Bandon advance to semi final of schools senior rugby cup after big win against Castletroy

Bandon Grammar School 25 

Castletroy College 19 

Adam Barry’s second try proved the insurance score as Bandon Grammar School fended off a late Castletroy College comeback to reach the Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-finals on Tuesday afternoon at Virgin Media Park.

The West Cork institution led by 12 at half-time and held that cushion as late as the hour mark before two Castletroy tries.

The Shannonsiders could never get level, though, as 14-man Bandon Grammar closed out with their fourth try, and third from a maul, to stamp their ticket to meet St Munchin’s in the last four.

The game began with four knock-ons inside three minutes, but once Bandon Grammar began to piece phases together, they soon took the lead. Their maul did the heavy lifting to gain territory. 

When Barry’s tap-and-go penalty evolved into another maul, Aidan Gambura was at the back to dive over. David Fuller’s conversion gave them a seven-point lead.

They looked likely to add to that cushion, but Jamie Hicks was called for a foot in touch before offloading for a certain try. 

Twice more, the Grammar knocked on within five metres of the line.

Castletroy’s best attack saw Conor Ryan barrel through and offload for Jay Walsh. However, Bandon Grammar got Scott Brady and Éanna Burke around the ball to rip possession away.

The Limerick school were unlucky to lose fly-half Cormac Devitt to a shoulder injury while conceding a penalty and, in the very next play, they shipped a second try.

Captain Mark Whelton claimed his fifth line-out and set the maul, which ate up the 10 yards to the tryline for Barry to score. 

After the ball twice fell off the kicking tee, Fuller pushed his conversion wide. It remained 12-0 from there to half-time.

Castletroy began to build momentum upon the resumption. Co-captain Robert O’Donnell slotted in at fly-half and his line break took them into the 22. 

Ben Kiely was almost left isolated after coming up short in the corner, but Walsh got across to take control and leapfrog over the line. O’Donnell’s conversion missed to the right to leave seven in the difference.

Castletroy’s discipline was an issue for much of this contest. 

In the 44th minute, Ryan was sin-binned for a high tackle on Barry. Another penalty allowed Conor Smyth a long-distance shot at the posts, which fell short. Their 10th penalty against permitted a kick to the corner.

Bandon Grammar needed the entire sin-bin period before making their numerical advantage count. 

Alexander Bramoullé raced away down the left flank and couldn’t be caught before reaching the corner. 

It would prove his final act before limping off. Smyth’s conversion missed.

On the hour, Castletroy gained a lifeline. 

The referee appeared to miss a knock on as he ducked out of the way and the visitors profited with Evan Boland breaking a tackle out wide and dashing under the posts to make O’Donnell’s conversion routine.

Their fightback was interrupted when a high tackle allowed Bandon Grammar another shot at the posts. 

This time, Smyth’s conversion struck the crossbar and bounced over for a 20-12 lead.

Castletroy retained some impetus as a tap-and-go penalty led to Lee Hogan being held up over the line by Aodhán Brennan. 

Then, Finn McCarthy, who had just returned to the field for Bandon, was sin-binned.

From the next tap-and-go, Tyler Kelly was millimetres short before Hogan burst through to score. 

O’Donnell’s conversion left just one point in the difference entering the final two minutes plus stoppages.

However, they conceded a penalty from the kick-off, Smyth kicked for the corner, and Barry burrowed over the line. Smyth’s conversion hit the post to keep Castletroy alive, but the team of 14 maintained control from there.

Scorers for Bandon Grammar School: Tries: A Gambura, A Barry 2, A Bramoullé; Con: D Fuller; Pen: C Smyth. 

Castletroy College: Tries: J Walsh, E Boland, L Hogan; Cons: R O’Donnell 2.

BANDON GRAMMAR SCHOOL: L Dukelow (D L’Estrange 65); A Bramoullé (N van der Westhuizen 53), É Burke, M Kennedy, J Hicks; D Fuller (C Smyth h-t), L Linehan (D Fuller 70+2); S O’Callaghan (F McCarthy 56), A Barry, J van der Velde (J Deasy h-t-65); S Brady (A Brennan h-t), B Giles (S Dooley h-t); M Whelton (capt) (J Sweetnam 70), M O’Regan (R Collins 61) (J Deasy 70+3), A Gambura (M Buttimer 42).

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: E Boland; R Sheehan (C Lacey 64), R O’Donnell (co-capt), T Kelly, B Kiely; C Devitt (L Hogan 26), E Collins (R O’Dwyer 70+2); M Hickey (A Brazyte 48), K Griffin, J Walsh; A O’Connor, B O’Connell (co-capt); S Quilter (X Scanlan h-t), J Frigola Ward (C Hogan 59), C Ryan.

Referee: J Kingston (MAR).