Double Delight As Kinsale Community School Qualify For Munster Schools Junior And Senior Cups

It was a day to remember for Kinsale Community School as they saw off stiff competition from Midleton CBS and Hamilton High School Bandon to qualify for both the Munster Schools Junior and Senior Cups.

Munster Schools Boys Junior Cup Qualifier

Kinsale Community School 12 – 10 Midleton CBS

It was an East v West meeting in Virgin Media Park as Kinsale Community School faced Midleton CBS in the the opening qualifier match of the afternoon.

With the wind at their backs it seemed Midleton had the upper hand early on but it was Kinsale that put the first points on the board as Ryan Harrington barreled over. Darragh O’Sullivan lined up the touchline conversion only for it to go just left of the post.

Midleton battled back to earn a try of their own just five minutes later as full back Liam Treacy broke the line to gain the side some crucial ground. The Midleton forwards then went to work as they hit the wall that was Kinsale’s defensive line, waiting for a gap to open. The overlap eventually opened as the ball was expedited out to winger Cathal Power.

Similar to their Western rivals Sam Morris’s conversion also drifted wide leaving the sides at five points a piece going in at half time.

The East Cork side were straight out of the blocks in the second half as a tap and go penalty on Kinsales 5 metre line sent scrumhalf Darrah Tobin over the whitewash. Now against the elements Morris’s following conversion drifted just shy of the posts.

But once again Kinsale were able to turn their luck around as Zach Ridgway slid under the posts in the 40th minute. Darragh O’Sullivan put things to right after his first conversion attempt to put the side two points ahead with 20 minutes left on the clock.

It was a helter skelter closing quarter of action as the mist rolled in to Virgin Media Park. The final passage of play saw Kinsale defending on their own try line only to have Midleton cough up the ball allowing the Kinsale winger to run as far as their 10 metre line. Midleton scrambled their defence as the Kinsale forwards began to pick-and-go. A chip through saw Midleton regather possession but Kinsale were up quick to drive them into touch bringing an end to a closely contested match.

For the very first time, Kinsale Community School qualify for the knock out round of the Munster Schools Boys Junior Cup with a final score of 12-10.

Kinsale Community School: Liam Treacy; Max Morrison, William Brugger, Darragh O’Sullivan, Harry Murphy; Senan Horan, Anthony Murphy; Izak O’Riordan, Cian Nagle, Archie O’Callaghan; Aiden Du Plessis Geiger, Fionn Fitzpatrick; Zach Ridgway, Conor Boyle; Ryan Harrington.

Replacements: Liam Hayes, Alex Smyth, Samuel Thomas, James Kingston, Dylan Prior, Alex Haughney, Killian Hawkins, Oran O’Donnell, Rian O’Neill, Kayn McCarthy.

Midleton CBS: John Forrest; Sean Cullinane, Finn Matson, Sonny Cocking, Cathal Power; Sam Morris, Darragh Tobin; Ryan Spillane, Oliver Wronkowski; David Hanna, Harry Mccarthy; Conor O’Neill, marcel Kotowicz; Colin Crowley.

Replacements: Oliver Gaffney, Finn Morrissey, Cian O’Connor, Daniel O’Donovan, Adam Smith, Thomas Hurley, Liam O’Riordan, Harry Cronin, Max Ricken, Rian O’Brien.

Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup Qualifier

Hamilton High School Bandon 12 – 20 Kinsale Community College

History was made once again as Kinsale overcame last year’s qualifiers Hamilton High School to earn their spot in the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup knock out rounds.

Yellow cards got the better of Hammies this afternoon as all of Kinsale’s tries came during sin-bin spells when the West Cork side was reduced to 14.

The first card came in the 14th minute as Eddie O’Sullivan was sent to the bin for colliding with Kinsale full back Riain Walsh in the air.

Kinsale earned their first score of the game in the 17th minute. A driving maul from a lineout on their 5 metre saw flanker Gearoid Whelton drop down over the line. Josh Lehane’s conversion that followed slices straight through the uprights to give the side a solid seven point lead.

Kinsale were next to earn a yellow as prop Patrick O’Regan was sent to the bin for a high hit on Cillian O’Flynn in the 32nd minute.

As the whistle blew on the 35th minute, Kinsale had the lead with a score of 7-0.

Hammies weren’t phased by their first half performance as they came out firing to earn their first score of the game in the 42nd minute through prop Louis O’Sullivan. A missed conversion put just two points between the sides.

But Kinsale fought back as Ryan Cusack crossed over in the 52nd minute. The conversion that followed once again drifting wide.

Hamilton High were show their second card of the day as Daniel Coughlan was sent to the bin for knocking the ball out of the scrumhalf’s hands.

Kinsale once again took advantage of Hamilton High’s depleted numbers as full bacl Riain Walsh crossed over in the 61st minute for the sides third try. The conversion that followed just drifting wide.

Hammies were pinged by the referee once again resulting in a penalty for Kinsale. Josh Lehane didn’t let his previous two kicks phase him as he slotted the three crucial points for his side.

But Hamilton High were not finished as they crashed over for a converted try in the 68th minute from Mark Kelleher. Daniel Coughlan added the extras as the ref blew the final whistle.

Kinsale are through to their first ever knock out round of the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup.

Hamilton High School Bandon: Liam Ryan; Donncha O’Mahony, Cillian O’Flynn, Eddie O’Sullivan, Nick Bourke; Daniel Coughlan, Oran Coughlan; Louis O’Sullivan, George O’Mahony, Mark Kelleher; Nikolas Przewozniak, Brian O’Regan; Dara Murphy, Cathal Callaghan; Alan O’Regan.

Replacements: Ronan Coughlan, Donnacha Hickey, Hugo Woods, Padraig Coffey, Michael Lane, Noah O’Sullivan, Adrian Bak, Danny O’Sullivan, Kayden O’Sullivan, Sean Heverin.

Kinsale Community School: Riain Walsh; Adam Coughlan, Brion Mullen, Cillian Fitzpatrick, Darragh O’Callaghan; Josh Lehane, Ben O’Callaghan; Roman Mohammed, Ivor O’Riordan, Patrick O’Regan; Ethan Griffin, Ryan Cusack; Gearoid Whelton, Conor Looney; Harry O’Leary.

Replacements: Evan McAlonan, Eoin Dillon, Eoin John Harrington, Tom McCloskey, Darragh Merwick, Darragh Treacy, Jacob Hayes, Jamie Edwards, John Quinn, Daniel Coughlan.