St Munchin’s College Too Strong for Ard Scoil in Junior Cup Semi Final

Clayton Hotels Munster Junior Cup semi-final: St Munchin’s College 38, Ardscoil Ris 15

IT was close in the opening half but it was St Munchin’s who advanced to the final of this season’s final with an impressive display. They will now meet CBC in the final in Thomond Park in two weeks time after the Cork side defeated Crescent Comprehensive today in the other semi-final.

Played in perfect conditions, the opening half provided some sparkling rugby and St Munchin’s were full value for their 21-10 lead at the break. They got the important first score after five minutes, the pack doing the spadework with a series of patient carries and Harry Bennis forcing his way over at the Ballynanty end. The second try in the opening nine minutes came from a similar move, this time Ardscoil Ris showing their strength in the pack and Thomas Collins got over with Harry Long levelling the tie at 7-7.

Ardscoil pushed into the lead for the first time when Harry Long kicked a close-in penalty but St Munchin’s scored a brace of tries before the break. Good work down the right wing opened up the Ardscoil defence and a clever kick into space saw Oisin Pepper scorched down  the touchline for a fine try which Cillian O’Connor converted to put Munchin’s 14-10 to the good. The Corbally boys’ defence was superb and they struck again a few minutes before the break, Oisin Pepper scoring his second try and Cillian O’Connor again landed the conversion for a 21-10 halftime lead.

The second half was barely underway when St Munchin’s added ten further points to their tally. A brilliant break by Adam Cusack set up a try for Harry Bennis and an individual break by full-back Oisin Pepper saw him go over for his hat-trick try. Both conversions were missed  but the 31-10 lead had now put the game beyond the North Circular Road side.

To their credit, Ardscoil did not give up and they pulled it back to 31-10 with a well taken try from Andrew Lyons and with the clock entering the final minutes St Munchin’s added to their tally with a try in the corner from Oisin Minogue, expertly converted from the touchline by Cillian O’Connor.

St Munchin’s College: Oisin Pepper; Josh McCarthy, Adam Cusack, Conor McCarthy, Eoin Walsh; Cillian O’Connor, Gordon Wood; Eoin Sarsfield, Sean Rice, Conor Ward; Mark Walsh, Alex Finn; Danny Williamson, Harry Bennis, Oisin Minogue. Replacements, Peter Dougan, Ben McCarthy, Charlie Deedigan, Rian Burke, Ben Quane, Tony Foley, Azad Moahammed, Eoin McGurran, Rory McDermott.

Ardscoil Ris: Andrew Lyons; Harry Cowton, Sam Brown, Harry Long, Alan Fitzgerald; Brian O’Keefe, Evin Crowe; Emmet Calvey, Killian McNamara, James O’Mara; Adam Shawyer, darragh Custy; scott Gleeson, Jamie O’Majony, Thomas Collins. Replacements, Joe Costelloe, Adam McMahon, Sam Higgins,  Matthew Danaher, Jake Higgins, Alex Kennedy, Adam Jordan, Aaron Byrnes, Aaron rush, Aaron McNamara.

Referee, Joy Neville, IRFU.