Courtney strikes late

Schools Rugby Munster Senior Cup CBC 13-8 St Munchin's Niall Courtney's injury-time try gave Christian Brothers College Cork…

Schools Rugby Munster Senior Cup CBC 13-8 St Munchin'sNiall Courtney's injury-time try gave Christian Brothers College Cork a dramatic victory over champions St Munchin's in a terrific Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final at Temple Hill yesterday.

A replay seemed imminent after Craig O'Hanlon finished off a classy St Munchin's try on 65 minutes to level affairs, but wonderful driving by the Christians' forwards in working the ball deep into enemy territory and followed quickly by swift handling from the backs, resulted in an equally breathtaking try worthy of winning any cup match.

The 72nd-minute winner didn't come without controversy as St Munchins' players remonstrated with referee Pete Fitzgibbon, arguing for crossing or accidental offside.

St Munchin's had bossed proceedings in the opening minutes and incessant pressure finally won a penalty in the 22nd minute which impressive scrumhalf Conor Murray converted.

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CBC battled back and on the half-hour mark, Darren Loftus took possession close to the try-line, before CBC patiently built some smart phases. Robbie O'Donoghue fed Odhran Mulrooney whose clever footwork took him past Robert Guerin for a try. Mulrooney missed the conversion but the fullback atoned four minutes later with a penalty .

CBC: O Mulrooney; D Loftus, C Martin, P Parfrey, N Courtney; R O'Donoghue, C Nolan; J Ryan, A Cudmore, J Bransfield; T Keogh, K O' Dwyer; R O' Connor, S McCarthy (capt), B O' Callaghan. Replacements: B O'Regan for Parfrey (35 mins, inj); A Foley for Bransfield (blood 59-60 mins and replaced 66 mins); J Crowley for O'Connor (68 mins).

ST MUNCHIN'S: C O'Hanlon; K Hartnett, M McCarthy-Kelleher, A Barry, D McMahon; R Guerin, C Murray; D Kavanagh, R Meyer, T O'Sullivan-Glynn; E Cunnane, S Gallagher; L Og Murphy (capt), G Burke, I Houlihan.

Referee: P Fitzgibbon (MAR)