Rockwell And Ardscoil Progress To Semi-Finals

Rockwell College and Ardscoil Rãs progressed to the semi-finals of the SEAT Schools Senior Cup today after wins over St. Munchin’s and CBC.

The semi-final draw will be made at Thomond Park tomorrow after the Senior Cup double-header with full details here.

Rockwell College 14-6 St. Munchin's College

Rockwell secured their place in the last four of the SEAT Munster Schools Senior Cup with a hard-fought 14-6 win over St. Munchin's at Clanwilliam.

Michael Casey and Mikey Wilson scored a try each with the ultra reliable Bill Johnston adding two conversions. Briain Bennett replied with two first half penalties for St. Munchin's but their failure to score a try cost them dearly despite enjoying more than one spell of dominance with captain John Foley leading by example.

The Rockwell defence was outstanding throughout with Munchin's well on top in the first half. They trailed 7-0 at the break however, after a Lee Molloy kick-and-chase brought Rockwell from their 22 to with five yards of the Munchin's line with Casey eventually crossing.

St. Munchin’s got off the mark early in the second half as Briain Bennett’s penalty from just inside the 22 sailed between the posts. A second Bennett penalty reduced the gap to just a point as the game entered the final quarter.

Wilson scored the crucial second Rockwell try in the final 10 minutes after a good period of pressure with Johnston adding a second conversion to make it 14-6.

Rockwell College: Tom McHale; Shane Lanigan Ryan, Lee Molloy, Conor Cashman, Kieran Moynihan; Bill Johnston, Daryl Egan; Niall Campion, Ben Murray, Jack Tierney; Seán O'Connor (C), Mikey Wilson; Tommy Anglim, Bryan McLoughlin, Mike Casey.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Conor Beary, James Kindrick, Jack Binchy, John Power, Josh Pickering, Elliot Stone, Jamie Stone.

St. Munchin's College: Marcus Browne; Matthew Lyons, Evan O'Connor, Josh O'Curry, Seán Kelly; Jason Kiely, Briain Bennett; Peter Meyer, Jordan Prendiville, Emmet O'Callaghan; Shane Corbett, Liam O'Dwyer; Adam Moloney, Charlie Carmody, John Foley.

Replacements: Gearoid Rice, Corey Wells, Keelan McMahon, Conor Radcliffe, Aaron Fitzgerald, Aaron Rice, Adam Guerin, Jonathan O'Hanlon.

Ardscoil Rís 18-16 CBC

A last-gasp Conor Fitzgerald penalty gave Ardscoil Rís the win over CBC after an enthralling encounter at Dooradoyle.

Fitzgerald kicked all of his side's points in the win that sends Ardscoil into the semi-finals with the draw to be made after tomorrow's double-header in Thomond Park.

Ardscoil Rís took a very early lead through a Fitzgerald penalty but Michael O’Halloran’s effort on seven minutes levelled matters.

Eoin Scully’s try on 15 minutes was converted by O’Halloran as the Cork side took the lead for the first time with the score now 10-3.

A second O’Halloran penalty moved CBC into a commanding 13-3 lead with 20 minutes gone but three Fitzgerald penalties steadied the Ardscoil ship as they moved to within a point at the interval.

The first Ardscoil comeback was complete on 50 minutes as Fitzgerald again bisected the posts with his fifth penalty as the Limerick side moved into a 15-13 lead.

That advantage didn’t last long however, as O’Halloran kicked his side back in front with his third penalty. That score would have given CBC the win but Fitzgerald struck again late on to seal a last four place for Ardscoil.