CBC advance to junior schools rugby cup final after big win over St Munchin's in semi final

CBC 17 

St Munchin's 3 

CBC are into the final of the Munster Schools Junior Cup after seeing off Limerick’s St Munchin’s on a 17-3 scoreline at Thomond Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Two Louis Carroll tries and one from Hugo Downey, as well as a one Harry Quinlan conversion, set up the final place for Christians.

CBC dominated the contest throughout and should have been more up at the break but some poor handling and some resolute Munchin’s defence kept them at bay.

The pressure finally told in the second half with Carroll adding to his first half try, either side of Downey’s score.

Sean Riordan lit up the first half with some speedy runs from the left wing, the first of which came early on. Riordan repeated the trick on 10 minutes but his offload to Quinlan didn’t go to hand,.

That was the story for large parts of the first half for Christians. Christian Murphy and Carroll were both denied scores late in the half with desperate defence from their Limerick opposition keeping the game scoreless.

CBC continuously made all the forward running with Quinlan, Rossa Kinirons and Riordan all making attacking inroads.

Kinorons looked close to scoring at one stage but knocked on following a brilliantly timed tackle by Munchin’s winger James O’Callaghan.

The breakthrough eventually arrived on 27 minutes and it came with a hint of luck attached to it.

Quinlan’s kick at goal landed wide of the posts but the clearing kick from Munchin’s was sliced and winger O’Callaghan caught the ball from in front of the kicker.

The tap penalty for offside was taken quickly and it caught Munchin’s on the hop. It was CBC captain Carroll that powered in for the score from five metres. Quinlan stepped up with the conversion but his effort crashed off the left post.

Munchin’s responded immediately with a Donnacha McNamara penalty to leave the score 5-3 at the break.

CBC were much more clinical in the second half and were in for a second try almost immediately on the restart.

Christians were awarded a penalty in the Munchin’s ’22 and opted to tap once again. After several carries, the ball was moved right to Downey.

The CBC full back was a threat all game and his step off his right foot and glided in for Christians’ second try with Quinlan nailing the conversion to put them 12-3 ahead.

It was fully one-way traffic at this stage with Christians dominating every aspect of the contest.

A third try was inevitable and again it was their captain Carroll that provided the necessary ability and skill to get it.

He found a chink in the Munchin’s armour down the right flank and had the necessary speed and power to score a fantastic try that sealed the 12-point winning margin.

CBC: H Downey; J Earle, R Kinirons, S Lynch, S Riordan; H Quinlan, T Murphy; C Murphy, J Punch, D Field; C Kelly, A Maher; L Carroll, C McCabe, R McElwaine.

Replacements: D Caren, L Daly, C Coyne, S Butler, D Sheehan, H Lowry-Machie, M Murphy, M O’Riordan, R Ring, J Twomey.

St Munchin’s: A Murphy; J O’Callaghan, A Fennel, D Mullane, D Burton; D McKenna, S Frost; N O’Connor, S McGlynn, H Awaga; R O’Brien, S Williamson; D Giltenane, S Bisette, B Meagher.

Replacements: R Sheehy-McGrath, C Doran, R Ward, A Cowhey, E McNamara, A Kenny, P Jackman, J Goode, P Landers, J McDonagh.

Referee: Alex Aherne (MAR).