Hammies secure last-gasp victory over Coláiste Choilm in Senior Cup qualification final
Kevin O'Connell in action for Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig.
Hamilton High School have qualified for the Munster Schools Senior Cup for the first time in their history after securing a last-gasp victory over Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig.
Remarkably, Bandon will account for two of the 10 schools in the Senior Cup draw as Hammies joined Bandon Grammar in the blue-riband competition.
The High School only formed a rugby team last year when they lined out in the Munster Senior C competition, winning the O’Brien Cup as well as the U18 Bowen B Shield. They have built around a strong core of players from Bandon Rugby Club.
Hammies had to come back from 13 points behind having played into the teeth of a strong gale in the first half. They left it late to get there, with Daniel Coughlan’s 69th-minute penalty the winner.
It meant devastation for Coláiste Choilm who had fought valiantly as they also chased a first-ever Senior Cup appearance.
The Ballincollig school won the toss and opted to play with the wind and rain at their backs. Within two minutes, they were 7-0 ahead.
From a five-metre scrum, the ball was ferried out for Charlie Murphy to barge through a gap. Adam Dodd added the conversion.
While Hammies’ handling cost them turnovers, Coláiste Choilm’s discipline frequently coughed up possession for a 10-3 penalty count and two yellow cards by half-time.
That said, Coláiste Choilm managed to score off each of the three penalties they earned. Back-to-back kicks from Dodd’s impressive boot nudged them 13-0 clear by the 14th minute.
Hammies began to establish some territory and a third penalty in quick succession saw Seán O’Brien sin-binned.
Hammies took advantage of the extra man with Dara Walsh ducking inside before Charlie Callanan stretched for the tryline. Daniel Coughlan’s conversion cut the gap to 13-7.
Once Coláiste Choilm were restored to 15 players, they scored again. Eye-catching prop Sam Moore burst his way over from a tap and go and Dodd’s kick left it 20-7.
That remained the score at half-time although the leaders began the second half without sin-binned fly-half Daniel Dineen.
The teams were back to parity when Brian Galvin was yellow-carded on the resumption.
Heroic defending from Brooklyn Bohane held up John O’Leary over the tryline but Hammies crossed via a tap-and-go penalty from replacement Jyles Brennan. Coughlan added the extras.
Strong defence from Blaine O’Farrell, Kevin O’Connell, and Dara Hanlon held Hammies out but eventually, they broke through with Louis O’Sullivan charging over from close range in the 64th minute.
Couglan’s kick drifted wide, though, leaving them six minutes to find a winning score.
It arrived in just the nick of time. O’Sullivan capped a tremendous performance by drawing the penalty with a big carry and Coughlan made no mistake.
Their celebrations were confirmed with a Galvin steal to clinch the victory.
C Callanan, J Brennan, L O’Sullivan. D Coughlan (2). D Coughlan.
C Murphy, S Moore. A Dodd (2). A Dodd (2).
D Walsh; E O’Sullivan, C Callanan, S Murphy, J O’Leary (S Coffey (66); D Coughlan, N O’Sullivan; J Aruste-Desmond (M Kelleher 40), B Galvin, L O’Sullivan; S Galwey (J Brennan 40), B O’Regan; E Donegan, A O’Regan, J McNamara.
N Bourke, G O’Mahony, F Lotkowski, O Coughlan, M Crowley.
A Dodd; C Ó Bre, E Drummond, C Murphy, B Bohane; D Dineen, B O’Farrell; E O’Connell (D Hogan 41), M Hayes, S Moore; K O’Connell, R O’Donoghue; N McSweeney (C Cogan 44), S O’Brien (B Ó Briain 58), D Hanlon.
C O’Farrell, S O’Sullivan, D O’Connell, F O’Mahony, B O’Shea.
S McLoughlin (MAR).
