Castletroy College edge past St Munchin's in exciting Limerick derby in Munster Schools Junior Cup

CASTLETROY College edged their way into the semi-finals of this season's Munster Schools Junior Cup after securing an exciting 18-16 victory over local rivals St Munchin's College at Thomond Park this Thursday.

Two-time Munster Schools Junior Cup winners Castletroy secured their passage into the last four stage of the competition thanks to a 46th minute penalty goal from the boot of full-back Robbie Widger.

Castletroy will now meet the winners of the quarter-final featuring Ardscoil Ris and Rockwell College in the semi-finals of the Junior Cup.

All is far from lost for St Munchin's College juniors this season, however, as their high finishing position in the round robin stage of the competition before Christmas has earned the Corbally side a second chance to progress to the semi-finals via a quarter-final.

Crescent College Comprehensive, winners over CBC, of Cork, at Thomond Park on Wednesday, will now provide St Munchin's opposition in their quarter-final.

In favourable playing conditions, St Munchin's College got off to the perfect start against Castletroy when their highly impressive goakicker Oisin Madden landed a fifth minute penalty goal for 3-0.

Castletroy College hit back with the game's opening try at the start of the second quarter. The Newtown students opted for a quick tap and go from a penalty award inside the St Munchin's '22 with influential flanker Travis Tchokotieu making significant yardage with a powerful carry. 

The ball was quickly recycled before hooker Cian O'Hanlan dotted down for the derby's first five-pointer from close range. Widger's successful conversion made it 7-3.

A second penalty from the boot of out-half Oisin Madden for St Munchin's left a single point between the sides, 6-7, after 20 minutes.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued before half-time when Castletroy struck for a well-worked set-piece try. From a scrum inside their opponents '22, the ball was quickly moved left through captain Cillian McNamara and lively scrum-half Ronan Collopy who, in turn, found centre Joel Rowntree.

Rowntee, a son of Munster Rugby head coach Graham Rowntree, timed his pass to perfection to put winger Tyler Kelly over the right corner.

Castletroy's lead was 12-6 to half-time and it was out to nine points, 15-6, when the reliable Widger added a penalty goal just five minutes into the second half.

Castletroy College's line-up included the promising Ben O'Connell, younger brother of Munster Academy player Evan, who is in the Ireland U20 squad for their Six Nations opener away to Wales tomorrow evening. 

Back came St Munchin's and when Castletroy were pinged for hands in the ruck in the 38th minute, Madden landed his third penalty of the game to leave just six points between the sides, 9-15, in an entertaining contest.

St Munchin's, joint-winners of the 2020 Junior Cup with CBC, after the final remained unplayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, hit the front in the 42nd minute.

A period of concerted pressure resulted in St Munchin's earning a number of penalties inside the Castletroy '22. From a tap and go option, St Munchin's forced their way over the tryline with number eight Daniel Foley forcing his way over the tryline from cloe range.

Out-half Madden also added the extras and suddenly St Munchin's were in front at 16-15.

However, Widger's late penalty goal ultimately helped Castletroy College take the direct route into the semi-finals.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE: Robbie Widger, Tyler Kelly, Robert O’Donnell, Joel Rowntree, Pierce Walter, Conor Gavin, Ronan Collopy; Mark Hickey, Cian O’Hanlan, Trevor Tchokotieu, Donncha Donnelly, Adam Power, Ben O’Connell, Travis Tchokotieu, Cillian McNamara. Replacements: Andrew Berkery, Jordi Frigola Ward, Kevin Griffin, Denis Blackwell, Sam Prendergast, Cormac Devitt, Michael Flannery, Sean Quilter, Robert Sheehan, David Joseph.

ST MUNCHIN'S COLLEGE: Ryan Angley, Josh Aylmer, Alex Quinn, Brendan Minogue, Adam McGlynn, Oisin Madden, Darragh Dillon; Calum Kirwan, Adam O’Shaughnessy, Donnacha Colgan, Cillian McGrath, Eoin Coughlan, Ciaran Howard, Paddy Dowling, Daniel Foley. Replacements: Zaid Alkhous, Cian Gibbons, Michael Landers, Adam Burke, Alex Mitchell, Jack Meaney, Paddy O’Driscoll, Brian Carr, Callum O’Hanlon, Adam Naughton.