Highfield Claim Bank Of Ireland Munster Junior Cup

Highfield ended a 47-year wait to win the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup for the fifth time in dramatic extra time fashion at Irish Independent Park on Saturday.

Two minutes from the end of the second period of extra time, Niall Finn landed his fifth penalty to put the holders Cork Constitution back in front 23-20.

From the restart, Highfield retained possession and worked the ball into the Con’ 22 where they eventually won a penalty with the game two minutes in over time.

Paddy O’Toole stepped up to level the scores and with it came the final whistle as the Woodleigh Park side had defeated the holders on the try count rule three tries to one.

The lead changed hands on seven occasions with Greg Higgins opening the scoring with a long range penalty after three minutes for Con’.

The lead lasted two minutes as Jack Duffy and O’Toole combined to send Kevin O’Leary in for a Highfield try and Paul Downes was unlucky to see his conversion attempt come back off the upright.

Con’ were back in front on 14 minutes with Niall Finn landing a penalty but Highfield’s response was quick again as a break by Sean Quaid saw O’Toole send Downes in under the posts and his conversion had Highfield ahead 12-6.

Two further penalties by Finn had the sides level at half-time 12-12.

Five minutes into the second-half, full-back Jamie Murphy thought he had scored Highfield’s third try but was pulled up for a foot in touch.

10 minutes into the second-half, a break by Barry Galvin ended with John O’Callaghan scoring a try in the corner for Con’.

After 60 minutes, Highfield levelled when a break by Murphy ended with Quaid touching down.

A minute from time, Downes had a chance to win it for Highfield but his long range penalty attempt just went wide of the target.

With the sides tied 17-17 the game went to extra time.

Finn put Con’ ahead after O’Leary was penalised for a deliberate knock on five minutes into extra time but O’Toole levelled with a penalty to make it 20-20 at the end of the first period of extra time.

Two minutes from the end of the game, Finn landed his fifth penalty that looked like Con’ would retain the trophy but O’Toole’s last minute strike saw the trophy head to Woodleigh Park after an epic contest.

Scorers;

Highfield: Tries: Paul Downes, Kevin O’Leary, Sean Quaid (2). Penalties: Paddy O’Toole (2).

Cork Constitution: Tries: John O’Callaghan. Penalties: Niall Finn (5), Greg Higgins (1).

Highfield: Jamie Murphy; Kieran Duggan (C), Paddy O’Toole, Mark Dorgan, Sean Quaid; Paul Downes, Robert McGuire; Martin Gately, Cian O’Sullivan, Patrick Butler; Eoin Keating, George French; Kevin O’Leary, Jack Duffy, E Earle.

Replacements: Michael Shinkwin, David O’Callaghan, Gearoid O’Mahony, Brian O’Hea, Derek Houlihan.

Cork Constitution: Barry Galvin; Joe Harrington, Jack Costigan, Greg Higgins, Harry Murphy; Niall Finn, Richard Cassidy; Brendan Quinlan, Max Abbott, Patrick Casey; Cathal O’Flaherty, John O’Callaghan; Sean Duffy, Sonny Dwyer, James Murphy (C).

Replacements: Jack McHenry, Ashley Deane, David Hyland, Finn Burke, Gary Bradley.

Referee: Paudie Sheehan (MAR).