Senior Cup title for St Munchin’s

St Munchin’s College Limerick, won their fourth Senior Schools cup title after a narrow 11-10 victory over Presentation College Cork in front of a crowd of 7,000 at Thomond Park.

St Munchin’s College Limerick, won their fourth Senior Schools cup title after a narrow 11-10 victory over Presentation College Cork in front of a crowd of 7,000 at Thomond Park.

It was the third successive final that the Cork College have now lost and on this occasion they held the whip hand for long period thanks to the dominance of their slick backline. Pres took the lead in the seventh minute when wing David Ward rounded off a neat backline move and centre Tom Gleeson added the points. However Munchin’s were on the board soon after when Wayne Murphy landed a penalty and it remained that way into the half-time break.

In the second half, Murphy missed an early opportunity to reduce the deficit, his penalty drifting wide, but he made amends mid way through the half with a successful effort to leave just one point in it.

Munchin’s improved their situation when Fintan Cross forced his way over for a try but with seven minutes remaining Gleeson kicked another penalty to set up a tense finish.

Pres tried to get ball to their backs at every opportunity but their efforts were too often stymied by the dominace of the Limerick college’s pack in which Fergus Walsh and Brian Meade were outstanding.

Presentation Brothers College Cork: Evan Ryan; David Ward, Tom Gleeson, Alex Kelleher, Myles Carey; Gavin Dunne, Sam Cronin; John Philpott, David O Halloran, Michael O Leary, Chris Kenefick, Des Prendergast, David Daly, Conor Fitzgibbon, AN Other.

Coaches: Don Buckley, Peter Scott, Paul Barr. Captain: David Daly.

PATH TO THE FINAL: Quarter-Final bt CBC Cork 12-5; Semi-Final – Rockwell College 20-16.

St Munchin’s College: J P Haitian; Frank Daly, Alder Among, John Cogan, Eric Maloney; Wayne Murphy, Tony Cahill; Stephen Foster, Ger Slattery, Alan Cotter, Brian Meade, Fergal Walsh, Leonard Mulvane, Fintan Cross, David Gardiner.

Coaches: John Broderick, Pat Cross. Captain: Fergal Walsh.

Path To The Final: Quarter-final bt Ard Scoil Ris 23-18; Semi-Final but Crescent Comprehensive 13-0.