Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Round-up

The new rugby season got underway this weekend with the opening series of games in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Cup being played.

Similar to last season there are four groups with the winners of each qualifying for the semi-finals.

The competition got underway on Friday night in a cracking Group 2 tie at Dooradoyle, where current holders Garryowen went down to a late try by Aaron Roulston which was converted by Julian Lesczynski to give Young Munster a 33-31 victory. Eoin McCormack and Stephen McLoughlin also scored tries for “The Cookies” with Lesczynski converting both and also kicked four penalties. Ronan Quinn and Gordon Wood scored two tries each for Garryowen and JJ O’Neill got one. Kelvin Langan converted two of the tries and Neil Cronin one.

In Group 1 Cork Constitution were impressive 48-19 winners against Shannon at Coonagh. George Good, Louis Kahn, Billy Crowley, Sean French, Dan Hurley and Ale Heaney were the Constitution try scorers. Aidan Moynihan and James Taylor kicked two conversions each. Stephen Kiely, Oisin Minogue and Luke Moylan replied with tries for Shannon and Sean Nolan added two conversions.

In the other game in this Group Nenagh Ormond had a 29-22 away win at Highfield. Conor O’Shaughnessy scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Willie Coffey and Nicky Irwin got one each. Conor McMahon kicked three conversions and a penalty. Highfield replied with tries from Angus Lloyd, Sean Glynn and Rob Murphy, with Shane O’Riordan kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Clonmel and Cashel were winners in Group 3, Clonmel  ran in five tries in their 44-22 home win against Bruff.  Henry Buttimer (2), Tomas Stansky, Tim Nugent and Jack Walsh were the Clonmel try scorers. Josef O’Connor kicked five conversions and three penalties. Shane Duggan, John Bateman, and Ethan Anderson replied with tries for Bruff and Paul Collins added one conversion.

Cashel had to withstand a late rally from U.L. Bohs before coming away with the points from Annacotty on a 35-24 scoreline. Stephen Hayes, Liam Shanahan, and Alan Kiely scored tries for the “Robins” and Sean O’Grady converted all three tries as well as kicking a penalty.

Old Crescent edged out Dolphin 31-26 in an exciting game in Group 4 at Takumi Park. Werner Hoffman, Daithi Byrnes, John Hurley, and Brian Molloy scored tries for Crescent and Ronan McKenna converted all four tries and also added a penalty. Craig O’Connell replied with two tries for Dolphin and Jordi Soli and Ryan Foley got one each. Soli kicked three conversions.