Limerick rivals Crescent College and St Munchin's College play out thrilling draw in Munster Schools Senior Cup

CRESCENT College Comprehensive produced a stunning comeback to earn a 19-19 draw with Limerick rivals St Munchin’s in their Pinergy Munster Schools Boys' Senior Cup semi-final eliminator at Thomond Park.

St Munchin’s held a 12-point lead heading into the final quarter, but two Cullen Wiegand tries, and an Alan Cleary conversion, saw Crescent square the game and earn a replay next week.

The winners of the replay will advance directly to the semi-finals of the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys' Senior Cup, while the losers will earn a second chance to make the last four via a second chance earned as a result of their high finish in the group stages of the competition before Christmas.

It was Munchin’s that got on the scoreboard first after initial Crescent pressure in the opening five minutes.

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A booming Ronan O’Brien run brought Munchin’s close to the Crescent line. Several carries were repelled by Crescent but a sniping dart from scrum half Thomas O’Brien saw Munchin’s draw first blood with Oisin Madden’s conversion putting them 7-0 up.

Further excellent Munchin’s defence saw Crescent unable to get a reply and Munchin’s then doubled their advantage before the half hour mark.

A missed lineout saw Munchins gain possession deep in the Crescent ’22 and Dan Foley spotted a gap in the Crescent defence and raced away to score their second try with Madden adding the extras.

Crescent needed a big lift before an underwhelming opening half and it arrived just before the break.

The try came from a scrum 25 metres out. Gavin Tobin carried hard at the Munchin’s defence, before a sensational offload that put Rory Mullins clear.

Mullins was stopped short of the line and Crescent then tested the Munchin’s rear guard with several strong carries but eventually got over when Alan Cleary fed Harry O’Halloran and he powered over. Cleary nailed the conversion to leave the score at 14-7 in Crescent’s favour at half time.

Crescent were on the front foot at the beginning of the second half once again but Tom Shanahan and Mullins were both stopped short of the Munchin’s line as their defence shone once more and their attack struck from deep.

Slick hands released Ryan Angley from behind his own line. The full back beat three Crescent defenders and then launched a kick deep into the opposition half.

Crescent were unable to deal with the bouncing ball and Evan Quinn took full advantage, showing great football to kick the ball ahead and then control to tap down for the score that put his side 19-7 to the good.

However, there was a sting in the tail from Crescent in the final quarter with Wiegand crossing twice and Cleary converting his second try to seal a 19-19 draw.

SCORERS: Crescent College Comprehensive: Tries - Cullen Wiegand (2), Harry O'Halloran, Conversions: Alan Cleary (2). St Munchin's: Tries - Thomas O'Brien, Dan Foley, Evan Quinn; Conversions: Oisin Madden (2).

CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE: Rory Mullins; Jack Dervan, Gavin Tobin, Harry O’Halloran, Sean Maher; Alan Cleary, Andrew Clery; Evan McMahon, Christian Lillis, Charlie Guerin; Oran Copley, Tom Shanahan; Ryan Scanlon, Eamon Collins, William Byrne. Replacements: Harry O’Dwyer, Cian Enright, Riain Mangan, Sean O’Brien, Alex Clancy, Sean Ryan, Ollie Cantwell, Daniel Kirby, Cullen Wiegand, Adam Bennett.

ST MUNCHIN'S COLLEGE: Ryan Angley; Darragh Mullane, Brendan Minogue, Michele Ferrara, Evan Quinn; Oisin Madden, Thomas O’Brien; Bobby Meagher, Michael Landers, Conor Dillon; Callum McGrath, Cian Hannon; Ronan O’Brien, Jack Meaney, Dan Foley. Replacements: Oisin Gleeson, Kyle Yoxall, Stephen Bisette, Sam McGlynn, Paddy O’Driscoll, Cillian McGrath, Sam Frost, Darragh Newman, Paddy O’Driscoll, Joe Browne.

REFEREE: Cillian Pegley (MAR).