Details

Date Time Competition Season
8 February 2023 2:30 pm Munster Schools Senior Cup 2022/23

Match Report

Crescent College Comprehensive into final four with win over Ardscoil Rís

Crescent Comprehensive College secured passage to the Pinergy Munster Senior Schools Cup final four, courtesy of a five-point victory over Limerick neighbours, Ardscoil Rís.

The defending champions are able to call upon several of the 2022 vintage, with Conor Clery, Fionn Casserly and Cillian Kelly. Number 8, Kelly captain’s this talented side. A try-filled, 36-27 win over Bandon last month put them into this quarter-final.

For Ardscoil Rís, they were making the one mile trip up the Shelbourne Road, hoping to bounce back from a narrow loss to St. Munchin’s a fortnight ago, afforded a second chance due to their strong placing prior to Christmas, in the group stage.

Comp are chasing a 13th title, and a fourth since the Millennium. Ardscoil Rís’ wait for provincial honours at Senior Cup level now extends into another season at least, having never won this famous old cup.  

They were in small trouble, trailing 12-10 at the interval, with Ardscoil putting in a quality opening 35 minutes. Tries from Joe Costello and Alan Fitzgerald meant that a third minute try from Comp’s Mark Fitzgerald was wiped away.

The last score of the opening half came from a penalty, with Eoin O’Callaghan adding to his earlier conversion, to put Comp to within two points at the short whistle.

But second half scores from the boot of O’Callaghan and a try from Joe McEnery helped them into a 20-12 lead. Ardscoil replied with two simple penalties from Aaron Byrnes to make it a two-point game with 15 to play.

Both sides would finish with 14. Ref George Clancy showed a red card to Ardscroil captain Luke Murphy, who made a dump tackle after the whistle. From the subsequent penalty, O’Callaghan put Comp five clear with time almost up.  

Then, entering stoppage time, Cormac Quinn was binned but Ardscoil couldn't find the equalising score. Time ran out and their wait for Senior success goes on.

Comp book a semi-final spot with Cork powerhouse CBC, in two weeks’ time.  

Ardscoil Ris

Crescent College Comp.

15Jed O’Dwyer Full-Back
14Eoin O’Callaghan Winger 4', 45'
28', 40', 67'
13Joe McEnery Centre 44'
12Ben Gallagher Centre
11Sean Morrissey Winger
10Ryan Godfrey Fly-Half
9Marcus Lyons Scrum-Half
1Mark Fitzgerald Prop 3'
2Conor Clery Hooker
3Dennis O’Dwyer Prop
4Jack Somers Lock
5Sean Magee Lock
6Fionn Casserly Flanker
7Andrew Ahearne Flanker
8Cillian Kelly No. 8
16Jonathan Byrne Hooker
17Alex McNamara
18Cathal Lanigan Ryan Prop
19Conor Ryan Lock
20Jordan Power
21Charlie Fenton Flanker
22Cormac Quinn No. 8 70'
23Michael O’Mara Centre
24Evan Bennett
25Mark Molloy

Timeline

  3' Mark Fitzgerald
  4' 14. Eoin O'Callaghan
2. Joe Costello 10' 
Alan Fitzgerald 21' 
Aaron Byrnes 22' 
  28' 14. Eoin O'Callaghan
  40' 14. Eoin O'Callaghan
  44' 13. Joe McEnery
  45' 14. Eoin O'Callaghan
Aaron Byrnes 50' 
Aaron Byrnes 55' 
Luke Murphy 66' 
  67' 14. Eoin O'Callaghan
  70' Cormac Quinn

Ground

Thomond Park
Thomond Park, Limerick City, County Limerick, V94 PD28, Ireland

Tom is a multimedia reporter and broadcaster based in Limerick. His main focus is Soccer, Gaelic Games and Rugby. He first starting writing reports aged 14. He is no relation to Tom Clancy, American novelist.