Pinergy Schools Senior Cup Final Preview
Cork rivals Presentation Brothers College and Christian Brothers College are reunited for yet another Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup final on Tuesday at Virgin Media Park with the Garrett Fitzgerald Cup up for grabs (KO 2pm).
The game will be live streamed by the Irish Examiner, Munster Rugby’s Official Media Partner, here.
Both schools will be aiming to take the lead in the overall roll of honour; as they both have won this prestigious competition 31 times, which just adds that extra little spice. Not that any is ever needed when these teams meet.
CBC will be aiming to gain revenge for last season where Pres put in an outstanding final display to secure a 24-0 victory in the decider. It should be a much closer game this time around with both teams containing several players from last year’s encounter.
The Cork schools faced similar paths to the final; as they each overcame both St Munchin’s and Crescent College Comprehensive to reach the final.
Pres secured their place in the semi-final with a 14-3 victory over Crescent at Virgin Media Park in the semi-final qualifier. It was a tight, competitive and hard-fought game played in difficult conditions. The Mardyke based school were robust in defence and winger Neville O’Leary produced a moment of class in attack to open the scoring with a try that captain Gene O’Leary-Kareem converted. Crescent struck with a late penalty in the first half to make it 7-3 at the break.
Deckie Fitzgerald made a big impact off the bench with a great solo score that O’Leary-Kareem converted to secure the victory.
A few days previously, Christians held off St Munchin’s in a similarly tough game at the same Cork venue, emerging 15-5 victors. The Northsiders made a strong start with a try from their influential number eight Danny Rock, who powered over under the posts. Charlie Patrick O’Shea added the conversion and later got in for a try to give his side a 12-0 lead at the break.
O’Shea extended the lead to 15 points and Munchin’s fought back hard but Christians were tackling hard. A try was eventually conceded when Oisin Minogue went over after a powerful drive by the Limerick pack.
The two Limerick schools won their respective quarter-finals to get back to the last four. The games again took place at Virgin Media Park with Christians facing Crescent first and winning out 18-8. The Cork side’s running game was creating gaps early on with Christopher Barrett racing through for an early try. Crescent’s pack did exert a lot of pressure, but pressure by the pack at the line-out allowed hooker Darragh Prenter put his side 10-0 ahead at half-time.
O’Shea danced his way through for an early second-half try, and while Crescent fought back with a try and penalty; O’Shea sealed the win with a late penalty.
Pres not only secured their place in the final the next day; but laid down a serious statement of intent with a comprehensive 45-12 victory against Munchin’s. It was a sublime all-round display by Pres with some scintillating running lines combined with a powerful forward effort. They led 33-5 at the break and scored 7 tries overall.
Gene O’Leary-Kareem scored an impressive total of 18 points, including two tries, with his cousin Neville O’Leary also crossing the whitewash twice. Alex Alderson, Mark Hetherington and the eye-catching John Wigginton-Barrett also touched down.
Both sides pose immense attacking intent, but there will also be plenty of focus on big defensive efforts. Michael Foy and Denis Callaghan will be looking to establishing dominance up front for Christians while Pres’ will be eager for Denis Murphy and Cormac Bohan to have an impact in the tight and loose.
