Crescent College Comp were put to the pin of their collar by Rockwell, needing two late tries to book a spot in the semi-final stage of the competition.

A game that had everything, action and drama from start to finish, in the end Crescent College struck the jugular and made the final four of the competition where once again they meet CBC.

Rockwell really gave it everything, after a tough defeat last year by a large margin, this year it was much closer but Rockwell just could not hold their second half lead into the dying minutes. They will be back and have a strong squad for the future to take the honours again.

For now it is about Crescent College, they battled hard and under intense pressure for over 70 minutes, they stood their ground and with a trip on the cards to Leeside again, it could well be another classic encounter between these two heavyweights.

With the elements testing early on conditions were unfavourable, Crescent did not mind the weather conditions and would strike the opening try mere minutes into proceedings. They have a serious maul this year and with their first real drive from a 5m lineout in the Rockwell half they powered over and Jonathan Byrne, the man who threw the lineout was on hand to dot down at the rear of the maul. Evan Cusack missed the conversion which followed. 

Rockwell were quick to reply, Crescent conceding a penalty at the breakdown within kicking distance for Mark Neville, the full-back dissecting the posts to cut the gap down to just two points. 

It was a real frantic end to end contest, following the restart, Crescent started to apply pressure and soon after were rewarded through Ryan Scanlon running down the right wing, his dancing feet taking him past a host of tacklers as he crossed under the posts, giving Cusack an easier shot at the posts. 

No sooner had Crescent added points to the board, Rockwell would do the same. A series of penalties allowed the Tipp side to get ground in the Crescent half, their forwards pushed their way closer to the try line. Held up short, they ball sprayed back out wide and Muiri Lamble glided his way over the whitewash for the opening Rockwell try after 28 minutes.

With the score 12-10, Crescent once again had a narrow two point lead, the Limerick men would soon hit the break again shy of the interval, from the opposite side of the field Crescent again had a dangerous lineout, their maul drove and split in two, the maul spearheaded by Cormac Quinn who dotted the third try of the contest. Another difficult kick ensued for Cusack, going wide of the uprights, the score remained 17-10 going into the break.

Whatever was said at half-time really kicked Rockwell into a new gear in that second half. Four minutes was all it took for them to register a second try, Andrew Wall with a shunt from close range to power over the line as Rockwell were not going down without a fight, they were unable to tie the game as Neville saw the conversion drag wide.

Crescent were up against it early, a concession of a penalty by Rockwell gave Cusack a shot at the posts, he made no mistake in putting five between them, 20-15. 

Then it was Rockwell to really hit back, taking the lead for the first and only time in this entertaining contest. Again it was Wall, brother to Munster, Ireland and Blackrock star Dorothy Wall, involved in the move. Crescent lost captain Conor Ryan to a yellow card, Rockwell were relentless in their drive for the line, in the end they could not contain the sheer power of the Rockwell drive and over went Ryan for a second try. Cian Ralph took up the kicking duties and struck a sweet strike to dissect the uprights and give Rockwell the lead.

Crescent pushed with just 14 on the field, when Ryan returned they looked a lot sharper and soon were able to get in and restore their previous lead. Shy of the hour mark, they worked a strong move down the far side of the field, dotting in the corner amidst a sea of bodies was Oran Copley, Cusack almost in the far car park, saw the conversion tail wide.

The lead back to three points, Rockwell in the final minutes were relentless, both used their bench well to add fresh legs, Crescent just had enough gas in the tank. Ensuring the result in the final moments of play Darragh McKeogh powering his way over the line under the posts and Cusack capped off the performance, their semi-final place once again secured.

Post Match:

Lee Nicholas