Munster Senior Challenge Cup | A To Z

The Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup final is just over a month away with holders Garryowen set to meet Cork Constitution at Thomond Park on Saturday 5 January, kick-off 2pm.

Former Honorary Secretary of the Munster Branch, Frank Byford, takes us through the history of the prestigious club competition with an A to Z guide.

Munster Rugby Senior Challenge Cup A to Z

A – After a lapse of 31 years, Bohemians regained the trophy in 1958 when they defeated Highfield who were making their initial appearance in the decider at Thomond Park, the successful XV was Paddy Downes, Paddy Moran (captain), Christy English, Basil Fitzgibbon, Maurice Mortell, Mick English, Tom Cleary, William Slattery, Dermot Geary, John Nagle, John Mulcahy, Ted Watson, John Ryan, Caleb Powell, Billy Hurley.

B – Bandon under the captaincy of Frank Levis became the first winners of the trophy in 1886 defeating Garryowen in a replay at the Cork Park.

C – Cup, the original trophy in 1886 was procured through the house of Martin Hall & Co. of Sheffield. It was made specially to order and was described as ‘a valuable prize and a beautiful exhibition of the silversmith’s art and skill’. It was valued at £65 sterling. When the Branch replaced the famous old trophy in 1994, the cost had risen to 13K punts.

D – Draw for the initial competition in 1886 resulted as follows: Garryowen FC v Nenagh RFC, Clanwilliam FC v Tralee RFC, Cork Football Club v Bandon RFC and Queen’s College RFC v Limerick Football Club.

E – Equaliser – one of the most dramatic scores to draw a final occurred in the 1967 meeting of Cork Constitution and Highfield – Tony Loughry landed the equalising penalty from the half way line with the last kick of the match, the ball going over after hitting the crossbar – It was all the more remarkable as Loughry had been down injured for what seemed like ages, before he was helped from the ground, dusted himself down before he earned the ‘field’ a deserved draw.

F – Fire Station, Roches Street, Limerick, was the venue for the draw for the initial competition in 1886.

G – Garryowen FC who lead the way with most cup wins achieved the first of their 37 titles in 1889, under the leadership of the legendary Jack MacAuley.

H – Highfield won the first of their two titles in 1966 with a team that included Tony O’Brien, Tony Loughry, Gary O’Reilly, Pierce McNamara, Donal Kiely, Billy O’Lehan, Finny Pope, Sean Hayes, Liam Ormonde, Jim Dennehy, Joe McDonnell (captain), Dougie Burke, Denis Dennehy, Terry Moore and Gary ‘Hank’ O’Reilly.

I – Initial match in the competition was played on Tuesday 23 February, 1886, at the Markets Field, Limerick, when Garryowen beat Nenagh Ormond by two goals and three tries to nil.

J – Jack Horgan led University College Cork to victory in the 1950 decider over a fancied Garryowen XV in Limerick.

K – Kiernan, Tom won seven Cup winners medals between 1963 – 1973, the first with University College Cork, and the remainder with Cork Constitution, while his brother Jim was on the successful winning UCC (1955) and Cork Constitution (1957) XVs.

L – Last occasion that a final was refereed by an official from outside the province was 1936, when R.A.C. Barrett (Leinster Branch) took control of the University College Cork and Cork Constitution decider.

M – Midleton RFC reached the final of the competition in 2003, their only appearance to date, and despite their best efforts they went down to Shannon on a 22 points to 13 scoreline.

N – Noel Glynn had the honour of leading Shannon to victory over Garryowen in the 1986 final, the centenary year of the competition.

O – Old Crescent have yet to win the trophy, having been losing finalists in 1955, 1962 and 2009.

P – Personalities who have won senior cup medals include John Skehan (Radio Eireann broadcaster) and D.J. Fitzgibbon (Din Joe of “Take the Floor” fame) both with Dolphin in 1948, while the late Richard Harris was a medal winner with Garryowen in 1952.

Q – Quaide, Des led Garryowen to victory in 1975 over Cork Constitution, the occasion being notable that it was the first time in 35 years that a Limerick club had won a Senior Cup final in Cork.

R – Rockwell College lost the finals of 1897, 1902, 1904 and 1908, one of their prominent players at the time was Eamonn de Valera, who was later to become leader of Fianna Fail and then President of Ireland.

S – Suspended – following a drawn final in 1892 between Garryowen and Queen’s College Cork, it transpired that the replay never took place, as both clubs could not agree on a venue. Subsequently the Munster Football Challenge Cup committee declared the competition null and void.

T – This year sees Cork Constitution strive for their 28^th Senior Cup title.

U – University College Cork XV won the trophy in 1976 against Dolphin which was the last occasion of an all Cork final – Joe Fitzgerald, Danny Buckley, Peter Rolls, Pat Parfrey, Jack Shorten, Moss Finn, Eddie Cogan, Paul Turner, Gerry Hurley, Garrett Fitzgerald, Charlie McCarthy, Jerry Holland, Christy Cantillon, Richard Kennefick (captain), Anthony O’Leary.

V – Victory margin – the largest margin of victory in a decider came in 1974, when Garryowen had 29 points to spare over Shannon in the final.

W – Wall, Henry captained Dolphin in the 1964 final against Cork Constitution – the laurels going to the Temple Hill side who were led by Noel Murphy.

X – XV – Dolphin team who won the club’s last Senior Cup in 1956 after defeating Sunday’s Well in a replay was Gerry Rearden, Flor Crowley, Billy Mason, Pat Crowley, Dave McCormick, Norman Colman (Captain), Tim Harrington, Derry Donnery, Dave Barry, Bob Dowley, Mick Sullivan, Jerry O’Sullivan, Jerry Healy, Dick Hyde, Paddy O’Callaghan.

Y – Young Munster bridged a gap of 42 years in 1980, when they regained the trophy at the expense of Bohemians, the successful XV – Ger McNamara, Michael Moore, Pat Cross, Francis Brosnihan, Derek McCarthy, Gerry Casey, Eddie Costello, Branden O’Connor, Pat McGrath, John Murphy, Richie Daly (captain), Brian O’Connor, Eamonn Madden, Michael Sheehan, Jim McNamara. It is worth noting that on the following day John Murphy won a Munster Junior Cup medal with Thomond.

Z – Zero score, of the 125 finals to date only seven have finished scoreless, those being in 1886, 1890, 1892, 1907, 1914 and 1933 (twice).