Garryowen v Young Munster Match Programme

BANK OF IRELAND 

MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 

FINAL 2021/2022 

GARRYOWEN FC 

VERSUS 

YOUNG MUNSTER RFC 

FRIDAY 18TH MARCH | THOMOND PARK | KO 3PM 

#MSCC 

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2021/22 1

2 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE

Munster Branch IRFU 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

It’s my pleasure to welcome everyone 

attending today’s game here in Thomond 

Park, in particular a welcome to players, 

management and all involved with Garryowen 

and Young Munster for what promises to be a 

very exciting Bank of Ireland Munster Senior 

Challenge Cup Final. 

Garryowen reached today’s final by 

overcoming UCC, Bruff and Cashel, while 

the holders Young Munster saw off Cork 

Constitution, UL Bohemian and Highfield. 

Both clubs have a long history in this 

prestigious competition, with Garryowen first 

lifting the trophy in 1889. For Young Munster it 

took a few years more and lifted it in 1928. The 

first ever game in this competition was played 

on Tuesday 23rd February 1886 in the Markets 

Field in Limerick, one of today’s finalists, 

Garryowen, played Nenagh Ormond, with 

Garryowen winning on a score of two goals 

and three points to nil – there is a lot of history 

attached to this great competition. 

I would like to wish Kevin Seymour, captain 

of Garryowen, Alan Kennedy, captain of 

Young Munster, all the players, coaches and 

management the best of luck in today’s final. 

Munster Senior Cup medals are hard to come 

by and hard earned, today will be no different 

with both sides giving it all to lift the trophy 

and collect the much sought after medal. This 

has all the makings of another cracking game 

in this all Limerick final. 

Once again this year’s competition is 

sponsored by Bank of Ireland and I would 

like to acknowledge their support from the 

professional game and all through the amateur 

game, your continued support all throughout 

is much appreciated. 

Thank you to the Senior Clubs and 

Competitions committee for organising this 

year’s competition. To the people in the 

background who oversee the match day 

arrangements, the professional staff, grounds 

people all the volunteers who made today 

possible, thank you one and all. 

Finally, a thank you to the Munster Association 

of Referees for your ongoing officiating at all 

levels throughout the season, without you the 

games would not go ahead. We need more 

referees to make sure there are enough to 

go around, while this a work in progress for 

the MAR, we all have a part to play in this 

recruitment drive and any help from our clubs 

and schools would be much appreciated by 

the MAR. 

I hope whoever you are supporting and 

cheering on, you have a very enjoyable day. 

May the best team win. 

Sean Mc Cullough 

President Munster Branch IRFU. 

President: Sean McCullough | Vice President: Ger McNamara | Junior Vice President: Michael Carroll 

Hon. Secretary: Muiris Mahon | Hon. Treasurer: Tom Kinirons 

Chief Executive Officer: Ian Flanagan 

Head Coach: Johann van Graan | Team Manager: Niall O’Donovan 


MUNSTER SENIOR CUP A TO Z 

By Frank Byford, 

Former Hon. Secretary, 

Munster Branch 

A - After a lapse of 31 years Bohemians regained the trophy in 1958 when they defeated 

Highfield who were making their initial appearance in the decider at Thomond Park, 

the successful XV was Paddy Downes, Paddy Moran (captain), Christy English, Basil 

Fitzgibbon, Maurice Mortell, Mick English, Tom Cleary, William Slattery, Dermot Geary, 

John Nagle, John Mulcahy, Ted Watson, John Ryan, Caleb Powell, Billy Hurley. 

B - Bandon under the captaincy of Frank Levis became the first winners of the trophy in 

1886 defeating Garryowen in a replay at the Cork Park. 

C - Cup, the original trophy in 1886 was procured through the house of Messrs Martin 

Hall & Co. of Sheffield. It was made specially to order and was described as ‘a valuable 

prize and a beautiful exhibition of the silversmith’s art and skill’. It was valued at £65 

sterling. When the Branch replaced the famous old trophy in 1994, the cost had risen to 

13K punts. 

D - Draw for the initial competition in 1886 resulted as follows: Garryowen FC v Nenagh 

RFC, Clanwilliam FC v Tralee RFC, Cork Football Club v Bandon RFC and Queen’s 

College RFC v Limerick Football Club. 

