Cistercian College Roscrea produced a strong second half comeback to overcome Catholic University School in Lakeland's Park this afternoon.

It took two tries from Adrian Dunne to be the catalyst behind Roscrea’s second half comeback as they now meet Blackrock College in a tough test at the Quarter Final Stage.

From the offset it was the Tipperary side who threatened in the early exchanges, Dunne gathered from the kick-off and looked to mount an early charge but CUS managed to deal with the threat, Lee Fitzpatrick played a short lineout that kept Roscrea on the front foot but CUS eventually managed to clear the danger as Niall Cox botted the ball back the other way at Roscrea.

It would do little to repel the threat Roscrea imposed early on, captain Richie Whelan made a great drive, a well worked supported move with his fellow forwards including Billy Hayes, nudging them ever close to the danger doze and getting that early score, Lee Fitzpatrick spotted a gap but was halted, they needed a new plan and after going wide Dan Punch was the man open to cross for the opening try in the 10th minute, the conversion not making the target but Roscrea had that early 5-0 lead which they built on without hesitation.

Two minutes ticked by and Roscrea were over for their second try, CUS had looked focused on the tie despite the early score, they worked their way up toward the Roscrea line looking to snatch a score, however Punch was like a coiled viper waiting to pounce on his prey, he made a dart and intercepted possession and sprinted almost the field length of the lakelands turf to dot down their second unconverted try of the day to double their lead.

CUS behind early started to come to life and would finish the half much the stronger of the two teams, they were forcing issues on the Roscrea game plan and on the half hour mark got the score they had been searching so hard for as Sean Bryne weaved his way past the tackle to touch down to reduce the deficit to 10-5.

Roscrea hooker Fitzpatrick was binned for an off the ball incident just before the interval, this gave CUS live and  after a high tackle allowed Cox to find touch in the corner, it gave them a chance at one last score, their lineout was perfect and the maul that followed allowed scrum-half Charlie O’Byrne the chance to break through the enemy line and cross for their second try Cox converted giving CUS a 12-10 lead at the break.

Following on from the ending of that opening half, the Premier Men really needed to find a way back into the tie and a quick brace from Dunne would prove pivotal, Charlie Naughton spotted Dunne and his offload allowed the winger get over at the posts for their third try of the contest with Naughton also adding the extra points to put them 17-12 ahead.

Within seconds after the score, Roscrea were in again for their fourth try, a quick as a flash drive back toward the line with Punch providing the assist for Dunne to touch down on the left hand side for his second try, this time the conversion missed but Roscrea changed the game on it’s head to lead 22-12.

Things got better for the Tipperary School as Naughton managed to score their fifth try after a powerful scrum saw the young out half able to work a way over for a try, his conversion putting a sizeable gap between them, it was a gap CUS failed to narrow, Aidan Walsh got over in the 62nd minute for a consolation score, as Roscrea laid a marker down in the second half.