Crescent Comprehensive 9 Castletroy College 8:CRESCENT DID just about enough to make a winning start in defence of their Junior Cup title at Rosbrien yesterday. Despite total first-half dominance they had to rely on three penalties – one from Gearóid Lyone and two from Greg O'Shea – for the 9-0 interval lead.
The strength of the Crescnt forwards was the main ingredient in the success. They dominated the line-out and also the tight with Jay Kavanagh, Cormac Blake and John Tuohy always to the fore.Ed Barry was an excellent scrumhalf but a worry for Crescent will be their midfield defence.
Castletroy spurned three penalty chances 10 minutes into the second half in a bid for a try and their decision paid off when Mark McCarthy got through the smallest of gaps to touchdown.
Seven minutes from the end Paul Butler added a penalty to set up a grandstand finish with Crescent just about weathering the storm.
CRESCENT: G OShea; J Beary, J OSullivan, JJ ONeill, A Crean; G Lyons, E Barry; J Tuohy, J Greene, L McMahon; R Scott M ODonnell; R Noone, J Kavanagh, C Blake.
CASTLETROY: P Butler; J Fox, C Malone, R Phelan, R Joyce; M McCarthy, R Cunningham; C Humphreys (E Fitzgerald), R Sweeney, A Clancy; J ONeill; R Larby (N Clohessy); P OKane, D Kennedy, R Murphy.
Referee: T ODonoughue (MAR).
