CBC hang on to win a dramatic schools quarter final tie against Crescent Comprehensive

CBC 31 

Crescent College Comprehensive 30 

Christian Brothers Cork emerged from a Munster Senior Schools classic by the minimum, as they inched beyond Limerick’s Crescent College Comprehensive at a damp Thomond Park on Wednesday.

The sides split nine tries, swapped the lead down the stretch and Comp missed a game winning conversion entering the final three minutes of play. 

This contest perhaps had it all, as CBC did just about enough defensively, having played second fiddle in terms of possession and territory for much of the contest.

The victory sets up a mouthwatering clash with PBC, with the clinical nature of CBC’s five tries perhaps the great positive in this nervy victory.

Leading by fifteen after an explosive start, this look set to be a routine victory for the Cork pupils, however, Comp slowly ground their way back into the clash before leading late on. 

However, late tries from Eamon and Rob O’Sullivan proved the difference.

It is the fourth season in a row that this Cork school have dumped out Limerick’s most successful school, having trumped them in the previous three semi-finals. 

David Lee, CBC’s Head Coach, will recognise that improvement is required to dethrone PBC, however, these knock-out games are essentially about getting over the winning line.

A second minute sin-binning for prop Christian Lillis allowed his opposite number Dan Guiney power over as they used the extra man well. 

They soon added another as Donal Barry went from end-to-end to dot down under the posts, with Caleb McKinnie adding the extras.

Alan Cleary replied with two Comp penalties as they slowed gathered momentum in attack. 

There was more daylight however, as a third try arrived for the school who are coached by Duncan Williams.

This time McKinnie crossed and he made no mistake with a second touchline conversion.

By half-time, CBC led 21-13, however Comp had closed the half strongly. A yellow card for prop Dan Guiney was punished by Sean O’Brien who crashed down for his sides first.

The Comp dominance didn’t show until midway through the half. Rory Mullins fed Ryan Scanlon who held off the tacklers to make a real contest of this game. 

The scoreline was 21-18, and the home side had all the momentum.

They struck the front for the first time, as William Byrne used his size to power over the line – with the extras added, CBC needed a try.

Replacement Eamon O’Sullivan found himself onside, before racing beyond any defender to go over in the corner – a second try in just three minutes looked to have sealed the victory – as Rob O’Sullivan finished from close range.

However, Cathal Walsh was unable to add the extras and this left the door open for prop Lillis to power over for Comp’s fourth. 

The touchline conversion was wayward which meant the Limerick men needed another score.

They had the ball for the bulk of the three minutes, but there was a resolute CBC defence, who eventually forced a penalty for holding on – kicking the ball out to the sound of the final whistle.

The other half of the draw sees Bandon Grammar clash with St. Munchin’s College. 

Both are pencilled in for a fortnight’s time.

CBC: A O’Shea; D Barry, C Taylor, C McKinnie; M O’Leary; C Walsh, D O’Connell; S Fitzpatrick, D Guiney, K Manley; M Murray, D MacCoitir (Capt); R O’Sullivan, J O’Callagan, S Healy.

Replacements: C Murphy, T Kelly, M Murray, H McCarthy, J Neville, R McElwaine, S O’Flynn, H Quinlan, J Martin, E O’Sullivan.

Cresent College Comprehensive: R Mullins; C Wiegand, G Tobin, H O’Halloran, J Dervan; A Cleary, A Clery; E McMahon, C Lillis, C Guerin, O Copley, T Shanahan (Capt), S O’Brien, E Collins, R Scanlon.

Replacements: H O’Dwyer, R Mangan, A Clancy, S Ryan, W Byrne, O Cantrell, S Maher, D Kirby, A Bennett, G Joyce.

Referee: Fergal Brislane (MAR)