Munchin’s end Cup famine
A MAGICAL solo try by Alex Wood, son of Ireland legend Keith, helped St Munchin’s end a 20-year wait to win the Munster Schools Junior Cup at Thomond Park yesterday.
Munchin’s took the lead through a ninth-minute Darragh Long penalty after a sustained spell of pressure deep in CBC territory. CBC soon hit back with the game’s first try after a spell of dominance of their own – full-back George Coomber crossing in the righthand corner.
That score looked to have CBC going in ahead at the break but Munchin’s got over for their first try thanks to a close-range Graham Kirwan effort. Munchin’s then took control of the contest when Wood scored his wonder try two minutes after the interval. The out-half jinked his way past three defenders, before outstripping the final CBC defender to dot down after a 45-metre run.
Long added the extras to put his side 10 points clear. Coomber got another try late on but Munchin’s held on for the victory.
Munchin’s head coach Ger Slattery was a happy man after the game.
“The lads were brilliant today. It was a very tight game but we are extremely proud,” he said.
On Wood’s try, Slattery added: “It was a moment of individual brilliance and it came at a crucial time. It was the difference at the end.”
ST MUNCHIN’S – J Egan; J Costello, D Long, S McCarthy Burbage, C O’Shaughnessy; A Wood, D O’Callaghan; K Sheehy, J Clohessy, K Ryan (M Bateman 50); L McCormack, G Kirwan; D Higgins, E Hickey, L Neilan.
CBC – G Coomber; J McGrath (D McPolin 48), D Burke, P O’Hara, B McGarry; A O’Mahony (T McCarthy 36), E Birchall; A McDonald (W Waterman 35), L McAuliffe, C Hanlon (G Kennedy 51); M Ludgate, J Morrison; P McBarron (J Ahern 42), D O’Connor, R O’Sullivan.
REF– K Imbusch (MAR)