Flashback to Castletroy and Crescent's 2013 Junior Cup final clash

THE 2016 Castletroy College and Crescent College Comprehensive Senior Cup teams are backboned by players who met in the 2013 Junior Cup final.

Castletroy College surprised favourites Crescent College in that Dooradoyle final on a 13-7 scoreline.

Castletroy were deserving winners having beaten Glenstal Abbey, St Munchin’s College and Ardscoil Ris in the semi-final, before turning the tables on a highly regarded Crescent College side, who had been aiming to complete a magnificent Senior and Junior Cup double.

It was fitting that Castletroy should regain the Cup, as the Munster Schools Junior Cup trophy honours the memory of the late Eamonn Mulcahy, a former teacher at Castletroy College, who was part of their successful Junior Cup backroom team of 2008.

Castletroy College’s success was built around their magnificent pack with Darragh O’Neill, captain Niall O’Shea and David Rowsome simply immense, while hooker, Mark O’Mara and second row Eoin Hourigan were also outstanding.

Half-backs Jamie Heuston and Connor Fleming controlled the game superbly.

Crescent’s free-running back-line had lit up the Junior Cup prior to the final, but Castletroy’s defence shackled them superbly.

The short four-day turnaround Crescent College had from their stunning semi-final replay win over CBC did appear to take its toll.

Castletroy led 5-0 at half-time with a try from captain Niall O’Shea on 23 minutes. Castletroy moved 10-0 in front soon after the re-start when back-row Darragh O’Neill pounced to score.

Crescent gave themselves a lifeline in added time when powerful prop Anson Thai surged over. Winger Conor McSweeney converted. However, any prospects of an unlikely Crescent comeback were ended by a 64th minute penalty goal from Castletroy scrum-half Connor Fleming.

SCORERS – Castletroy College: Niall O’Shea, Darragh O’Neill try each, Connor Fleming pen. Crescent College Comprehensive: Anson Thai try, Conor McSweeny con.

CASTLETROY COLLEGE – Oisin Kelly; Shane Hogan, Ronan McDonnell, Colum Carroll, Sean McBrearty; Jamie Heuston, Connor Fleming; Joey Conway, Mark O’Mara, Conor Myers; Evan Slattery, Eoin Hourigan; Darragh O’Neill, Niall O’Shea (Capt), David Rowsome. Replacements: Alan McDonagh for O’Mara (temp 49-51 mins), Sean English for Slattery (58 mins), Luca Rider for O’Neill (60 +2 mins). Not used: Cathal Lee, David Kennedy, Kevin Davern, Patrick Tuite, Eoghan Carew.

CRESCENT COLLEGE COMPREHENSIVE – Glen Dickinson; Conor McSweeney, Billy O’Hora, Calvin Nash (Capt), Jordan Young-O’Connor; Cian Clifford, Jack Lyons; Anson Thai, Jason Barry, Sean Scanlon-Barry; Brian Considine, John Blake; Conor Slattery, Peter Hickey, Niall Mulcahy. Replacements: Joe Barry for Hickey, Luke O’Connell for Clifford (both 39 mins), Brian Ryan for Nash (injured, 56 mins). Not used: Killian Murphy, Ed Barry, Andrew Reeves, Sean Downes, Bailey Faloon.

REFEREE – Olly Hodges (MAR)