MUNSTER SCHOOLS' SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL:THE RYAN triplets will have to wait at least another 70 minutes if they are to become the first to appear in the Munster Schools' Senior Cup final.
They helped St Munchin’s draw with the favourites, PBC, at a sundrenched Clifford Park yesterday.
A draw was a fair result on the day, but fixing the replay will pose problems as this was a very hard-fought contest from which both sides will take a few days to recover.
The winners will be out again on March 17th to face Rockwell at Thomond Park.
Both sides made one significant three-quarter move and in each instance it led to a try in the corner, and both were superbly converted.
PBC had an early chance with a penalty which drifted wide.
But four minutes into the second half outhalf Seán Óg Murphy was on target from the 22 after St Munchin’s flanker John Sherin was sinbinned for an off-the-ball tackle as the Cork side launched a series of rucks and mauls.
Just as the seven-and-a-half minutes in the bin ended, St Munchin’s drew level when fullback Brian Mullins kicked a penalty.
After 54 minutes St Munchin’s went in front when Shane Gavin found Lucas Kuntz at his shoulder. The centre took off from inside his half and sped past two defenders before managing a backhand flick to winger Conor Cunnane who got in at the corner.
Superbly, Mullins landed the touchline conversion.
PBC, who in the main used their powerful forwards to gain ground, let the ball out to their three-quarters after 25 minutes and fullback Séamus Glynn touched down in the corner.
Murphy added the points to force a deserved replay.
ST MUNCHIN’S COLLEGE: B Mullins; C Cunnane, L Kuntz, E Carr, P Curtis; J Murry, D Ryan; S Gavin, E Hogan, J McGovern; E Ryan, G Ryan; J Sherin, (C Tsang, 64), K McManus, T Goggin.
PBC: S Glynn; R Cullinane, J Costigan, D Horgan, E Dennehy; S Og Murphy, R Barry, (E O’Shaughnessy, 57); C Keane, B Vaughan, N Scannell; R Herlihy, D O’Mahony; B Carroll, (R Murphy, 61), J Duffy, (R Murphy, 49), C O’Flaherty.
Referee, D O’Flynn (MAR).
