Garryowen FC celebrate 40th Munster Senior Cup success after victory over Cork Con

GARRYOWEN FC collected a first Munster Senior Cup since 2018, as the Light Blues deservedly got the better of Cork Constitution, 22-7, at Thomond Park on St Patrick's Day.

Having led from Cian Hurley’s 25^th minute try all the way to the end, and bar a brief period after half-time, the Limerick side never looked in trouble.

It is an incredible 40^th title for Garryowen, who won their first in 1888/1889. Captained by Bryan Fitzgerald, it is much welcome silverware for the Dooradoyle side, who have began a mini rebuild, following relegation to Division 1B of the All-Ireland League last season.

After a testing few seasons, this win could be the catalyst for a new-era led by John Staunton, Director of Rugby.

It also means that the silverware stays on Shannonside, after Young Munster’s three in a row. It is sure to be a sweet win over old rivals Con, who are next on the roll of honour with 30 titles.

After an underwhelming opening quarter, the scoring was opened by Hurley who powered over after patient build-up. The conversion from Kelvin Langan it was 7-0.

Con hadn’t threatened in attack and the gap was out to double digits when Langan punished a Con player who was adjudged offside.

With Neil Cronin pulling the strings at scrum-half, and his forwards fronting up throughout, there was rarely any major defensive stress against a side second in the top flight of the AIL. Their '22 remained a Con free zone for the entirety of the opening half, but that would change after the half-time break.

The Cork found their only scoring sequence within five minutes of the resumption. This was John Forde who went over after a scrappy lineout, Rob Hedderman’s extras meant only three points separated the sides. Con did word for their score though a few penalty infringements put Garryowen on the back foot.

This was the only time the whitewash was threatened by Cork Con and the winners found another gear to seal victory. A missed penalty from Langan was forgotten when their second try arrived. This time replacement Nicky Greene went over, after a well executed close-range scrum.

Bryan Fitzgerald put the icing on the Light Blues cake when he raced over entering the final 10-minutes. Fitzgerald collected the silverware while Jack Daly, the back-row forward, was presented as Man-of-the-Match.

CORK CONSTITUTION: Rob Hedderman; Rob Jermyn, Daniel Hurley, Harry O’Riordan, Matthew Bowen; Te Atawhai Mason, Adam Maher; Brendan Quinlan, Billy Scannell, Luke Masters; Sean Duffy, John Forde; Jack Kelleher, Ronan O’Sullivan, Dave Hyland (Capt). Replacements: Gordon Good, Mark Donnelly, Charlie Connolly, Kamil Nowak, Matisee Lamarque D’Arrouzat, Louis Kahn, Johnny Murphy.

GARRYOWEN FC: Colm Hogan; Gordon Wood, Brian Fitzgerald (c), Jack Delaney, Colm Quilligan; Kelvin Langan, Neil Cronin; George Hadden, Max Clein, Oisin Kearney; Cian Hurley, Kevin Seymour; Jeronimo Ureta Saenz Pena, Jack Daly, Donnacha Byrne. Replacements: Dean Fanning, Darragh McCarthy, Des Fitzgerald, Sean Rennison, Jonathan Keane, Jack Oliver, Nick Greene.