Holders Young Munster see off Cork Con to book Munster Senior Cup final spot

HOLDERS Young Munster advanced to another Munster Senior Cup final after easing past great rivals Cork Constitution in their semi-final meeting at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday afternoon.

Munsters', seeking a three-in-a-row of Munster Senior Cup wins will now face Nenagh Ormond in the Munster Senior Cup final following the Tipperary side's impressive 28-5 victory over Highfield, of Cork, earlier on Saturday.

While the Limerick side will be appearing in the final for a fourth successive season, it will be Nenagh's first ever Munster Senior Cup decider.

Munsters' took an early lead 3-0 over fellow All-Ireland League Division 1A side Cork Con in their semi-final after Evan Cusack converted an early penalty goal.

Cork Con then drew level in the 15th minute when Aidan Moynihan landed a penalty goal for 3-3.

The home side then took an 8-3 advantage in the 25th minute when Stephen Lyons dotted down for an excellent try in the corner.

A second try for Munsters' 10 minutes later, this time scored by Bailey Faloon, helped the holders increase their advantage to 10 points at 13-3.

A second penalty from Moynihan for the visitors reduced the home side's advantage to seven points at the break, 13-6.

Munsters', who had knocked Constitution out of the Senior Cup in the 2020/21 campaign at the quarter-final stage 27-17, while also defeating the Temple Hill side in the opening round 19-12 last term, then regained their 10-point advantage, 16-6, through a further penalty 10 minutes into the second half from the boot of Cusack.

The game was back in the melting pot in the 55th minute, however, when Billy Crowley crossed for a try for Cork Con, which Moynihan converted to leave three points between the teams, 16-13.

However, Munsters' showed admirable resilience to close the game out with Cusack's penalty goal in the 70th minute proving to be the final score of the game.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Conor Hayes; Shay McCarthy, Dan Goggin, Luke Fitzgerald, Stephen Lyons, Evan Cusack, Donnchadh O’Callaghan; David Begley, George Jacobs, Conor Bartley; Sean Rigney, Alan Kennedy (Capt), James Horrigan, Ronàn O’Sullivan, Bailey Faloon. Replacements: Paul Allen, Paulo Leleisiuao , Craig Hannon, Peter Hickey, Adam Maher, Fionn Gibbons.

CORK CONSTITUTION: George Coomber; Daniel Hurley, Greg Higgins, Niall Kenneally, Billy Crowley; Aidan Moynihan, Ian Leonard; Alessandro Heaney, Billy Scannell, Luke Masters, Sean Duffy, Cathal O'Flaherty; Jack Kelleher, Mark Stafford, David Hyland.