SCHOOLS RUGBY MUNSTER SENIOR CUP FINAL: Rockwell 6 St Munchin's 5FOR THE first time in 51 years Rockwell College made it back-to-back wins in the Munster Schools Senior Cup as they inflicted a heartbreaking defeat on St Munchin's College in a final that sprung to life in the second half at Thomond Park yesterday.
For the Ryan triplets – Gavin, Evan and Darren – it was especially unfortunate as they were playing in the competition for the third campaign in a row and they were also the first triplets to play on the same team in a final in the 103 years history of the competition.
It was a teak-tough forward battle interspersed with some outstanding individual three-quarter play by both sides but each time the vital lay-off either went astray or possession was held onto.
An indication of the strong wind behind Rockwell came as early as the fifth minute when a penalty attempt by Aidan Moynihan from halfway dipped just short of the target.
St Munchin’s dominated the opening 35 minutes and persistent pressure finally paid off for them after 26 minutes. They were awarded a penalty 20 metres out but on the touchline. They opted to kick to touch near the Rockwell line, won their own throw-in, and the entire pack drove over with Matthew McSweeney credited with the touchdown right in the corner.
With the last action of the half Rockwell flanker Sonny O’Dwyer made a superb break but just when a try seemed likely he was hauled down by Diarmuid Morrissey.
The second half was only two minutes old when Rockwell opened their account with outhalf Aidan Moynihan tapping over a close-in penalty and this brought the game to life.
A marvellous high catch in his own half by man-of-the-match Steve McMahon saw him swirl past several opponents as he sped towards the line.
However he was grabbed a few metres out from which his side were awarded a scrum and then a penalty beside the posts for off-side. Moynihan duly put the kick over to edge Rockwell in front for the first time.
It was a lead they never relinquished but they had to defend desperately on occasions as the Limerick side launched a series of attacks.
Dan Goggin made a superb break which brought him to within a few metres of the Rockwell line but he could not get the pass away to the players in support who had a two-on-one overlap.
A few minutes from the end of the match Rockwell were awarded a scrum five metres out after an attempted clearance was blocked down.
For back-chat referee Leo Colgan changed his decision and instead turned it into a penalty from which the defending champions cleared their lines and finished on the attack.
Steve McMahon had a great game on the wing for Rockwell who, in retrospect, will thank their forwards for this win and especially their captain Seán McCarthy, a nephew of former international Ireland Mick Galwey, Aidan Butler, and Jack McCormack.
For St Munchin’s the Ryan triplets and skipper Ezra Nugent did their utmost and behind the scrum Cormac O’Donnell, Shane Airey and Diarmuid Morrissey were also prominent.
ROCKWELL COLLEGE:D Johnston; A Lynch, R Jermyn, C Kelly, S McMahon; A Moynihan, D McGagh; J McCormack, D Mulcahy, J Maxwell; S McCarthy (capt), D Foley; A Sweeney, S O'Dwyer, A Butler. Replacements: R Maher for Johnston, (injured 25 mins), A Barron for McGagh (50 mins), N Flynn for Foley (50 mins), J Feehan for Sweeney (64 mins).
ST MUNCHIN'S COLLEGE: C O'Donnell; E O'Keeffe, D Goggin, T O'Neill, D Morrissey; S Airey, B Nugent; E Kelly, L O'Halloran, E Ryan; G Ryan, E Nugent; M McSweeney, D Ryan, L Nicholas (capt). Replacements: A Barron for Morrissey (56 mins), G Powell for McSweeney (56), D OByrne for E Ryan (64).
Referee: L Colgan (MAR).
