WELL, it couldn't have been more riveting than this. A spirited comeback from what seemed an impossible situation at half time by St Munchin's swept them in to the lead and then and equally inspiring effort from Christians took, the Cork side clear to win a vastly "entertaining Munster Schools' Cup final at Musgrave Park yesterday to give a typically enthusiastic crowd some hope for the future of Irish rugby.
For a start it might be wise to keep a close eye on Jeremy Staunton from Munchin's and Alan Hickey from Christians. And they, were not the only ones in a contest of superb commitment and a lot of achievement.
The only sad note was that there had to be a loser. St Muchin's can go back to the heartland of Limerick rugby with their heads high in the knowledge that they contributed substantially to a fine, competitive and sporting match.
A word of praise, too, to the supporters of both schools who expressed their exuberance all through without ever breaching the decencies of the game, an important factor in an atmosphere of high tension.
If there were those from Limerick who felt like leaving at halftime they would have been understood. CBC were, it seemed, in total control with a 13 point cushion to see them through the second half. Not even the breeze in their faces could possibly have worried them.
Yet, within 15 minutes of the restart, the Limerick supporters were jubilant as their side swept into the lead. It was inspired stuff from their half back pairing off their captain Maurice O'Connor, and their splendid out half Staunton which turned the tide in their favour and suggested that a major upset was on the cards.
Christians had taken a highly important grip on the match after only four minutes. A poor 22 drop out went to touch and from the scrum Hickey, Tom Olden, Kieran Scully and Tadhg Daly handled for the latter to go over for a try. O'Mahony's kick hit a post but Christians had struck a telling blow.
Staunton lifted the Munchin spirits with a penalty but O'Mahony replied with two successful kicks after what seemed from the comfort of the press box to be two harsh awards by the referee, Ronnie McDowell.
Munchin's did not flinch and they launched a few promising attacks before another bad dropout got them into trouble again and Hickey picked up from the back of the scrum to power his way over for O'Mahony to add the points and give CBC a 16-3 half time lead.
The Limerick side flung themselves into the fray at the restart and were rewarded when a huge punt by Staunton put Tadhg Daly under pressure and a sliced clearance gave Craig Doyle the slightest of chances and he won the race for the touch down. Staunton converted and Munchin's were back in the match.
CBC were rattled and five minutes later after further Limerick pressure Staunton dropped a goal to narrow the gap further.
With the wind behind them and the adrenalin flowing as strong as the Shannon, Munchin's won their own scrum some 40 yards out and O'Connor managed to baffle the CBC cover before sending Staunton slicing through the disorganised defence for a try which he converted himself to give his side a 20-16 lead.
The introduction of Michael Barrett to the CBC defence at full back proved to be a shrewd move and it was he who was at the end, of a move involving Olden, O'Mahony and Scully when he went over near the posts and O'Mahony converted to put the Cork side back in control and, although Staunton made a brave effort to regain ground for Munchin's with an attempted drop goal the stronger Cork side lasted the punishing pace better with Hickey going over for another try which O'Mahony converted.
