MUNSTER SCHOOLS' JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL:FULLBACK GREG O'Shea was one of many outstanding individuals on a Crescent side which qualified for the Munster Schools' Junior Cup final when they beat Glenstal in a hugely entertaining contest at sun-drenched Clifford Park yesterday.

Glenstal were on terms at 10-10 at the end of a first half that produced flowing three-quarter line moves by both sides. Indeed Crescent’s first try after only two minutes saw seven players involved before winger Jack Frawley got in at the corner. Flanker Diarmuid Dee landed a superb conversion and from then to the end Crescent never lost the lead.

Glenstal got on the board when Kevin O’Keeffe landed a penalty after five minutes. Man-of-the-match O’Shea stretched the Crescent lead with a penalty but persistent Glenstal pressure was rewarded after 17 minutes when outstanding number eight Tom Ryan barged his way over, with O’Keeffe adding the conversion from close to the posts.

Another O’Shea penalty was followed by a try and conversion by the same player although O’Keeffe reduced the deficit again to set up a thrilling finale.

CRESCENT COMPREHENSIVE: G O’Shea; M Mulvihill, D Culhane, G Barry, J Frawley; G Lyons, G Fitzgerald; S McGee, J Green, S Gleeson; C Blakem E Casserly; J Sheehan, D Dee, J Dineen. Replacement: J O’Connell for McGee (58 mins)

GLENSTAL ABBEY: A Devereux; E Hurley, A Boland, C Hughes, P Glavey; K O’Keeffe, C McDonagh; K Grennan, J Boland, D Dolan, (J Kenny 53) ; C Buckley, R O’Hara; R Dooley, K Hastings, T Ryan (P O’Shea 41) Replacements: P O’Shea for Ryan (41 mins), J Kenny for Dolan (53 mins).

Referee: F Butler (MAR).