Shannon RFC progress to Munster Senior Cup final following victory over Cork Constitution

SHANNON RFC are through to the Munster Senior Cup final following a hard-fought 16-10 win over Cork Constitution at the Thomand Park back pitch on Saturday afternoon.

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Shannon will now face Highfield, winners over Garryowen in their semi-final at Dooradoyle also on Saturday, in the provincial Cup final.

On what was a horrid day for rugby in Caherdavin, with wind and rain making it difficult for both teams to get going, it was the home side who got the first points of the day after 20 minutes. 

The breakthrough came via a Cian McCann try after sustained pressure from the hosts, with McCann eventually breaking through the steely Cork defence, much to the delight of the home support.

Jamie Gavin, who was outstanding all game, converted to give Shannon a precious 7-0 lead.

With the inclement weather showing no signs of letting up, it continued to make life difficult for both sides. 

Shannon would extend their lead to ten points on the half hour mark when Gavin kicked a long-range penalty, with the aid of a strong breeze at the fly-half's back. 

Gavin added another penalty for his side on the stroke of half-time to give Shannon an invaluable 13-0 lead at the interval.

That was to be the last scoring act of a first half that was low-scoring, but full of intensity and physicality.

The visitors eventually got themselves on the scoresheet after 57 minutes when fly-half Aidan Moynihan touched down following a period of possession from the Constitution. 

Moynihan made no mistake from the resulting conversion and the game now hung in the balance at 13-7.

The hosts managed to find a bit of breathing room for themselves on 65 minutes when Gavin slotted over yet another penalty to give his side a nine-point lead, 16-7.

Constitution did hit back five minutes later through a Moynihan penalty to leave the score at 16-10 heading into the final ten minutes but Shannon held firm to book their place in this year's final, showing some real guile towards the end to keep their Cork opponents at bay. 

SHANNON RFC: Ronan Ryan, Jordan Prenderville, Emmet Calvey, Samson Alaimoana, Cian McCann, Lee Nicolas, Callum Black, Neal Moylett, Neil Cronin, Jamie Gavin, Josh Costelloe, Harry Long (C), Cian O'Halloran, Darren Gavin, Matt TePou

REPLACEMENTS: Rhys Tucker, Tony Cusack, Tommy O'Driscoll, Christian Storey, Cillian O'Connor, Rory McDermott, Luke Doyle. 

CORK CONSTITUTION: Mike Cogan, Billy Scannell, David Good, Sean Duffy, Richard Thompson, Mark Skelly, Jacob Sheahan, Peter Hyland, Louis Kahn, Aidan Moynihan, Sean Condon, Dylan Hicks, Killian Coghlan, Johnny Murphy, George Coomber 

REPLACEMENTS: George Good Julien Royer, Eoin Quilter, David Bamidele, Ronan Byrd, Gavin O'Riordan, Dan Punch.