Young Munster see off UCC to power into Munster Senior Cup semi-finals

YOUNG Munster have advanced to the semi-finals of this season's Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup following their convincing 49-24 group victory over UCC at Tom Clifford Park on Thursday evening.

This was Munsters' second victory in three-team Group 2 following their opening round 33-31 win away at Garryowen. Thursday night's success over the Cork students ensures 2023 Munster Senior Cup winners Munsters' finish top of the group and, as a result, advance to the last four stage of the competition. 

Another Limerick side, Old Crescent, have already secured their passage to the semi-finals having won three-team Group 4.

The two other semi-finalists in the Munster Senior Cup will be decided when the remaining group fixtures are played in November.

Young Munster racked up seven tries in easing past UCC at Greenfields in their group game.

The home side, despite trailing 7-12 at one stage, managed to build a significant 28-12 lead at half-time, thanks to two tries from full-back Hubert Gilvarry, plus five-pointers from hooker Aaron Roulston and winger Jack Shaw. Out-half Julien Leszczynski converted all four all four of the tries.

Munsters', who open their energia All-Ireland League Divison 1A campaign away to UCD on Saturday week, put the game beyond the students at the start of the second half when scrum-half Donnchadh O'Callaghan struck for their fifth try. Leszczynski again added the extras. 

Number eight Ronan Murphy and Stephen McLoughlin added further tries for the home side with the impressive Leszczynski making it seven successful conversions from seven attempts to bring his points tally for the game to 14.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Hubert Gilvarry, Oisin Pepper, Samson Seinafo, Manuel Covella, Jack Shaw, Julien Leszczynski, Donnchadh O'Callaghan, David Begley, Aaron Roulston, Paul Allen, Óran O'Reilly, Alan Kennedy (Capt), James Horrigan, Bailey Faloon, Ronan Murphy. Replacements: Stephen McLoughlin, Christian Foley, Peter Meyer, Eoin McCormack, Marcus Lyons, Cian Casey, Stephen Lyons. 

UCC: David Cogan, Sean Condon, Evan Clarke, Daniel Squires (Capt), Tom Coughlan; Darragh French, Jack Casey; Sean Dunne, Luke McAuliffe, Alex Hamilton, Patrick Jones, Jamie Browne, Jason Aherne, Johnny O'Shea, Peter Hyland. Replacements: Adam Wrona, Michael Cogan, Daniel McCarthy, Ivor Dennehy, Paddy Gaffney, Harry Murphy, James Wixted.