Heartbreak as Shannon caught at the death in Munster Senior Cup final

THERE was heartbreak for Shannon as the Limerick side were caught at the death as Highfield scored two late tries to secure a 19-17 win in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup final at Temple Hill.

With both teams in the playoff places in the All-Ireland League, Shannon didn’t look like a side who were competing in the Division below the Cork men.

In fact, they were the better team for large chunks of this final but with two yellow cards meaning they played the final quarter with 14 men, eventually, the pressure told. 

“We were definitely comfortable in that match,” Shannon player-coach Neil Cronin said after the game.

“It was an absolute dogfight but we showed we can compete against teams in the divisions ahead of us.

“But it’s an 80-minutes game and we let it slip for five minutes there and Highfield took their scores and got the win.”

Despite the Limerick side playing the better rugby in the opening exchanges, the Cork team struck first blood on the scoreboard.

One area Highfield dominated from the start was the line out. They also used the maul to good effect, knocking on the door after a quarter of an hour. Three phases later, it was James Cronin who forced his way over the line. Shane Buckley added the extras.

Despite plenty of possession and territory, it took Shanon half an hour to get off the mark. With his second attempt of the afternoon, Cillian O'Connor made no mistake.

This provided the platform for the Limerick side to take the lead into the interval. After good play out wide Luke Doyle got the try, with O'Connor's conversion giving the Division 2A side a 10-7 interval lead. 

Highfield's Buckley should have levelled the game with the last action of the half but his penalty attempt struck the post.

Shannon continued where they left off in the second half. Five minutes after the resumption Alex Lautsou added their second try. O’Connor’s conversion giving the AIL Division 2A side a 17-7 lead. But they would fail to score again in this final.

With 59 minutes on the clock , Adam Moloney was sent to the sinbin. Shannon managed to hold out, spending the majority of the next 10 minutes camped in their 22. However, just as they were due to return to their full compliment, they had another yellow card. 

Eventually, the pressure told and Cronin crossed for his second try. And with time running out, Noah Patterson levelled the game before Shane Buckley held his nerve to kick Highfield to a third title.

SCORERS: Highfield - Tries: James Cronin (2), Noah Patterson. Conversions: Shane Buckley (2).

Shannon - Tries: Luke Doyle, Alex Lautsou. Conversions: Cillian O’Connor (2); Penalty: Cillian O’Connor.

HIGHFIELD: Jamie Shanahan, Eoin Dorgan, Dave McCarthy, Dave O’Sullivan, Noah Patterson, Shane Buckley, Chris Banon; James Cronin, Travis Coomey, Daragh Fitzgerald, Eoin Keating, Conor Kennelly, Dave O’Connell, Conor Glavin, Ryan Gordon.

Replacements: Mark Fitzgerald, James Brugger, Ben Murphy, Corey Hanlon, Rob Murphy, Ben Murphy.

SHANNON: Matt TePou, Luke Doyle, Cian O’Halloran, Harry Long, Darren Gavin, Cillian O’Connor, Neil Cronin; Jamie Conway, Peter Dougan, Tony Cusack, Samson Alaimoana, Cian McCann, Alex Lautsou, Oisin Minogue, Neal Moylett.

Replacements: Joshua Costello, Emmet Calvey, Adam Moloney, Lee Nicholas, Rory McDermott, Ronan Ryan, Scott Gleeson.

REFEREE: Tomas O’Sullivan.