BANDON GRAMMAR 25

CASTLETROY COLLEGE 19

BANDON Grammar School have booked their place in the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup semi-final, where they will face Limerick side St Munchin’s on Wednesday 25th (12.45pm) in Virgin Media Park.

The West Cork school saw off another Limerick outfit, Castletroy College, in Tuesday’s quarter-final at Virgin Media Park, producing an assured response to their recent 41-5 loss to Presentation Brothers Cork in a semi-final qualifier.

St Munchin’s advanced after a 14-10 replay win over Crescent College Comprehensive, with the other semi-final featuring Pres and Christian Brothers Cork.

Bandon Grammar's Jamie Hicks and Aodhan Brennan celebrate the win. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

Bandon Grammar made the perfect start. Aidan Gambura powered over from the back of a maul and out-half David Fuller added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The Grammar pack continued to impose itself, particularly at line-out time. Captain Mark Whelton secured his fifth take of the afternoon in the 27th minute, laying the platform for another well-drilled maul that marched forward and allowed hooker Adam Barry to touch down. The swirling wind wreaked havoc with Fuller’s attempt at the conversion, the ball toppling from the tee twice before his eventual strike drifted just wide.

Bandon led 12-0 at the break, but Castletroy emerged with renewed purpose after half time. Jay Walsh crashed over in the 38th minute to bring the Limerick side back into contention.

Bandon’s Eanna Burke sidesteps this Castletroy tackle. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

Again, Bandon responded when it mattered most. In the 50th minute, Alexander Bramoulle burst through on a powerful line break, accelerated clear and dived over in the corner to stretch the lead to 17-5 with 20 minutes remaining.

Castletroy refused to go away. Full-back Evan Bolan raced in under the posts on the hour mark and Robert O’Donnell converted to cut the deficit to five points, 17-12.

Bandon Grammar fans cheer on their team. (Photo: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO)

A Bandon penalty soon after, awarded for a high tackle, was calmly slotted by Conor Smyth to give the Grammar an eight-point cushion entering the closing stages.

The drama wasn’t over. Replacement Lee Hogan finished a determined Castletroy attack in the 65th minute and O’Donnell’s conversion made it a one-point game, 20-19.

However, from the restart Castletroy conceded a penalty that proved decisive. Bandon kicked to the corner, secured clean line-out ball and set their maul once more. With control and composure, they drove over the line where Barry claimed his second try of the day to seal the win and send Bandon Grammar into the last four.

Bandon Grammar School: Louis Dukelow; Alexander Bramoulle, Eanna Burke, Michael Kennedy, Jamie Hicks; David Fuller, Lewis Linehan; Sean O’Callaghan, Adam Barry, Jonas van der Velde; Scott Brady, Billy Giles; Mark Whelton, Matthew O’Regan, Aidan Lazarus Gambura.

Replacements: Robert Collins, Finn McCarthy, Jack Deasy, Aodhan Brennan, Seán Dooley, Matthew Buttimer, Jacob Sweetnam, Dylan L’Estrange, Conor Smyth, Nathan van der Westhuizen.

Castletroy College: Evan Bolan; Robert Sheehan, Robert O’Donnell, Tyler Kelly, Ben Kiely; Cormac Devitt, Enda Collins; Mark Hickey, Kevin Griffin, Jay Walsh; Andrew O’Connor, Ben O’Connell; Sean Quilter, Jordi Frigola Ward, Conor Ryan.

Replacements: Julian Siudzinski, Aryan Brazyte, Bob He, Xabi Scanlon, Charlie Hogan, Cillian Lacey, Lee Hogan, Rory O’Dwyer, Ronan McInerney, Cian Brown.