B Forde, S McLoughlin.

CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE: B O’Sullivan, J Rickard, D Fitzgerald, D Doyle, D O’Grady, J McKeogh, C Henchy, B Scott, J Duggan, B Davey, E Cantillion Mann, D Casserly, D O’Shea, T O’Sullivan, B Cosgrove.

Replacements: E O’Sullivan, E Quinn, J Skehan Fitzgerald, L Burke, D Fenton, A Herbert, R Quinn, D Murphy, G Kelly, C O’Halloran.

Referee: Frank Murphy.