ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup Semi Finals

29th December 2005 By Munster Rugby

Shannon and Garryowen contest the first semi final of the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup at Thomond Park on Friday night at 7.15pm while Dolphin host Cashel on Saturday at Musgrave Park at 2pm

The semi finals of the 2005/6 ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup take place this weekend, with two eagerly anticipated clashes set to decide the final line up. A record seventeen teams took part in this season s competition which has been sponsored by ODM Accountants, 120 years after the first Munster Senior Challenge Cup was played.

First up, old rivals Shannon and Garryowen will lock horns at Thomond Park on Friday night with a 7.15pm start. To date, both teams have had a tremendous season, holding the top two places in Division One of the All Ireland League. While Shannon remain on top of the league, a recent defeat to Cork Constitution in the second round of the All Ireland Cup will surely give Garryowen added confidence going into this game- especially after Garryowen eliminated Cork Constitution from the Munster Senior Challenge Cup in the only quarter final of the competition. In fact, of the four semi finalists in the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup, only Garryowen remain in the All Ireland Cup, having defeated Dolphin and with Cashel knocked out by Galwegians. Throw into the mix Garryowen s defeat in last year s Munster Senior Challenge Cup final by Shannon and you have plenty of motivation from the club that has a record 35 titles in this competition. However, Shannon will be aiming to put the defeat to Cork Constitution well behind them and return to form, with the prize of their 18^th Munster Senior Challenge Cup title in the offing should their campaign be successful. Shannon claimed a place in the record books last season by becoming the only team to win the competition six times consecutively.

The semi final draw has ensured that only one AIL Division One team will compete in the final, with Dolphin and Cashel set to compete for the other place at Musgrave Park at 2pm on New Year s Eve. With their All Ireland Cup campaigns at an end, both teams will be determined to fill that final spot. With Dolphin having won four of their five AIL Division Two games so far this season, and having already eliminated Bruff and Clonakilty from this competition, Cashel will certainly be up against it on Saturday. However, Cashel will be assured of strong travelling support when they come to Musgrave Park, and with wins over Sunday s Well and Waterpark in the earlier rounds of this competition, they will certainly not be phased by the occasion.

Details for the final have yet to be confirmed.

ODM MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP

FIXTURES/RESULTS

ROUND 1 RESULTS

Saturday 24^th September 2005

Cashel 29 Sunday s Well 20

Dolphin 28 Bruff 15

Midleton 31 Highfield 7

Shannon 62 UCC 13

UL Bohemian 18 Thomond 12

Young Munster 29 Nenagh Ormond 8

Cork Constitution