Bandon Grammar School 17
St Munchin’s College 13
SOLID SECOND-HALF defending earned Bandon Grammar School a place in the semi-finals of the Munster Schools Senior Cup for the first time as they held off St Munchin’s College at Bandon RFC on Thursday.
With the strong wind behind them, the West Cork side fell behind to a Jason Kiely penalty midway through the first half but produced an instant response. Straight from the restart, full-back Seán Hudson was able to initiate a break and, after good work by number eight Robin Stokes, prop James French got over the line between the posts.
Hudson made it 7-3 and then in the 31st minute he rounded off a lovely move involving out-half Evan Palmer and scrum-half Jack Crowley to extend the lead further, with the conversion making it an 11-point game.
Just before half-time, a Hudson penalty almost from halfway ensured that they enjoyed a two-try cushion but early in the second half Kiely reduced the arrears with another Munchin’s penalty.
The Limerick school were to enjoy much of the possession and territory in the second half, but small errors proved costly and time and again, Bandon were able to relieve the pressure. Eventually, at the death, Munchin’s second row and captain Kealon McMahon touched down, with Kiely sending over an impressive conversion, but it was to be the last action.
In the semi-final draw held immediately afterwards, Bandon were paired with Cork’s PBC – who beat them at the quarter-final stage last year. The other semi will be an all-Limerick affair between Ardscoil Rís and Glenstal Abbey.
Scorers for Bandon GS:Tries: Seán Hudson, James French.
Conversions: Séan Hudson (2)
Penalty: Seán Hudson
Scorers for St Munchin’s College:Try: Kealon McMahon
Conversion: Jason Kiely
Penalties: Jason Kiely (2)
BANDON GS: Seán Hudson; Victor Lovell, Ben Gur, Ethan Greene, Jan Donnelly; Evan Palmer, Jack Crowley; James French, Travis Coomey, Ashley Deane; Conor Scully, Jason Bradfield; Niall Beamish, Robin Stokes, Colin Deane.
Replacements: Paul Jackson for Beamish (58), Michael Archer for Deane (68).
ST MUNCHIN’S COLLEGE: Luke Costello; Rob Clancy, Garry Quilligan, Eoghan Carr, Shane Murphy; Jason Kiely, Evan Maher; Mark O’Driscoll, Darren Racdliffe, Gary McCoy; Paddy Kelly, Kealon McMahon; Mark Crowe, Shane Kelly, Jake Murphy.
Replacements: Evan Sheehan-O’Driscoll for Radcliffe, Keith Hyland for McCoy (both 60), Jude Pendijito for Carr (70).
Referee: George Finn (MAR).
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