To Christian Brothers College, Cork the spoils, a third successive Munster Schools Senior Cup victory and their 25th in the history of the competition, a mark on which they join arch rivals PBC Cork. While acknowledging the winners one cannot but feel sympathy for a gallant St Munchin's College team that toiled manfully in the resplendent sunshine, never once giving quarter.
Seven minutes into the second half it appeared as if CBC would coast to victory, having just touched down for a third try and a 21-8 advantage. To their credit St Munchin's responded superbly, particularly up front where Garrett Noonan was inspirational.
The big second row was wonderfully abrasive ploughing forward constantly and receiving great support from captain, Conor Hartigan, Colm Tucker, Peter Malone and replacement prop Ronan Parkes.
The Munchin's eight repeatedly drove through the heart of the opposing pack, recycling ball time and again for excellent scrum-half Eoghan Cahill to introduce the next phase of play. They edged forward relentlessly, camping deep inside CBC's 22. In mitigation it would be glib to overlook the quality of the Cork side's defence.
Under constant pressure, CBC defended intelligently with great commitment to the first up tackles, thus ensuring that their line remained intact, that is until the 57th minute when Cahill was awarded a somewhat fortuitous score. Referee Bertie Smith amazingly awarded the try for what appeared more akin to a slam-dunk than a touchdown: Cahill suspended in mid air with the ball bouncing over his head as he threw the ball towards the ground.
Fullback David O'Donovan's conversion meant that there was only six points between the teams, suggesting an exciting end to the final. St Munchin's duly returned to their opponents 22 but some resolute defence and a fine relieving kick from CBC Cork's excellent scrum-half Pat McCarthy finally lifted the siege eight minutes and two spurned penalty opportunities later. Another McCarthy punt took play into the Limerick team's 22 and that is where CBC finished the match.
They merited their triumph if only for the greater cutting edge that they enjoyed behind the scrum. On limited possession they managed to maximise scoring opportunities. Fullback Tadgh Daly crossed for a fine try, right wing Peter Quinlan snaffled another score while James Coughlan's try may be attributed to a beautifully worked move from a five-metre scrum.
Brian O'Mahony and Ronan Wade excelled out of touch, profiting from hooker Ben Kidd's accurate delivery. Props Mark Cosgrave and Billy O'Connell carried ball and tackled with equal effect but it was the back-row of James Coughlan, Frank Cogan and captain David Keohane that dominated the tackle count.
St Munchin's started impressively - Jason O'Brien kicking beautifully at out-half - forcing their opponents to concede an early penalty which O'Donovan just failed to convert but they were rewarded on 10 minutes with a try by right wing John Paul Aherne. Noonan battered his way into the CBC 22 and the ball was moved wide quickly with Jason Stokes' clever overhead pass allowing Aherne to squeeze over in the corner. O'Donovan missed the difficult conversion.
The fullback atoned on 23 minutes with a well struck penalty but CBC finally established a foothold on the match. From a five-metre scrum, Frank Cogan fed big number eight Coughlan and he crashed over for a well worked try. McCarthy converted.
O'Donovan narrowly missed another penalty opportunity before half-time as St Munchin's struggled to maximise their return from the benefit of a strong breeze. CBC's response after the interval was swift and emphatic. Out-half Conor Quaid's superbly timed pass allowed Daly to race between his centres and cross unopposed.
McCarthy added the extra points as he would do again four minutes later when Quinlan chased the scrum-half's chip into the St Munchin's 22 and blocked down Greg Clarke's attempted clearance, touching down in the corner. McCarthy kicked a magnificent touch-line conversion.
The expected Cork onslaught never materialised and instead St Munchin's displayed great character as they attempted to rescue the situation. That it ended in failure should not detract from the effort, application and quality that they displayed on the day. A thoroughly entertaining match and certainly one worthy of any final.
Scoring sequence: 10 mins: Aherne try, 5-0; 23: O'Donovan penalty, 8-0; 28: Coughlan try, McCarthy conversion, 8-7. Half-time 8-7. 38: Daly try, McCarthy conversion, 8-14; 42: Quinlan try, McCarthy conversion, 8-21; 57: Cahill try, O'Donovan conversion, 15-21.
CBC Cork: T Daly; P Quinlan, E Daly, K Lucey, K O'Leary; C Quaid, P McCarthy; M Cosgrave, B Kidd, B O'Connell; B O'Mahony, R Wade; F Cogan, J Coughlan, D Keohane (capt). Replacements: S O'Connor for Wade 65 mins; E Donovan for Quinlan 71 mins.
St Munchin's: D O'Donovan; JP Aherne, J Stokes, G Ryan, G Clarke; J O'Brien, E Cahill; L Hogan, C Tucker, P Keogh; A Laffan, G Noonan; W Dalton, P Malone, C Hartigan (capt). Replacements: R Parkes for Hogan 14 mins; S Keogh for Dalton half-time; E Kennedy for Clarke 51 mins.
Referee: B Smith (Munster).
