Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Final Preview

Excitement is rising ahead of this year’s Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup final at Irish Independent Park on Sunday February 26th, where Young Munster will be looking to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of Cork Constitution and end their pursuit of an historic 5-in-a-row.

The Ballinlough outfit have dominated the tournament since the 2012-13 season where they defeated UL Bohemians 15-14 to claim their first Provincial title since 2008. Another single point victory against Garryowen at Thomond came the next year, with Constutution riding their luck in extra-time before Chris Quinn’s late-late penalty won the spoils.

The following year saw the same two sides in action, this time at Irish Independent Park as Rob Jermyn’s late brace secured victory in another thrilling final, this time four points the difference on a 26-22 scoreline.

Last year the current crop made history, becoming the first ever Senior side in the 125-year history of the club to win the Munster Senior Cup four times in a row. A Darren Sweetnam try was Con’s only major of the game, added to by three Tomás Quinlan penalties as the Cork side had enough to see off Young Munster despite Darragh O’Neill’s converted effort with 15 minutes remaining.

Cork Con are also chasing an unprecedented five-in-a-row of Bateman Cup titles, overcoming Midland outfit Buccaneers 63-0 in the semi-final in January, and Young Munster will have to be the first side to defeat Con in the Munster Senior Cup since Garryowen on September 10^th 2011.

Young Munster have shown impressive form on their way to the summit; a confident 48-0 victory over Kanturk in the first round made clear their intentions, before hammering local rivals Shannon 50-3 at Tom Clifford Park. The semi-final was an altogether more cagy affair, with Shane Airey’s drop-goal booking consecutive final appearances in the first period of extra-time.

Cork Constution’s passage to the final has been more comfortable throughout, if slightly less spectacular than next week’s opponents. A 27-6 win in Annacotty over Division 1B side UL Bohemian got their latest campaign off to a successful start, before Nenagh Ormond became the latest to feel the Cork fury, defeated 57-10 at Temple Hill.

The semi-final saw an all-Cork affair as Highfield travelled across the city under the lights, and, like so many before, were left empty-handed as Constitution continued a winning run of 19 games in the competition with a 31-
15 win.

This season sees both sides near the summit of the All-Ireland League Division 1A with little to separate them, and with the Limerick outfit defeating Constitution 37-15 in the side’s last meeting in the AIL – the only team to win at Temple Hill this season – the stage is set for yet another enthralling final in Cork.

Sunday 26^th February
Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup final
Cork Constitution v Young Munster, Irish Independent Park, 2.30pm