E - Equaliser – one of the most dramatic scores to draw a final occurred in the 1967 

meeting of Cork Constitution and Highfield - Tony Loughry landed the equalising 

penalty from the half way line with the last kick of the match, the ball going over after 

hitting the crossbar – it was all the more remarkable as Loughry had been down injured 

for what seemed like ages, before he was helped from the ground, dusted himself down 

before he earned the ‘field’ a deserved draw. 

F - Fire Station, Roches Street, Limerick, was the venue for the draw for the initial 

competition in 1886. 

G - Garryowen FC who lead the way with most cup wins achieved the first of their 39 

titles in 1889, under the leadership of the legendary Jack MacAuley. 

H - Highfield won the first of their two titles in 1966 with a team that included Tony 

O’Brien, Tony Loughry, Gary O’Reilly, Pierce McNamara, Donal Kiely, Billy O’Lehan, 

Finny Pope, Sean Hayes, Liam Ormonde, Jim Dennehy, Joe McDonnell (captain), 

Dougie Burke, Denis Dennehy, Terry Moore, Gary ‘Hank’ O’Reilly. 

I - Initial match in the competition was played on Tuesday 23rd, February, 1886, at the 

Markets Field, Limerick when Garryowen beat Nenagh Ormond by two goals and three 

tries to nil. 

J - Jack Horgan led University College Cork to victory in the 1950 decider over a fancied 

Garryowen XV in Limerick. 

K - Kiernan, Tom won seven cup winners medals between 1963 – 1973, the first with 

University College Cork, and the remainder with Cork Constitution, while his brother 

Jim was on the successful winning UCC (1955) and Cork Constitution (1957) XVs. 

L - Last occasion that a final was refereed by an official from outside the province was 

1936, when R.A.C. Barrett (Leinster Branch) took control of the University College Cork 

and Cork Constitution decider. 


M - Midleton RFC reached the final of the competition in 2003, their only appearance 

to date, and despite their best efforts they went down to Shannon on a 22 points to 13 

scoreline. 

N - Noel Glynn had the honour of leading Shannon to victory over Garryowen in the 

1986 final, the centenary year of the competition. 

O - Old Crescent have yet to win the trophy, having been losing finalists in 1955, 1962 

and 2009. 

P - Personalities who have won senior cup medals include John Skehan (Radio Eireann 

broadcaster) and D.J.Fitzgibbon (Din Joe of “Take the Floor” fame) both with Dolphin in 

1948, while the late Richard Harris was a medal winner with Garryowen in 1952. 

Q - Quaide, Des led Garryowen to victory in 1975 over Cork Constitution, the occasion 

being notable that it was the first time in 35 years that a Limerick club had won a senior 

cup final in Cork. 

R - Rockwell College lost the finals of 1897, 1902, 1904 and 1908, one of their prominent 

players at the time was Eamonn de Valera, who was later to become leader of Fianna 

Fail and then President of Ireland. 

S - Suspended – following a drawn final in 1892 between Garryowen and Queen’s 

College Cork, it transpired that the replay never took place, as both clubs could not 

agree on a venue. Subsequently the Munster Football Challenge Cup committee 

declared the competition null and void. 

T - This evening’s match sees Garryowen strive for their 39th Senior Cup title. 

U - University College Cork XV won the trophy in 1976 against Dolphin which was 

the last occasion of an all Cork final – Joe Fitzgerald, Danny Buckley, Peter Rolls, Pat 

Parfrey, Jack Shorten, Moss Finn, Eddie Cogan, Paul Turner, Gerry Hurley, Garrett 

Fitzgerald, Charlie McCarthy, Jerry Holland, Christy Cantillon, Richard Kennefick 

(captain), Anthony O’Leary. 

V - Victory margin – the largest margin of victory in a decider came in 1974, when 

Garryowen had 29 points to spare over Shannon in the final. 

W - Wall, Henry who passed away recently captained Dolphin in the 1964 final against 

Cork Constitution – the laurels going to the Temple Hill side who were led by Noel 

Murphy. 

X - XV - Dolphin team who won the club’s last Senior Cup in 1956 after defeating 

Sunday’s Well in a replay was Gerry Rearden, Flor Crowley, Billy Mason, Pat Crowley, 

Dave McCormick, Norman Colman (Captain), Tim Harrington, Derry Donnery, Dave 

Barry, Bob Dowley, Mick Sullivan, Jerry O’Sullivan, Jerry Healy, Dick Hyde, Paddy 

O’Callaghan. 

