HOLDERS Crescent College remain in contention to retain their Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup title, if only just!
The Limerick side came from well off the pace to earn a thrilling 15-15 draw with Christian Brothers Cork at Musgrave Park yesterday.
CBC led 15-3 going into the final minutes but two very late Crescent tries and a touchline conversion means the sides will do it all again next week in Thomond Park.
CBC had led 8-0 at the interval.
On the restart, Crescent’s Eoin O’Callaghan landed a penalty.
Scores were difficult to come by thereafter and CBC held a ‘winnable’ 12 point lead entering the closing stages.
However, a clever play from a penalty five metres out from the CBC line saw Cathal Lanigan-Ryan crash over.
Crescent came roaring back again in the dying seconds, this time some nice footwork from Jed O’Dwyer set O’Callaghan free down the wing where he beat the last defender to touch down in the corner. The outside centre then superbly converted his own try from the touchline to force another outing.
Replacements: Ben Noonan, Sean Rice, Oskars Vitolins, Billy Power, Tommy O’Driscoll, Tony Foley, Rory McDermott, Conor McCarthy, David Keane, Azad Mohammed, Donal Kenny.
Crescent College: Jed O’Dwyer, Evan Cusack, Eoin O’Callaghan, Joe McEnery, Josh Boland, Ryan Godfrey, Marcus Lyons; Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Clery, Dennis O’Dwyer, Jack Somers, Sean Magee, Fionn Casserly, Andrew Ahearne, Cillian Kelly.
Replacements: Jonathan Byrne, Cathal Lanigan Ryan, Conor Ryan, Jordan Power, Charlie Fenton, Cormac Quinn, Michael O’Mara, Oscar Davey, Ben Gallagher, Evan Bennett.
Referee: Joy Neville.
The second semi-final between St Munchin’s College and Presentation Brothers Cork takes place this Wednesday in Cork, 1.30pm.
St. Munchin’s named their team this morning: Matthew Te Pou; Adam Cusack, Oisin Pepper, Gordon Wood, Tom Wood; Cillian O’Connor, Jake O’Riordan; Rían Burke, Peter Dougan, Tadhg O’Brien; Mark Walsh, Callum Black; Danny Williamson, Oisin Minogue, Liam Angerman.
