MUNSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL: CBC 14 PBC 10CBC SURVIVED a late Pres onslaught to book a place in Sunday's Centenary Munster Schools Senior Cup final, sponsored by Avonmore, following a pulsating Cork derby at Temple Hill yesterday.

There, Christians – aiming for a first title since 2003 – will meet surprise-packet Rockwell College, though the Cork school almost saw their final dreams dashed by a never-say-die Pres who almost snatched victory at the death.

Outhalf Darragh Dunne emerged a Christians’ star-man with a two-try salvo either side of the break, while team-mate Eoin O’Donnell also came up trumps with a match-winning last-ditch tackle in injury time, denying Pres a certain try.

Seemingly coasting at 14-5 heading into injury time, CBC almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in what turned out to be a dramatic denouement.

After failing to show their true colours in the first-half, Pres demonstrated greater cohesion and spirit on the turnover. They lost their talisman, Bryan Carroll, to injury before the break, but inspired by replacement Cathal O’Flaherty and Jack Costigan, they very nearly snatched an unlikely victory.

Embedded inside the CBC 22 in injury time, they managed to secure a try, were denied another by a magnificent last-ditch Eoin O’Donnell tackle and might have scored a match-winner in one of the last plays of the game, but heart-breakingly knocked on metres from the line.

With the strong breeze at their backs, Pres monopolised possession for the opening 25 minutes, but failed to convert territory into points. The first quarter was all about containment for Christians and despite the best efforts of Chris Corkery, Kieran Stokes, Brian Hayes, Damien Attridge and Willie Ryan and the half-breaks of Brian Slater, they failed to get adequate go-forward ball and too often lost possession in contact

Dunne struck with his first try moments before half-time. He swerved through a hole in the Pres midfield before converting his try to hand CBC a 7-0 half-time lead. His second was quite magnificent, and created by the mercurial outhalf after another midfield break. He finished with real aplomb, chipping the last covering Pres defender before dotting down.

PBC’s 47th-minute riposte was superbly executed off a five-metre scrum. Cathal O’Flaherty picked from the back and Jack Costigan took an excellent line to score, though Kidney was unlucky to see his conversion strike the upright.

Brian Vaughan burrowed over in the corner for Pres’ second in the 70th minute and the Mardyke school still had time to try for a winner. Patrick O’Connell made a terrific break from midfield only to be tackled close to the line by Eoin O’Donnell. And when the ball was moved left, Kevin Kidney’s pass proved awkward for O’Connell, who was unlucky to knock on.

Scorers for CBC: Tries – D Dunne (2) Cons – D Dunne, J Holland.

Scorers for PBC: Tries – J Costigan, B Vaughan.

CBC: R Clune; E O'Donnell, B O'Leary, J Holland, G Mackesy; D Dunne, B Slater; C Corkery, K Stokes, D Attridge; B Hayes (capt), S Hanbridge; E Doyle, R Barry, W Ryan. Replacements: C Quinn for Mackesy (55), R Martin for Attridge, M O'Mahony for Corkery (both 71).

PBC: J Costigan; P O'Connell, C Bohane, J McCarthy, W Murphy; K Kidney, R Barry; N Scannell (capt), B Vaughan, I Mullarkey; J O'Sullivan, D O'Mahony; R O'Herlihy, J Duffy, B Carroll. Replacements: C O'Flaherty for Carroll (inj, h-t), S Og Murphy for Barry (inj, 45), O Dennehy for Bohane (inj, 61).

Referee: D McCormack (Mar).