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ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup

20th September 2005 By Munster Rugby

ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup

The ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup kicks off this weekend, with seven games taking place in the first round. Seventeen teams in all will compete for this 120 year old title

Sponsored by ODM Accountants

The new rugby season brings with it a milestone in the history of Munster Rugby, with the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the very first Munster Senior Challenge Cup. This year s ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup, sponsored by ODM Accountants was launched on September 14th. The competition kicks off on September 24th and culminates in the final on New Year s Eve. With a record seventeen teams set to compete for the prestigious title, rugby fans can look forward to a feast of top quality action in the new season. This year, for the first time, the All Ireland Cup has been introduced, with teams from all four provinces vying for the honour of winning the competition in its inaugural year. Munster will be represented in the competition by five AIL League competing teams, with the results of the Second Round of the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup determining the five teams going forward.

In the first round of the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup, seven games will take place, with three teams given a bye. In Round Two, ten teams will compete. From the five winners, two will play in a quarter final, leaving four teams to contest for the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup semi finals.

Title holders, Shannon RFC, will be aiming for their 18th title, having already claimed a place in the record books last season by winning the competition six times in consecutive years. Last year s beaten finalists, Garryowen, have a tremendous record in the competition, having won it 35 times. Cork Constitution have taken the title 22 times. This year, Junior club Cashel will be competing in the Munster Senior Challenge Cup for the first time, having earned their place by winning the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup last season. Although having competed in the competition last season as a Junior club, Nenagh Ormond will be playing in the competition this season as a Senior club for the first time since 1889. University College Cork (formerly Queen’s College Cork) has the unique distinction of having played in every Munster Senior Challenge Cup campaign since it began way back in 1886.

CEO of Munster Rugby, Garrett Fitzgerald says It s important to celebrate a competition that is such an intrinsic part of the history of Munster Rugby. For many years, the Munster Senior Challenge Cup was the ultimate prize for clubs in the province, with many a club hero made. The All Ireland Cup has given an added incentive to the competition this season, and it is hoped that people will go and support the teams involved.

SPONSORS

ODM Accountants, North Main Street, Bandon, Co. Cork, have come on board as sponsors for the Munster Challenge Cup. Long standing supporters of Munster Rugby, ODM Accountants have close links with local club Bandon RFC. All three partners, Niall O Driscoll, Immediate Past President of the Munster Branch, his brother Gear id O Driscoll and Dan Murphy are all members of the West Cork club, one of the oldest in the province at 124 years this season. The Munster Senior Challenge Cup has a particular place in the hearts of all those involved in Bandon RFC, as the club won the very first Munster Senior Challenge Cup in 1886, defeating Garryowen one try to nil after a replay. Frank Levis, a driving force behind Bandon RFC in the early days scored the only try of the game. It was a momentous victory for the club, and according to John Merwick, in his comprehensive history of the club published in 1982, following this famous victory there was great celebration and some of them did not arrive home for a week.

Niall O Driscoll is delighted to be involved in the competition. He says The Munster Senior Challenge Cup was always the premier competition run by the Munster Branch. Since the A.I.L. League and the dawn of professionalism, this once great competition is no longer the heartbeat of Munster Rugby. In sponsoring the Senior Challenge Cup in 2005/06, the inaugural year of the All Ireland Senior Cup, it is hoped that the crowds will come back to support their local heroes.

COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS FOR YOUTHS

In an effort to promote the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup games locally, the IRFU Munster Branch have adopted a scheme to encourage the youth to support their local team and attend the games. For each of the ODM Munster Challenge Cup games, each competing team competing will be given an allocation of 200 complimentary tickets, to be distributed amongst the club Youth sections, local schools and community groups.

ODM MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP

FIXTURES

ROUND 1

Saturday 24th September 2005

Cashel v Sunday s Well, Cashel, 2.30pm

Cork Constitution v Old Crescent, Temple Hill, 2.30pm

Dolphin v Bruff, Musgrave Park, 2.30pm

Midleton v Highfield, Towns Park, 2.30pm

Shannon v UCC, Coonagh, 2.30pm

UL Bohemian v Thomond, Annacotty, 2.30pm

Young Munster v Nenagh Ormond, Tom Clifford Park, 2.30pm

BYES: Clonakilty, Waterpark, Garryowen

ROUND 2

Week Ending 8th October 2005

Clonakilty v Dolphin/Bruff

Midleton/Highfield v Shannon/U.C.C.

U.L. Bohemian/Thomond v Cork

Constitution/Old Crescent

Waterpark v Cashel/Sunday’s Well

Young Munster/Nenagh Ormond v Garryowen

QUARTER FINAL

Week Ending 12th November 2005 (1 Game)

SEMI FINALS

Week Ending 26th November 2005

FINAL

31st December

ALL IRELAND CUP

The All Ireland Cup has been introduced for teams competing in the AIL League. Seventeen teams in total will compete in the inaugural All Ireland Cup. Munster will have five teams, Leinster will have 6, four from Ulster and two from Connacht.

Round One is due to take place the week ending November 12th 2005

Round Two- w/e 17th December 2005

Quarter Finals- w/e 11th February 2005

Semi Finals- w/e 25th February 2005

All Ireland Cup Final- Saturday 8th April 2005

(All fixtures subject to change. Check out www.munsterrugby.ie for up to date information)

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