Sport

Wing Doyle answers Christians' prayers

CBC, Cork 19 St Munchin's College 13: An injury-time try from wing Kevin Doyle gave CBC a dramatic victory over the holders …

Thu Mar 03 2005 - 00:00

CBC, Cork 19 St Munchin's College 13: An injury-time try from wing Kevin Doyle gave CBC a dramatic victory over the holders in yesterday's pulsating semi-final at Musgrave Park.

With holders St Munchin's seemingly set to make their third final in four attempts after Keith Earls gave his side the lead in the 67th minute, up popped Doyle in Christians' last attack to earn his side a final place against either Crescent Comprehensive or PBC.

Though playing into an awkward, down-field breeze CBC made all the early running with halfback pairing Chris Nolan and Alan Coughlan and fullback Peter O'Sullivan full of enterprise behind a pack where captain Don Keogh led with authority.

Nolan opened the scoring after CBC set up a maul 10 metres from the line, the scrumhalf breaking down the |St Munchin's blindside for a clever try.

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St Munchin's suffered another blow in the 31st minute when outhalf Coughlan crept inside the midfield to touch down under the posts. O'Sullivan's conversion gave CBC a 12-0 lead, but, just before the break, fullback John Paul Hartigan tapped over a penalty for the visitors.

Munchin's improved in the second half with Ger Slattery, David Gardiner, Neilus Keogh and Tadhg Nihill strong up front while backs Richard Mullane, Eamon Broderick and Earls also impressed.

Their monopoly of possession paid off with tries in the 56th and 67th minutes. Slattery was first to break through and as Christians' gameplan disintegrated, Mullane produced a 40-yard burst and fed centre Earls who touched down in the corner.

Just when Munchin's thought they had made it through to their third final in four years, up stepped Doyle to break Limerick hearts.

CBC: P O'Sullivan; G Blower, I Dineen, F Chesne, K Doyle; A Coughlan, C Nolan; K O'Donoghue, D Nathan, R O'Neill; K Essex, R Gee; S O'Sullivan, C Liston, D Keogh (capt). Replacements: J Noonan for Liston, J Erangey for O'Donoghue, P Murphy for Gee (all 64 mins); L Melia for Chesne (67 mins).

ST MUNCHIN'S: J P Hartigan; G Carroll, K Earls, E Broderick, R Mullane; M Kinsella, P Rowley; S Foster, G Slattery, A Cotter; N Keogh, C McNamara; T Nihill, F Cross, D Gardiner (capt). Replacements: J Moroney for McNamara (h-t); K Laffan for Foster (40 mins); M Goggin for Carroll (47 mins); J O'Dwyer for Hartigan (51 mins); H Caulfield for Gardiner (inj 66 mins).

Referee: B Fitzgerald (MAR).