UCC advance to Munster Senior Rugby Cup semi-final | Barry Aldworth

Old Crescent 20-27 UCC

Following a 27-20 victory over a stubborn Old Crescent side UCC’s men’s rugby team advanced to the semi-final of the Munster Senior Cup.

UCC set the pace early on, needing just sex minutes to open up a 10 point lead. Fly-half Sean Óg Murphy followed up on a penalty with a great pass which left Joe Holland free in space. Holland capitalised on Murphy’s great play to run in for the game’s first try, leaving UCC ahead by two scores before Crescent could even get on the board.

Following the lightening quick start to the game things began to slow down as both sides fought hard for possession and control of the match.

Kevin Meade scored Old Crescent’s first points of the game from a penalty, but Murphy quickly responded with a penalty of his own, leaving UCC ahead 13-3 at half time.

Having been dominated for much of the first half, Crescent began to find their footing in the second half, and 15 minutes after the break they scored their first try of the game. However, Meade missed the conversion, leaving five sides between the sides.

Not to be outdone by fly-half Murphy, UCC’S Ned Hodson quickly extended the lead with a great individual try. Hodson danced his way past four Old Crescent defenders before racing in for the try. Following a successful Murphy conversion UCC led by 20-8.

Crescent, to their credit, refused to lie down and accept defeat. After several lengthy phases of play close to the UCC try-line, Crescent got the second try that their efforts deserved as Donal Murphy barrelled his way over.

With just seven points between the sides the next score proved to be crucial.

A great break by Conor Barry resulted in UCC’s captain, Brian Quill, finding open space before racing in for UCC’s third try of the day. Following another successful conversion by Murphy the sides were separated by 14 points.

Crescent again refused to accept defeat, and a late Gareth Quinn McDonagh try set up a tense finish to the match.

Ucc’s defence would hold tough and survive the late Crescent barrage, sealing the victory and setting up a semi-final match-up with Cork Constitution.

UCC last won the Munster Cup 32 years ago, but head coach David O’Mahony refused to get carried away following the quarter-final victory.

He said: “If we can just find that consistency for longer periods of the game, I think we’ll do very well.”

UCC will now face Cork Constitution on November 16 for a place in the final.

UCC Starting Line-up: J. Holland, C. O’Halloran, N. Hodson, C. McGovern, C. Barry, S. Óg Murphy, B. Nugent, P. McCabe, B. Vaughan, D. Hartnett, D. McSweeney, B. Quill, D. O’Connell, C. Gallagher, S. Glynn

Old Crescent Line-up: K. Meade, G. O’Keefe, S. Mullally, L. Hanly, P. Curtis, G. Quinn McDonagh, A. Bennie, B. Rowley, S. Malone, D. Murphy, P. Monaghan, C. McNamara, S. Monaghan, L. Russell, E. Cross