Glenstal keep Senior Cup double dreams alive with last-gasp leveller against Bandon
Taylor Gleeson’s last gasp score earned defending champions Glenstal Abbey a second chance as they secured a dramatic draw against Bandon Grammar.
John Beamish looked like being the hero as Bandon Grammar School took the lead Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final with just four minutes to go.
However, the closing stages saw a period of sustained pressure on the Bandon goalline before eventually Gleeson touched down to give ensure the sides would meet again.
The defending champions from Limerick flew out of the blocks, scoring a stunning fourth-minute try to take the lead.
After great vision from Caolan Dooley, his cross field kick was gathered by Dan O’Mahony who side-stepped the last defender to give Gelnstal the lead.
After this both sides struggled to get things going in attack. The ball was trapped between to ‘22s as scoring chances were few and far between in the first quarter.
In a Senior Cup littered with one-sided games to date, Bandon turned this one into a right contest when Niall Beamish touched down after the Cork school’s first trip into the opposition ’22. Jack Crowley added the extras to level the game with 25 minutes on the clock.
This was the last score of the half as the defending champions couldn’t break through the Grammar School defence despite having the bulk of possession in the last 10 minutes of the half.
After running in nine tries in their first round win over Clonmel, Bandon weren’t as fluent in attack in this clash.
They did control possession after the break and eventually the pressure told as they won a penalty after Glenstal drifted offside. Crowley held his nerve to give the west Cork side the lead for the first time.
However, the reply from the champions was instant as Dooley kicked a penalty of his own to level the game and set up a tense finish with 20 minutes to play where neither side could force the win.
Meanwhile, Ardscoil Ris of Limerick also secured a semi-final berth this afternoon, they defeated Castletroy College 45-17 in Thomond Park.
GLENSTAL ABBEY: R Woodcock, D O’Mahony, H Benner, W Twomey, C Doolan, B Leonard, D Hyland, M Lynch, J Ashe, T Ryan, C Frawley, S Mackeown, E Fitzgerald, N Queally.
Replacements: T Gleeson, A MacDonald, D Butler
BANDON GRAMMAR: S Minihane, T Beare, J D’Alton, B Matthews, H Hall, J Crowley, C Roberts, D Ogden, M Archer, C Heaney, J Brady, M Lynn, N Greene, J Beamish, N Beamish.
Replacements: J Walsh, A O’Connor, B O’Donnell, S Golden R Palmer
REFEREE: Paudie Sheehan
