Derby delight for Castletroy College who see off Árdscoil Rís in Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup

CASTLETROY College earned local bragging rights with a 33-21 Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup win over Limerick rivals Ardscoil Ris at a rain-soaked Liam Fitzgerald Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Castletroy's reward for this exciting derby victory is a quarter-final eliminator fixture with Rockwell College at Fethard Town Park on Wednesday, January 28 at 2pm.

Castletroy led Ardscoil 12-7 at half-time, but were met with a ferocious Ardscoil challenge in the second half but ultimately came out on top after two late tries from Robert O’Donnell and Evan Boland – his second of the afternoon.

Kevin Griffin and Conor Ryan also touched down for Castletroy, while Cormac Devitt kicked four conversions.

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Oisin Healy, Cathal O’Doherty and Leo Carman scores were Ardscoil’s response with Charlie Casey nailing three conversions.

Castletroy dominated the early exchanges, despite playing into a strong breeze and hit the front on 12 minutes when hooker Kevin Griffin powered over for the opening try in the right corner.

They were over for a second score soon after. O’Donnell’s initial break paved the way for Devitt’s flat pass to Boland and he had the strength to get the try that Devitt converted to put his side 12-0 up with 22 minutes played.

Errors ruined Ardscoil’s chances in the opening half hour but a speculative Casey kick wide opened the door for their reply.

Healy did brilliantly to collect and then race clear for the score despite the best efforts of Castletroy number eight Ryan. Casey added the extras to cut the gap to five at half time.

Ardscoil simplified things in the second half with the weather growing worse with each minute. The North Circular Road school began to use their big carriers and it paid off when O’Doherty reached over the line with Casey’s conversion putting them 14-12 ahead.

However, Castletroy were soon back at the other end with Ryan dotting down after a tap penalty. Devitt nailed the conversion to put his side back in front.

Ardscoil benefitted from some poor discipline to put them on their way to their third try. Gareth Murphy collected a lineout seven metres from the Castletroy line and Carman finished off after a devastating maul. Casey’s conversion saw Ardscoil now into a 21-19 advantage.

Castletroy rallied in the closing stages with Boland and O’Donnell to the fore with Devitt adding two conversions to seal a 12-point win and secure a place in the next round of the Senior Cup.

SCORERS: Castletroy College: Tries: Evan Boland (2), Kevin Griffin, Conor Ryan, Robert O’Donnell; Cons: Cormac Devitt (4). SCORERS: Ardscoil Ris: Tries: Oisin Healy, Cathal O’Doherty, Leo Carman; Cons: Charlie Casey (3).

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Evan Boland; Cillian Lacey, Robert O’Donnell, Tyler Kelly, Robert Sheehan; Cormac Devitt, Enda Collins; Mark Hickey, Kevin Griffin, Jay Walsh; Ben O’Connell, Andrew O’Connor; Charlie Hogan, Jordi Ward, Conor Ryan. Replacements: Darragh Brown, Andrew Berkery, Aryan Brazyte, Robert McInerney, Bob He, Jakub Michalczyk, Lee Hogan, Sean Quilter, Ben Kiely, Rory O’Dwyer.

ÁRDSCOIL RÍS: Najim Jagana; Oisin Healy, Dylan Quirke, Jack Thorne, Colin McNamara; Charlie Casey, Ollie Desmond; Tom Maher, Leo Carman, David Geaney; David Sheehan, Gareth Murphy; Marcus Glennon, Brendan Morrisey, Cathal O’Doherty. Replacements: Cian O’Connell, Samuel Golden, Jack Hartigan, Brian O’Loughlin, James Boyce, Ronan Curtin, Gavin O’Mahony, Daniel Curran, Jamie Bell, Ben Power.

Referee: Peter Roche (MAR).