Last Gasp Try Sends CBC Through To Schools Cup Semi Final

Just a single point separated Limerick’s Crescent College Comprehensive and Cork’s Christian Brothers College after a mammoth clash in Thomond Park this afternoon.

CBC got scoring under way after a costly yellow card for Crescent College allowed the side kick for touch in just the third minute of play. The Cork side won the ball in the air and sent a maul trundling towards the try line as hooker Daniel Guiney touched down. Centre Caleb McKinnie split the posts to give the Cork side a seven point lead.

Christians were in again in the eight minute of play as Crescent fumbled the ball in their attack, giving the Leesiders a free play within their own 22. Guiney gathered the ball before popping it off to outside centre Christopher Taylor. With Crescent attackers closing in Taylor released the ball to Donal Barry who put pedal to the metal and ran in under the sticks from just outside their own 22 metre line. McKinnie was on hand to add the extras.

Crescent got their first score on the board in the 11th minute as CBC were penalised for joining the ruck from an off side position. Alan Cleary line up the kick and sliced the ball right between the uprights.

CBC were penalised again in the 18th minute as Michael Manning was caught on the wrong side of the ruck. Cleary stepped up to the plate once again and added the three points.

CBC got themselves back in the mix just three minutes later when the Leesiders were awarded a scrum just metres from the Crescent try line. After a hard shove number 8, Sam Healy, broke free before popping off to Caleb McKinnie who dove over the line before sending the conversion sailing through the uprights.

CBC were reduced to 14 just before the half as captain, David Mac Coitor, was sent to the bin for multiple infringements. A second penalty just minutes later allowed the Limerick side to kick to touch before mauling their way over the try line with Gerry Joyce touching down. Cleary added the extras to bring the score at half time to 13-21 in Christians favour.

Crescent were first to get scores on the board in the second half as Ryan Scanlon broke three tacklers and dove over the try line. Cleary’s conversion drifted just wide of the posts

Crescent were over for a second time in the 59th minute as a tap and go penalty allowed replacement, William Byrne, to barrel over. Cleary added the extras to put the side ahead for the very first time with a score of 25-21 with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.

The Cork natives responded just two minutes later as a clearance kick was regathered by Eamon O’Sullivan who sprinted for the line. McKinnie’s conversion drifted just wide of the posts bringing the score to 25-26.

CBC were in for another just minutes later as flanker Robert O’Sullivan drove over the line. Cathal Walsh lined up the conversion but sent it right and wide. With just three minutes left on the clock the Cork side now had a six point lead.

As the clock ticked towards the red Crescent had one last retaliation up their sleeves. The Limerick side won the ball back at the kick off to set up a final attacking phase in the rain against their tiring Cork opponents.

CBC drove a Crescent player into touch to win a line out. But a overthrown ball landed straight into the chest of Crescents William Byrne. The replacement was tackled just inches from the line but the Comp continued to chip away at their Cork rivals as they took the ball through the phases until hooker, Christian Lillis, drove over from a short distance.

With one point separating the sides Alan Cleary stepped up to take the conversion sending the ball agonisingly wide of the posts. This brought the score at full time to 30-31.

CBC have punched their ticket to the Semi Finals where they will meet fellow Cork rivals Presentation Brothers College in Virgin Media Park.

Crescent College Comprehensive: Rory Mullins; Callie Wiegand, Gavin Tobin, Harry O’Halloran, Jack Dervan; Alan Cleary, Andrew Clery; Evan MacMahon, Christian Lillis, Charlie Guerin; Oran Copley, Tom Shanahan; Sean O’Brien, Eamon Collins; Ryan Scanlon.

Replacements: Harry O’Dwyer, Ríain Mangan, Alex Clancy, Sean Ryan, William Byrne, Oliver Cantrell, Sean Maher, Daniel Kirby, Adam Bennett, Gerry Joyce.

Christian Brothers College: Aidan O’Shea; Malachy O’Leary, Christopher Taylor, Caleb McKinnie, Donal Barry; Cathal Walsh, Dave O’Donnell; Sean Fitzpatrick, Daniel Guiney, Keelin Manley; Michael Manning, David Mac Coitor; Robert O’ Sullivan, Jack O’Callaghan; Sam Healy.

Replacements: Christian Murphy, Tom Kelly, Michael Murray, Harry McCarthy, Joseph Neville, Ruaidhri McElwain, Sean O’Flynn, Harry Quinlan, James Martin, Eamon O’Sullivan