Ronan Calvert reports from the University Of Limerick
St Munchin’s have overcome PBC in the Junior Cup on a glorious afternoon at the UL 4G.
The Limerick side scored four tries en route to booking their place in this year’s Junior Cup final, the first of which arrived after just six minutes.
Munchin’s defended well, worked their way up the field and when some quick thinking from scrumhalf Donnchadh O’Callaghan saw PBC’s Patrick Campbell sent to the bin, momentum was well and truly in the Corbally men’s favour. As the pressure mounted with each carry, PBC’s defence eventually cracked and allowed Munchin’s prop forward Kean Sheehy to rumble over for the game’s opening try. Centre Darragh Long converted to make it 7-0.
However, Pres’ replied well. The visitors began to force penalties as their forward power came to the fore and at the end of some hard work, hooker Ben Comiskey went over for their first try. The extras were added to tie the scores at 7-7.
Ten minutes later Munchin’s hit back. The favourites dominated territory for long periods in the game and on this occasion winger Conor O’Shaughnessy found his way over the whitewash. Long did well to extend their advantage to 14-7 with the resulting conversion.
Yet PBC had something to hang onto at the break. The Cork men varied their backs play impressively throughout the half and there was no finer example of their skill when star man Darragh French bolted onto a beautifully measured inside pass on the half hour mark. The outhalf glided over to touch down, keeping the game very much so alive at 14-12.
HT: Munchin’s 14-12 PBC
Soon after resumption, Liam Neilan opened the second half scoring for Munchin’s as the number eight crashed over in the corner. The try left his teammate Darragh Long with a difficult shot at goal, but the centre did excellently to convert and make the score 21-12 to the Limerick side.
PBC pulled a penalty back not long later but Munchin’s were now in control. The five time champions scored their fourth and final try of the day on the 45th minute as fullback Josh Egan dived over tight to the touchline. Long couldn’t convert on this occasion, but the result was all but in the bag at that stage in the game.
Pres had been entertaining to watch throughout the contest and scored a consolation try in the final play to add some gloss to the scoreboard, but the day belonged to St Munchin’s who now have a shot at winning their first Junior Cup since 1998.
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