SCHOOLS RUGBY MUNSTER SENIOR CUPAN AWESOME defensive effort helped the holders Rockwell College advance to another Munster final following a hard-earned win over CBC Cork in blustery conditions at Musgrave Park yesterday.
Rockwell spent most of the first period pinned in their own half as a Michael Ryan-inspired Christians dominated possession and territory, assisted by many turnovers as their opponents tried to run the ball from deep on nearly every occasion.
But the Rockwell defence held firm while Christians outhalf Dave O’Riordan was also off target with a couple of penalties and a drop-goal attempt before the visitors pounced four minutes into first-half injury-time.
After right wing Alex Lynch was held up short, Rockwell spread the ball wide where Steven McMahon touched down in the corner following Cillian Kiely’s incisive break.
Rockwell’s 5-0 interval lead was threatened by good attacking play from Christians on the resumption, but the Tipperary side’s well-organised and defiant defence frustrated their efforts.
Rockwell put the issue beyond doubt with penalties from outhalf Aidan Moynihan in the 53rd and 60th minutes. The victory sets up a final date with PBC Cork or St Munchin’s who meet at Temple Hill today.
CBC CORK: T Quinlan; G Ryan, T Morehead, J McCarthy, C McAuliffe; D O'Riordan, C O'Regan; C Slowey, R Daly, R Burke; T Arrigan, D Moloney; A Mintern, D Stokes, M Ryan. Replacements: A McCarthy for Stokes (half-time), R Foley for O'Regan (53 mins), M Lordan for Daly (59 mins), R O'Dowling for Arrigan (62 mins), S Galvin for Burke (67 mins), D Fitzgerald for Moloney (69 mins).
ROCKWELL COLLEGE:D Johnston; A Lynch, R Jermyn, C Kiely, S McMahon; A Moynihan, D McGagh; J McCormack, D Mulcahy, J Maxwell; S McCarthy, D Foley; A Sweeney, A Butler, S O'Dwyer. Replacements: N Flynn for Foley (47 mins), J Feehan for Sweeney (56 mins), R Lyons for McCormack (65 mins), W O'Dwyer for Maxwell, A Barron for McGagh, S O'Donoghue for Kiely and R Maher for Lynch (all 69 mins).
Referee: E Hogan-O'Connell (Munster).
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