Shannon Win Munster Junior Cup

Shannon ended a 19-year gap since their last Munster Junior Cup success with a deserved win over holders Clonmel at Irish Independent Park on Sunday.

Shannon 33-19 Clonmel
Clonmel’s hopes of a grand slam in Junior rugby came unstuck, when Shannon defeated them in a very exciting replay.

On a dry pitch with a hurricane wind blowing, the first half produced nine scores including four tries, two apiece but when the rain lashed down at half-time, it changed the course of the game.

Playing with the strong wind in the opening half, Shannon jumped into the lead with a penalty from their man of the match Ronan McKenna inside four minutes. It was the Shannon out-half who scored all his side’s points last week in the drawn game and he was again the player who dictated the play.

He got an excellent service from scrum-half Jack Cullen while in the pack Brian Downey, Kelvin Brown and the experienced David Quinlan put in a huge amount of work.

Clonmel’s pack had Shannon in a lot of trouble in the scrums in the early stages and they took the lead on nine minutes when, from a five metre line-out following a penalty, they mauled the ball over the line and Stephen Pyke touched down for the first try.

Shannon had the holders camped deep in their own '22' and their efforts were rewarded when Cullen sent Niall Horan in for a try which McKenna converted. Midway through the opening half McKenna extended Shannon’s advantage with a penalty.

From the restart Clonmel won a penalty on the Shannon '22' and they again opted for touch. From the line-out they mauled the ball over the line and Ronan Crosse touched down. Ten minutes from half-time Shannon’s pressure was rewarded when David Quinlan scored their second try and McKenna added the extras.

Cooney kicked a penalty for Clonmel on 34 minutes but McKenna hit back with two further penalties before half-time for a 26-13 lead at the interval.

With heavy rain falling, Cooney kicked two penalties to leave seven between the sides after 47 minutes. Cooney was off target with a penalty on 54 minutes and a bit of over elaboration by Clonmel was severely punished, when Shannon brought play into the Clonmel half, a delicate kick by McKenna to the wing saw Greg O’Shea pounce to touch down and McKenna converted to lead 33-19.

With the conditions deteriorating, Shannon were able to cope with anything Clonmel threw at them and were well in control at the finish.

Scorers for Shannon: N Horan, D Quinlan, G O’Shea tries, R McKenna 3 cons, 4 pens.
Clonmel: S Pyke, R Cross tries, C Cooney 3 pens.

Shannon: C Cunnane; R Hunt, W Leonard, T O’Neill, G O’Shea; R McKenna, J Cullen; T Cusack, T Chan, N Horan; E McCabe, J Ryan; B Downey, K Brown, D Quinlan.
Replacements: L Cronin, G McNamara, J McCabe, S Horgan, R O’Doherty.

Clonmel: C Cooney; G Carroll, L Hogan, B Condon, D Cass; D Cadogan, A Sheehan; B O’Kelly, G Mulcahy, P Keating; M Barry, R Cross; S Pyke, D Foley, N Melbourne.
Replacements: B Lawlor, J Gallagher, T Cantwell, M Lyons, D Lyons.

Referee: R O’Sullivan (MAR).