Junior Rugby round up as Cashel win Munster Junior Cup

Cashel won the Munster Junior Cup for the first time following defeats in three previous finals in 1954, 1966 and 1977.

Cork Constitution 20, Cashel 23.
In a thrilling Munster Junior Cup Final at Musgrave Park which was in the balance right up to the final whistle,
Cashel completed a unique treble by winning this trophy as well as the Munster Junior League title and Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup.

For Cashel skipper Brendan O’Connor this was a great honour as both his father and grandfather were on losing Cashel sides in the finals of 1954 against Shannon and 1977 when they lost to U.C.C.

This was Cashel’s Coach Ian Dunne second time coaching a side to Munster Junior Cup glory as he was the player coach of the Cobh Pirates side that won the cup five years ago.

Cork Constitution will be disappointed to have lost this final as they dominated the game for long periods but could not put enough scores on the board.

Cashel showed how dangerous they are with ball in hand and their first attack on six minutes produced a marvelous try. It started with a break from John Ed O’Connor from deep inside his own half. He linked up with full back Darragh O’Brien who made a dashing run into the Con’ half where O’Connor was on hand to receive his pass when he was tackled. The wing forward passed to Eoin O’Connor who touched down in the corner and O’Brien converted for a 7-0 lead.

Con’ slowly began to turn the screw in the forward exchanges where Paul Dooley and David O’Mahony were dominating the line outs and Simon Hanbidge, Alan Ross and Tim Dukelow were putting the Tipperary side under immense pressure around the fringes.

Con were camped inside the Cashel Twenty Two for long periods and despite being awarded numerous penalty opportunities, the Temple Hill side opted for either a scrum or a quick tap instead of kicking for goal.

Cashel’s cause was not helped by the yellow carding of Rory O’Connor and Ed Leamy on two different occasions.

It was while the Tipperary side were reduced to thirteen that Con’ eventually pierced the Cashel defence. Following a ruck Aidan Foley was held on the line and when the ball was recycled and spread out the wing Eoin O’Donnell touched down and Peter O’Sullivan converted to tie up the scores.

From the restart a break by Leamy and Brian Silke resulted in a Cashel penalty which O’Brien converted for a 10-7 interval lead.

Con’ continued to take the game to Cashel after the break and were back on level terms six minutes into the second half when O’Sullivan kicked a penalty.

O’Brien missed an easy penalty chance for Cashel minutes later from in front of the posts that many felt could prove to be crucial.

However both sides upped the ante and in a six minute spell the lead changed hands on three occasions. O’Sullivan put Con’ ahead for the first time with a fifty fourth minute penalty.

Cashel hit back from the restart and a break by skipper Brendan O’Connor led to Ed Leamy scoring Cashel’s second try which O’Brien converted.

Con’ were back in front on sixty minutes after winger Cathal Quinn intercepted a Cashel pass on the half way line and raced away to score and O’Sullivan converted for a 20-17 lead.

Cashel showed why they are champions as they lifted their game in the final quarter. On sixty nine minutes the sides were level when O’Brien kicked his second penalty.

Six minutes from time O’Brien put Cashel back in front with a penalty following a flagging from the touch judge for an infringement by a Con’ player in his own Twenty Two.

Cashel then had to withstand a late rally by the Temple Hill side with the nearest they came to a score was a great burst by Clune but solid defending kept their line intact and the final whistle was greeted with great delight by the large Cashel contingent following defeat in their three previous finals.

Scorers Cork Constitution: E O’Donnell, C Quinn tries, P O’Sullivan 2 cons, 2 pens.
Cashel: Eoin O’Connor, E Leamy tries, D O’Brien 2 cons, 3 pens.

Cork Constitution; Robert Clune; Eoin O’Donnell, Cyprian Jouve, Conor Desmond, Cathal Quinn; Peter O’Sullivan, Alex Ryan; Gareth Murray (capt), Brian Vaughan, Aidan Foley; David O’Mahony, Paul Dooley; Alan Ross, Simon Hanbidge, Tim Dukelow.
Replacements: Jack Flannery, Chris Corkery, Shane Desmond, Andrew Kelleher, Simon Barry.
Cashel: Darragh O’Brien; Rory O’Connor, Brian Silke, Patrick O’Connor, Kevin Quinlan; Conor Quinlan, Olly McGlinchey; Ed Horgan, Robert Coates, Howard Stanley; Eoin O’Connor, Ailbe Devitts; John Ed O’Connor, Ed Leamy, Brendan O’Connor (capt).
Replacements: Alan Guirey, Mike Kelly, Philly Ryan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Kevin Leamy.
Referee: Shane Kierans (M.A.R.)

ROUND UP:
Clanwilliam defeated Nenagh Ormond 26-20 after extra time to win the Garryowen Cup. Nenagh made a great start and led 17-0 after twenty five minutes. A penalty by Brian Kissane and a try by Michael Doherty made it 17-8 at half time.
Nenagh extended their advantage with a penalty early in the second half. A try by Ian Quinlan converted by Kissane closed the gap to five points. Paul Ryan tied up the scores with a try in the corner in the final minute to send the game into extra time and two penalties by Kissane decided the contest.

Tralee defeated Cork Constitution 17-7 at Tanner Park to win the Junior Two Cup South for the first time. In a scoreless first half Cork Constitution went ahead twelve minutes into the second half with a try from Rory O’Sullivan which Simon Barry converted. Eoin Murphy leveled with a try for the Kerry side which Gordon Kerins converted. Terence Liston put Tralee ahead with a drop goal five minutes from time and Kerins made sure of victory with a second try which he also converted.

Ballincollig defeated Fermoy 23-15 to complete a League and Cup double as they won the Junior Three Cup South. Veteran Willie Schubert scored two tries for the winners and Roy Lucey got one. Paul Dinneen kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Cork Transport won the Tait Cup at Midleton with a 27-3 win over Mitchelstown. Brian O’Donovan scored two tries for ‘Port and Isaac Stillwell and Jonathon Foley got one each. Mark Bevan kicked a penalty and two conversions.

Holders Highfield advanced to the final of the Dave Dineen Cup after a 20-18 victory over Ballincollig after extra time. Cian O’Mahony and Peter Cotter scored tries for the winners and Mick Hayden kicked two conversions and two penalties. Kevin Ryan and Fergal Considine scored tries for Ballincollig and Ryan added a conversion and two penalties.

Sunday’s Well will play Old Christians in the final of the Paul Twomey Cup following their 19-11 away win over Skibbereen. Josh Sheehan and Eric Broderick were try scorers for the ‘Well and Traloch Murray kicked three penalties.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior Cup Final: Cork Constitution 20, Cashel 23;

Garryowen Cup Final: Clanwilliam 26, Nenagh Ormond 20 (aet);

Junior 2 Cup South Final: Cork Constitution 7, Tralee 17;

Junior 3 Cup South Final: Ballincollig 23, Fermoy 15;

Dave Dineen Cup Semi Final: Ballincollig 18, Highfield 20 (aet);

Junior 2 Bowl Semi Final: Skibbereen 11, Sunday's Well 19;

South Tait Cup Final: Cork Transport 27, Mitchelstown 3;

Women’s AIL Division 1: Highfield 24, Old Belvedere 9;
U.L. Bohemian 76, St. Mary's College 10;

Division 2 Final: Navan 17, Tralee 7;

Division 2 League: Ballincollig 10, Galbally 15;