Cork Con Win Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup

Cork Constitution were crowned Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup champions for the nineteenth time with a deserved 21-15 win over a gallant Richmond side at Irish Independent Park.

Richmond who brought six busloads of supporters to the game and this created a great atmosphere but unfortunately their side failed to hit top form on the day.

Credit for this must also go to a clinical performance by the Temple Hill outfit who had the Limerick side pinned back for long periods.

Con’ took the game to Richmond from the off and were 3-0 ahead inside the opening minute with a long range penalty from Niall Finn but he missed a similar effort minutes later.

Con’s centres Luke Duffy and Greg Higgins were always threatening when they made bursts up the middle of the park as did full back Brendan Monahan who put in a man of the match performance.

Skipper Sonny Dwyer put in amount of work over the eighty minutes and was well supported in the pack by Jonathan Davis, Sean Duffy and Luke Duffy.

Richmond eventually settled into the game and to the delight of the large Richmond following Tadhg Bennett had the sides level with a penalty after seventeen minutes

Pressure by the Con’ pack was rewarded with a try on twenty eight minutes when the Richmond defence were caught off guard. A penalty awarded to Con’ inside the Richmond 22 saw a quick tap being taken and winger Barry Galvin ran in for an unconverted try.

Richmond were under the cosh for the remainder of the half and were happy to turn around just 8-3 down.

While Richmond dominated the opening stages of the second half quick play by backs and forwards saw Gary Bradley and Finn combine to send full back Brendan Monahan in for a Con’ try which Finn converted on forty seven minutes.

Back came Richmond and a great break by Keelan Stephenson, saw Tadhg Bennett throw a long pass out to Kieran Bennett to score in the corner.

Finn added penalties on 60 and 69 minutes to extend Con’s lead to 21-8.

Pressure by the Richmond pack was rewarded when in the 73rd minute Sean Bennett barged over for a try and Tadhg Bennett converted to leave six points between the sides.

Richmond tried desperately to save the game but a resolute Con’ defence just managed to hold out for victory.

Cork Constitution: Brendan Monahan; Joe White, Luke Duffy, Greg Higgins, Barry Galvin; NiallFinn, Gary Bradley; Gavin Duffy, Jack McHenry, Dylan Murphy; Jonathan Davis, Lar Coughlan; Gavin Mullins, Sonny Dwyer (capt), Sean Duffy.
Replacements: Douglas Abbott, Paddy Casey, Rob Murphy, Harry Murphy, Aidan Moynihan.

Richmond: Keelan Stephenson; Jeff McNamara, Gareth O’Hanlon, Michael Kelleher, Kieran Bennett; Tadhg Bennett, Ryan Meagher; Gerard Barry, Pat Humphreys, James Reeves; Barry Laffan, Jonathan Tully; Kealan McMahon, Gearoid Phelan (capt), Eoin Hanly.
Replacements: Dillon Cotter, Corwy Wells, Dean O’Halloran, Sean Bennett, Brian Mullins.

Referee: Barry Moloney (MAR).