Michael O’Donovan crossed for a late try to book Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí’s place in the next round of the Munster Schools Senior Cup.

An ending that was surreal for all involved with the Cork school, it looked like Glenstal had taken victory with a ate try but with a vocal support from their school Bantry found that last second winning score to move forward in the competition.

Bantry were pinned back early on but found their feet to escape the tackle and get up the field, Stephen O’Donovan made a break down the touchline but an offload inside went wayward.

They kept pressing and a Dylan Hicks penalty found touch five metres shy of the line, after a string line out they were close to getting a score but a penalty was called in the breakdown which Hicks guided over for a 3-0 lead after nine minutes.

Three minutes later Oran Wiseman gathered a clearance kick and set charge for a blistering run down the touchline, a kick in behind caused issue but the wind and bounce saw it evade his grasp

After 16 minutes Bantry still had the territory and looked at getting an opening try, they gathered steam and a penalty brought the chance at points but Hicks took it quickly and ran to gain ground but in the end it was turned over.

In the blink of an eye Glenstal hit the counter, Finn Connolly gathered at the back of a super counter ruck, he passed to Sam O’Farrell and the Centre took off from inside his own 22 and never broke stride to evade the Bantry backline and score the games opening try, Killian Brennan converted nailed the conversion to put them 7-3 ahead 17 minutes in.

Bantry found themselves behind but kept that early momentum that showed promise, another great attacking move saw Hicks with a chip over the backline, the bounce and wind just carried the pass away from him but Ciaran O’Sullivan had an ideal bounce and got over for their opening try in the 26th minute, Hicks converted to put them three ahead 10-7.

Not much could separate the teams and a well worked drive brought Glenstal close to the Bantry line, they played a great passing move out wide which fed Harry Gleeson to power his way over for the second try in first half stoppage time, putting them 12-10 ahead at the interval.

Bantry got the opening score 12 minutes into the second half, they had been on the end of some great attacking play by Glenstal but after Bantry worked into the Glenstal ten meter line, they were penalised and Hicks landed a monster to see them ahead by the minimum 13-12.

The wind was in Bantry’s sails and a great kick in behind forced a dangerous defensive line out inside the 22, the Limerick side defended well but a couple of phases later it was another penalty for Bantry at the breakdown, with Hicks again accurate from the tee the lead extended to 16-12 as we ticked past 50 minutes.

The remainder of the half was tit for tat between the teams as both looked to gain ground with Bantry especially out to preserve the lead, it was going their way until a late Glenstal drive singalled danger, after some severe pressure their defence was stretched and Gleeson powered his way over as time looked to be over, Brennan;s conversion made ita three point lead 19-16.

Now it was do or die for both teams, Bantry now facing an early exit with Glenstal looking to be composed and hold on, they had a chance for Hicks to take three points but decided not to and aimed to scrum and use the forward line to creep forward, they worked the phases and had another penalty shy of the dead ball line and Michael O’Donovan was smart to kick and go and cross the whitewash for a last moment winning try, Hicks in the middle of all the pandemonium on the sideline landed the conversion.