Glenstal Abbey 27-10 St Clement’s College
GLENSTAL ABBEY BOOKED their place in the Munster Schools Senior Cup quarter-finals after a 27-10 win over St Clement’s College this afternoon.
Played on the 4G surface in front of a large crowd at the University of Limerick, both sides seemed nervous in the opening exchanges with several unforced errors.
Glenstal however were first to settle and after Clements knocked on in their half, the County Limerick school set out their stall. Quick ball from the base of the scrum saw out-half Aran Egan execute a perfect wraparound with centre Luke Fitzgerald, before his centre partner Jamie Mawhinney showed good hands to put fullback Jack O’Mahony over untouched for 5-0 after as many minutes. Egan added the extras from under the posts.
Clements were yet to settle in the game, but out-half John Bateman gave them good field position with the boot, pinning Glenstal back when given the opportunity.
But the Glenstal set piece was finely tuned and this allowed them the platform to play a wide expansive game, which the city school found difficult to defend.
Quick-fire tries before half time from second row Shane Downes after slick handling, and hooker George Downing from close range, saw the game quickly slip away from Clements.
They did however get on the board on the stroke of half time with a superbly struck penalty from 44 metres which left them 17-3 behind at the break.
Into the second half and Clements threw caution to the wind. Centres Shane Brosnahan and Aran Hehir were to the fore at every opportunity, and if the lineout had functioned in crucial areas of the pitch, they could have perhaps converted severe pressure into points.
But it was Glenstal who struck the killer blow in the contest 10 minutes into the second half, centre Fitzgerald intercepting a pass in his own 22 to sprint 80 metres to the line and bring the score to 24-3.
While the game as a contest may have been over, Clements remained determined and got a deserved score through second row Aidan Quinlivan which was converted by Bateman to make it 24-10.
A lengthy stoppage for two injuries gave both teams a chance to introduce fresh legs in the final quarter, but it was Glenstal openside Mark Fleming — outstanding all afternoon — who led by example and won his side a penalty in the opposition 22 after a monumental defensive effort.
Egan slotted the kick to make it 27-10 and that’s how it finished; Glenstal through to the quarter-finals at the first time of asking while Clements will have another shot at redemption in just over a week’s time.
Scorers: Glenstal: Tries: J O’Mahony, S Downes, G Downing, L Fitzgerald. Conversions: A Egan (2). Penalty: A Egan.
St Clement’s: Try: A Quinlivan. Conversion: J Bateman. Penalty: J Bateman.
Glenstal Abbey
15. Jack O’Mahony
14. Tim Molony
13. Jamie Mawhinney
12. Luke Fitzgerald
11. Ronan Quinn
10. Aran Egan
9. Thanade McCoole
1. Sean Scanlon-Garry
2. George Downing
3. Eoin Bergin
4. Conan O’Sullivan
5. Shane Downes
6. Mark Walsh
7. Mark Fleming
8. Rory Clarke (capt)
Replacements:
16. Padraic Mulligan
17. Henry Downing
18. Patrick Prendergast
19. David Kelly
20. James Fitzgerald
21. Andrew Walsh
22. Caolan Dooley
23. Declan Floyd
24. Eoin Callaghan
25. Andrew Hogan
St Clement’s
15. James Neville
14. Adam Barry
13. Aran Hehir (capt)
12. Shane Brosnahan
11. Adam Marshall
10. John Bateman
9. Evan Griffin
1. Aron Stacey
2. Derry Gleeson
3. Conor Clancy
4. Aidan Quinlivan
5. Denis Mortell
6. Dillon Cotter
7. Gerard O’Byrne
8. Micheal Kiely
Replacements:
16. Adam Ahern
17. Dylan Daly Conway
18. Colin Byrne
19. John Flynn
20. Alex Lloyd
21. Cian Donnelly
22. Craig O’Brien
23. Sean Wilmott
24. Alex Kiely
25. Chirstopher Heelan
26. Micheal Rogal
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