Glenstal Cause Major Upset in Avonmore Milk Junior Cup

A big surprise at Temple Hill as under dogs Glenstal Abbey booked their place in the semi finals of the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup with a deserved victory over C.B.C.

C.B.C. 10, Glenstal Abbey 16
For the first time in several years four Limerick schools will contest the semi finals of the Junior Cup after Glenstal’s surprise victory.

The Sydney Hill College must still be wondering how they lost this tie as they dominated the game territorially but wrong options at crucial stages proved very costly.

Having dominated the opening exchanges with Glenstal pinned back the Cork side failed to put points on the board.
Man of the match Glenstal’s number 8 Jack Boland made a break from deep inside his own half for Glenstal’s first attack and center Hugh Connors carried it on. Following a ruck on the Twenty Two Kevin O’Keeffe dropped a goal to put the Limerick school ahead after ten minutes.

Christians had a chance to level four minutes later but Tomas Quinlan’s penalty effort was wide of the posts.
Glenstal began to grow in confidence with Connors and Michael Hogan being stopped short of the line before O’Keeffe extended Glenstal’s advantage with a penalty three minutes before the break.

From the kick off Glenstal’s half backs Rory Hogan and Oisin Bradley linked up with Connors who sent Boland racing away from inside his own half and a tackle by Quinlan was not enough to stop the lock from touching down under the posts and O’Keeffe converted for a 13-0 interval lead.

Christians showed more urgency after the break with their pack totally on top and they were rewarded with a try five minutes into the half. Following a ruck on the right wing, Quinlan gathered the ball and ran across the field and linked up with winger James Bradfield who touched down in the corner.

A controversial yellow card to Christians Darren Lee saw Glenstal fail to take advantage of their numerical strength.
With ten minutes remaining CBC closed the gap to three points. Following several drives by the Christians pack at the Glenstal line Evan Mintern touched down.

Glenstal regrouped in the final five minutes and O’Keeffe saw a penalty effort go wide with four minutes remaining. However from the restart Glenstal kept possession and O’Keeffe extended his side’s lead with a penalty from in front of the posts.

Despite six minutes of injury time Christians were unable to breach the Glenstal defence again and the final whistle was greeted with great joy by the County Limerick school side’s supporters.

Scorers C.B.C: James Bradfield, Evan Mintern tries.
Glenstal Abbey: Jack Boland try, Kevin O’Keeffe con, 3 pens.

C.B.C.: James O’Flynn; Darren Lee, Oisin Mc Sweeney, Shane McAuliffe, James Bradfield; Thomas Quinlan, Niall O’Leary; Ritchie Quirke, Liam O’Connor, James Roberts; David Lynch, Jack Moloney; Kevin Creedon (capt), PJ Green, Evan Mintern.Replacements: Cian Halpin, Eoin Feeney, Greg Roche, David Dempsey, Jason Higgins, David Grufferty. Aaron Singleton.

Glenstal Abbey: Cal Healy; Michael Boland, Kevin O’Keeffe (capt), Hugh Connors, Michael Hogan; Oisin Bradley, Rory Hogan; Albrecht Plettenberg, John Healy, John Murphy; Ben Clancy, Neilus Mulvihill; Karl Glynn, George O’Hara, Jack Boland.Replacements: Henry Healy, Garoid Fitzpatrick, Emmett Carey, Luke Kelly, Victor Garrett, Max Ryan, Andrew Grey.

Referee: Shane Kierans (M.A.R.).

The draw for the semi finals which are scheduled for Wednesday 16th March –

Crescent Comp. v Glenstal Abbey.
Ard Scoil Ris v Castletroy College.