Domestic Season Review | Age-Grade Rugby
7th June 2019 By The Editor
Skibbereen RFC were crowned Munster U16 Cup champions.
It’s been an action-packed season for age-grade rugby throughout the province.
We take a look back at the winners from 2018/19, highlighting the schools, clubs and Munster Interprovincial squads that stood out this season.
Schools
Christian Brothers College, Cork, edged out Presentation Brothers College 5-3 in the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup final to claim a record 30th Schools Senior Cup title in front of a 6,000 strong crowd at Irish Independent Park.
A try from CBC Captain Scott Buckley in the first-half remained the difference between the two Cork rivals who went into the final level on 29 Schools Senior Cup titles each.
CBC lifted the Munster Schools Senior Cup for the 30th time.
Christians pushed past Ardscoil Rís in a comfortable semi-final while Pres’ last four encounter produced one of the tightest spectacles this season.
A last gasp comeback from PBC saw them secure a 19-18 win over an impressive Bandon Grammar outfit, courtesy of a winning try from Alex Kendellen which captain Louis Bruce dutifully converted.
Rockwell College claimed an historic Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup following a 23-12 victory over St Munchin’s College, lifting the Cup for the first time in 22 years at Irish Independent Park.
Rockwell’s Munster Schools Junior Cup team.
Ardscoil Rís claimed the Munster Junior Plate and Glenstal Abbey secured the Munster Senior Plate.
The McCarthy Cup ‘A’ was won by PBC, Ardscoil Rís lifted the ‘B’ equivalent, while Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale, claimed the ‘C’ Cup.
Newton School secured the Cleary Cup, Abbey CBS the Giles Shield, and CBC won the Kidney Cup.
The King Cup went the way of Midleton CBS, as High School Clonmel claimed the Mungret Shield and CBC the Bowen Shield.
The Bowen Shield ‘B’ was awarded to St. Anne’s Killaloe, Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, won the Mungret Cup, and Abbey CBC lifted the O’Brien Cup.
St. Joseph’s CBC, Nenagh, claimed the O’Gorman Cup, CBC the Barry Cup, Waterpark College the Daunt Cup, while Crescent College Comprehensive and St Munchin’s College shared the Dudley Herbert Sean Conneely Cup.
Rockwell won the Junior City Cup, Limerick, and Crescent College secured the Senior equivalent.
Age-Grade Boys
Bandon RFC enjoyed a terrific season, lifting the Bank of Ireland Munster U16 Cup with a 19-10 victory over Ennis RFC in the final of the competition at Irish Independent Park.
Skibbereen RFC edged out Cobh Pirates 8-3 in the Bank of Ireland Munster U18 Cup final, also held at the Cork venue.
Both West Cork clubs were then crowned All Ireland champions with Bandon defeating U16 Leinster winners Gorey 27-16 while Skibbereen shared the spoils with U18 Leinster champions Navan, following a 10-10 draw in the final.
Bandon RFC celebrate winning the Munster U16 Cup.
Several clubs lifted silverware at the Bank of Ireland Munster Festival of Age-Grade Rugby which took place at Irish Independent Park in March.
Young Munster RFC won the U16 Plate with a win over Waterpark, Crosshaven-Dolphin RFC lifted the U16 Bowl following victory against Fermoy, and Douglas-Carrigaline RFC secured the U18 Bowl with a win over Thomond.
Mallow RFC won the U18 Plate after defeating Clonakilty while four Bank of Ireland Munster Age-Grade Development Club finals also produced young champions.
Action from the Munster U16 Plate final between Waterpark and Young Munster.
Killarney RFC lifted the U16 Development Cup, Bantry RFC the U16 Development Plate, Old Christians RFC the U18 Development Cup, and Cashel / Fethard RFC secured the U18 Development Plate.
Age-Grade Girls
Ennis RFC recorded an impressive season with victory in the U18 Cup final and U16 Plate final during the Bank of Ireland Munster Girls Club Finals Day at UL Bohemian RFC, Annacotty.
A total of 12 teams participated across six finals on the day with Abbeyfeale RFC lifting the U16 Cup while Bruff RFC secured the U16 Bowl.
Fethard RFC claimed the U18 Plate and UL Bohs/St. Mary’s RFC won the U18 Bowl.
#MunsterStartsHere Video Series | Age-Grade Rugby – Fethard & District RFC
Carrick On Suir RFC lifted both the U18 Munster Women’s 7s Cup and the U15 Munster Women’s 7s Cup.
Interprovincial Squads
The Munster U18 Clubs side opened their U18 Interprovincial Series campaign with a comprehensive victory over their Ulster counterparts.
The squad were then defeated by Connacht in their second Interpro encounter before losing out to Leinster in the final round of competition.
Munster U18 Clubs squad.
Munster U18 Schools narrowly lost out to their Ulster opponents at the IRFU U18 Interprovincial Festival in UL.
The squad then went on to record a draw with Leinster in the second round before falling short to IQ Rugby in their final Interpro encounter.
Munster U19s recorded a win over Ulster in their Interpro opener, were edged out by Leinster in their second round fixture and defeated Connacht to round up a successful campaign.
Colm McMahon’s squad also played a friendly fixture against an Australian Schools outfit at Thomond Park, losing out to the touring side 15-34.
There was also strong Munster representation in this season’s Ireland age-grade squads with Jack Crowley, Thomas Ahern, Scott Buckley, Eoin O’Connor, Charlie O’Doherty and Paddy Kelly all lining out for Ireland U19s.
Harry O’Riordan, Aaron Leahy, Mark Donnelly, Alex Kendellen and Cian Whooley represented Ireland U18 Schools, while Jack Delaney and Jay Traynor were selected for Ireland U18 Clubs & Schools.
Traynor, Darragh McCarthy, Dylan Murphy and Ethan Coughlan lined out for Ireland U18 Clubs.
Action from Munster U18 Girls v Ulster.
Munster U18 Girls opened their Interprovincial campaign with a defeat to Leinster at Irish Independent Park before losing out to Connacht and Ulster in the remaining rounds.
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