PBC Cork 39
Bandon GS 10
JOINT-RECORD WINNERS PBC of Cork reached the semi-finals of the Munster Schools Senior Cup as they dealt with the challenge of Bandon GS in efficient fashion at Musgrave Park this afternoon.
Level on 28 wins with their great Cork rivals CBC, Pres never looked like being denied a place in the last four.
Inside seven minutes, they had assembled an 8-0 lead and were 18-3 in front by half-time.
While their opponents had the wind upon the resumption, the city side’s dominance was never in question and they put the issue beyond doubt well before the three-quarter mark.
Having beaten St Munchin’s last week, Bandon came into the tie full of confidence but found themselves under pressure from the off, with Peter Sylvester opening the scoring for PBC from a second-minute penalty.
The opening try arrived just five minutes later, when Sylvester’s pass allowed centre James Broderick to break.
While Ben Gur looked to have got in saving tackle, he got his pass away to Jonathan Wren just in time, the full-back cutting back in from the left and crossing over.
Sylvester missed the conversion attempt but it mattered little as Pres continued to hold the upper hand.
Scrum-half Harry Shanahan got their second try when he was on hand after David Hyland was tackled close to the line and Sylvester added the extras for 15-0.
While Seán Hudson did get Bandon off the mark with a penalty coming up to half-time, Sylvester responded with a huge effort from the 10 metre line and the lead was extended further in the second half.
Jack O’Shea made it 23-3, Sylvester with another excellent kick to convert, this time from the left.
With no end to the pressure, they were awarded a penalty-try in the 50th minute when a maul was illegally stopped and soon after that flanker Eoin O’Shea got the fifth try with a knifing run from deep.
Sylvester added the conversion after each, leaving it 39-3 with time running out.
At the death, there was some consolation for Bandon as their captain and star performer Gavin Coombes touched down for them, James French the architect. Hudson converted, but it was PBC who marched on.
They will face CBC in the semi-finals, with the other tie an all-Limerick meeting of Castletroy College and Crescent College Comprehensive.
PBC scorers:Tries: Harry Shanahan, Jack O’Shea, Jonathan Wren, Eoin O’Shea, penalty try
Penalties: Peter Sylvester (2)
Conversions: Peter Sylvester (4)Bandon GS scorers:Tries: Gavin Coombes
Penalties: Seán Hudson
Conversions: Seán Hudson
PBC: Jonathan Wren, Paul Buckley (Evan Palmer 59), James Broderick, Jack O’Shea (Luke O’Connor 51), Tom Fitzgerald (Seán French 51), Peter Sylvester (Ross Murphy 59), Harry Shanahan; Brian O’Connor (Mike Varnam 59), Michael Shinkwin (Billy Scannell 54), Samuel Deane (Daire McDonagh 59), Conor O’Flynn (Paul Crowley 54), Brian O’Mahony, David Hyland, Eoin O’Shea (Mike Varnam 43 (O’Shea 49 (Jack O’Sullivan 55)), Jack O’Sullivan.
Bandon GS: Seán Hudson, Alex Moore (Evan Palmer 59, injured), Ethan Twomey (Conor Scully half-time), Luke Kingston (Craig Pock 18, injured), Ben Gur, Luke Fleming, Mark Bateman (Sam Malone 54); Travis Coomey, Billy Hayes (Greg Reidy 60), Dylan O’Callaghan, James O’Dwyer (Josh Lanzadd half-time), Colin Deane, James French, Robin Stokes (Jacob Lehane 58), Gavin Coombes.
Referee: Robert O’Sullivan.
