Details

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

Match Report

Symington the Hero As Bandon Record Opening Round Cup Win

A late Peter Symington Penalty saw Bandon Grammar come from behind to record victory in the opening round of the Munster Schools Cup in Dramatic Circumstances.

A try after 68 minutes, a penalty minutes later and a missed penalty just after, made the ending of this tie dramatic as Bandon advance just about into the next round of the cup.

Castletroy notched the opening score shy of the second minute after being awarded a penalty, Robert McConkey stepped up and landed the kick for a 3-0 lead, the Grammar responded with a penalty of their own in the third minute as Peter Symington had a close range chance at the posts which he made no mistake with.

Another infringement from Castletroy gave Symington his second shot at the posts from close range in the eight minute, this time his strike cannoned off the left upright and allowed the Limerick side to clear their lines.

Bandon pressed on trying to pick pocket some space within the Castletroy defence but they held firm, the Limerick side managed to push them back into their own half and a penalty at the breakdown gave McConkey a chance to kick for touch, the kick failed to make touch but after Liam Glynn broke strike from catching a clearance kick they were awarded another penalty at the breakdown, this one was within his range but tailed to the right and wide.

Pressure was all on the native Cork school as Castletroy creeped inches to the line, they worked it well on the far side and found their way over for a try as Aran Cregan crossed the whitewash in the 19th minute, the conversion failed to reach the target but the Limerick side found themselves back ahead 8-3.

In the latter stages of the half it was the turn of the Grammar to put pressure on the hosts, a kick in behind forced a lineout on the 5m line, Castletroy did well to handle the pressure but again back came Bandon, a penalty shy of the line saw them put into a scrum, the Limerick outfit penalised once more forced a reset as Bandon opted to go again in the search of an opening try, a solid defence saw Troy turnover possession as Grammar were unable to work a score.

Oisin Meehan was sent to the sin bin in the final act of the opening half, again awarding Grammar a close range chance at points, Symington missed his last kick but this time made no error in reducing the deficit to 8-6 at the interval.

Four minutes after the restart Grammar got their try, strong work by their forward line laid the foundations to push Castletroy back beyond their 22, after going back inside more centrally a gap opened out wide and after overlapping the ball out Liam Prior gathered and touched down for Bandon’s first try, it had been coming but they managed to find their feet to lead 11-8.

Castletroy felt they had re taken the lead after 50 minutes, a superb block down by Jamie Conway saw the clearance kick by Grammar sent back into their tryline, Conway looked to have grounded it but a penalty was given for Bandon to clear the danger.

After a nervy few minute to the end of the half, Castletroy hit a late score after 67 minutes, Alister Tchokotieu made the initial carry to create space and that created the drive, Usman Musa carried and broke the tacklers to get over for their second try and put them back in front.

However the game was not over, Grammar from their restart worked toward the Shannonsiders line Troy's defence was tested but the Trojan Horse the boot of Symington had one last chance right in front of goal as again they were penalised at the breakdown, he landed the kick and Grammar went back ahead 14-13

McConkey had a late chance at goal to try and seal the win for Castletroy as Grammar this time felt the fire of the referee's whistle, his strike was good but just missed the target, a cruel end to a fantastic game of rugby

Bandon Grammar School

Castletroy College

15Liam Glynn Full-Back
14Sean McKeon Winger
13David Carr 22 Centre
12Darragh McMahon Centre
11Mark Murphy Winger
10Robert McConkey Fly-Half 1'
9Oisin Williams Scrum-Half
1Jamie Conway Prop
2James Myers Hooker
3Max Hoare 16 Prop
4Oisin Meehan 19 Hooker 35'
5Harvey Hogan Lock
6Usman Musa Flanker 68'
7Alister Tchokotieu Flanker
8Aran Creegan No. 8 19'
16Cian Kennedy 3 Flanker
17Jack O’Corman Hooker
18Adam Dooley Lock
19Ben Fogarty 4 Lock
20John Regan Magner
21Chulainn Williams Scrum-Half
22Ryan O’Keeffe 13
23James Rennison
24Hayatallah Mohammad Ali
25Rowan Brady Winger

Ground

Virgin Media Park
Tramore Rd, Ballyphehane, County Cork, Munster, T12KO39, Ireland

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.