PBC had to endure a nervy finish as Munchin's came from 35-10 down to almost snatch victory in this afternoon's Senior Cup tie in Musgrave Park.

PBC won the first half and Munchin's the second, they were a strong unit but just could not grab a late try, Gordon Wood bagged a second half brace as his influence wit the armband looked to almost see them in the decider.

However tries from Tom Coughlan, Gene Kareem O'Leary, James O'Leary, Fionn Ruisseal and Ben O'Connor were enough to have the scoreboard in favour of the hosts, O'Connor with a 15 points haul making him the competitions top scorer.

PBC started out early from the traps, a lineout on half way in the opening seconds served as the first set piece, Pres fed well and their maul made sure they remained in possession, Liam Tuohy at the back of the ruck assessed his options, they went wide and Tom Coughlan made a terrific burst to receive the pass, he broke through the space and turned on the afterburners to race in for the opening try, Ben O’Connor added the extras for an ideal start for the Leeside school inside two minutes.

Munchin’s came back but the Pres line proved too strong in those early minutes, they looked good in attack but just could not dent the armour that PBC had defending their try line, but the battles continued at both ends with both in the feeling out process.

Pres almost hit their second try in the 21st minute, aai the left wing proved fruitful for Coughlan to use his pace having been provided the delivery by O’Conor, but the winger was bundled into touch. Munchkin’s had the lineout stolen, as PBC pressed on the front foot as Gene Kareem O’Leary made a strong drive to pierce through the heart of the Limerick sides defence.

The referee would award a penalty for PBC which Rory O’Shaughnessy smartly took quickly, this began yet ore phases of attack and pressure shy of the line, that left hand side proved popular and they went there again, Harry Murphy with a skilful offload to O’Leary who finished the move yet started, O’Connor doubled their lead with another beautiful conversion.

Munchin’s were still in the game, they had threatened well before the second try by O’Leary, Matt Te Pou started a great move down the touchline and a clever and very cheeky chip over O’Connor saw space open to run into, he vollied the loose ball to keep the move going and the second bounce fell right into his hands to score, Munchin’s on the board but just five points as the conversion shanked wide.

That score looked to have woken up PBC, they just made a little error and as a result they had their lead reduced, but when they got on the attack they looked deadly, fast passes, lighting quick pace and strong physical bulldozers who can create yards, just on the half hour mark their attack would do just that as James O’Leary managed to get through a gap for their third try, O’Connor tapped over the resulting conversion for a 21-5 lead.

We still had time however for more action and excitement, Pres looked to have cleared the danger from a Munchin’s attack but a giant leap in the air by Gcaptain Cordon Wood secured possession, Oisin Minogue carried well and bulldozed through the PBC line to score, ana judicious feet of strength to score from an impossible move, conversion against drew wide.

Ger Burke’s troops however finished the half in style, off their lineout again carrying fast they managed to exploit gaps and their forwards have been a strong asset all year, Fionn Ruisseal finished the move off for their fifth try and the magic of O’Connor made sure extras were added.

O’Connor was not finished there, he had been converting his teammates tries in the half but at the death he scampered free down the left wing and no man in red and blue could catch the full back as he got over, he notched the extra two and PBC went in ahead by 25 points.

Into the second half the action reminded but we waited a while for a score, Munchin’s getting over after 50 minutes, Minogue again using the muscles to power over as it looked like PBC had done enough after play was spread wide to hold firm, Minghue carried and was tackled, then a few second after picked at the back of the ruck and dotted down, again the conversion just drifted wide from Cillian O’Connor.

Momentum was with the Shannonsiders and before the hour mark had broken through the PBC defence once again, a terrific turnover by Tom Wood started the move, they won a penalty and took it quickly passing wide the brother Gordon would make a drive and get in for another try, conversion good it reduced the gap.

Wood bagged his brace three minutes later, PBC looked really rocky in defence and when it looked like Munchin’s made a mistake and the ball was passed incorrectly, Wood gobbled up the loose ball and burst in and with another seven on the board, it was just a six point game, 36-29 after 63 minutes.

One last burst of drama following yesterday’s climactic conclusion, Wood broke free on the left wing eyeing up his hat trick, he made strides but had too offload to De Pout but Gene Kareem O’Leary tackled him into touch, PBC lost the lineout and had to deal with immense pressure, a penalty for Munchin’s looked to bring but score that could see them into a final, but dogged defending by Pres saw a penalty go their way and another final on the horizon.