Y - Young Munster bridged a gap of 42 years in 1980, when they regained the trophy 

at the expense of Bohemians, the successful XV - Ger McNamara, Michael Moore, 

Pat Cross, Francis Brosnihan, Derek McCarthy, Gerry Casey, Eddie Costello, Branden 

O’Connor, Pat McGrath, John Murphy, Richie Daly (captain), Brian O’Connor, Eamonn 

Madden, Michael Sheehan, Jim McNamara. It is worth noting that on the following day 

John Murphy won a Munster Junior Cup medal with Thomond. 

Z - Zero score, of the 125 finals to date only seven have finished scoreless, those being 

in 1886, 1890, 1892, 1907, 1914 and 1933 (twice). 


PREVIOUS SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS 

1886 Bandon 

1887 Queen’s 

College, Cork 1888 

Queen’s College,Cork 

1889Garryowen 

1890 Garryowen 


1892 Not Awarded 





1897 Queen’s College,Cork 








1905 Cork Constitution 







1912 UCC 

1913 UCC 


1915-19 Suspended 


1921 Dolphin 






1927 Bohemian 

1928 Young Munster 



1931 Dolphin 




1935 UCC 

1936 UCC 

1937 UCC 


1939 UCC 


1941 UCC 

1942 CorkConstitution 


1944 Dolphin 

1945 Dolphin 



1948 Dolphin 

1949 Sunday’s Well 

1950 UCC 1951 UCC 




1955 UCC 

1956 Dolphin 


1958 Bohemian 

1959 Bohemian 

1960 Shannon 


1962 Bohemian 

1963 UCC 



1966 Highfield 


1968 Highfield 








1976 UCC 

1977 Shannon 

1978 Shannon 



1981 UCC 

1982 Shannon 




1986 Shannon 

1987 Shannon 

1988 Shannon 



1991 Shannon 

1992 Shannon 




1996 Shannon 


1998 Shannon 


2000 Shannon 

2001 Shannon 

2002 Shannon 

2003 Shannon 

2004 Shannon 

2005 Shannon 

2006 Shannon 


2008 Shannon 



2011 Bruff 








2018/19 Cork Constitution 

2019/20 Cork Constitution 

2020/21 - Young Munster 


GARRYOWEN 

FINAL STAGES 

QUARTER-FINAL: Bruff 10-48 Garryowen - Kilballyowen Park 

SEMI-FINAL: Garryowen 33-21 Cashel - Dooradoyle 

YOUNG MUNSTER 

FINAL STAGES 

QUARTER-FINAL: Young Munster 34-15 UL Bohemian – Tom Clifford Park 

SEMI-FINAL: Highfield 13-16 Young Munster – Woodleigh Park 


GARRYOWEN FC 

1. Jack Mullany 

2. Dylan Murphy 

3. James Kendrick 

4. Tim Ferguson 

5. Kevin Seymour (C) 

6. Roy Whelan 

7. Des Fitzgerald 

8. Alan Fitzgerald 

9. Evan Maher 

10. Jack Delaney 

11. Tommy O’Hora 

12. Dave McCarthy 

13. Mattie Sheehan 

14. Ed Barry 

15. Colm Quilligan 

Replacements: 

Darragh McCarthy 

Larry Kelly 

Michael Veale 

Jack Madden 

Scott Leahy 

Oisin Cooke 

Johnny Keane 

Sean Rennison 

Dan Feasy 

Aaron Cosgrave 

Louis Cunneen 

Hugh O’Brien 

Cunningham 

Match Officia 

Referee: Barrie O’ 

AR1: Kevin Co 

AR2: Adrian McIn 

4th: Ian Co 

Teams correct at time of publication 

8 

WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE

YOUNG MUNSTER RFC 

tch Officials 

Barrie O’Connell 

Kevin Coffey 

drian McInerney 

th: Ian Coll 

1. David Begley 

2. Mark O’Mara 

3. Conor Bartley 

4. Tom Goggin 

5. Sean Rigney 

6. Alan Kennedy (C) 

7. Conor Moloney 

8. Bailey Faloon 

9. Donnchadh O’Callaghan 

10. Evan Cusack 

11. Conor Phillips 

12. Evan O’Gorman 

13. Harry Fleming 

14. Conor Hayes 

15. Cian Casey 

Replacements: 

Shane Malone 

Paul Allen 

Colm Skehan 

Liam Neilan 

Jack Lyons 

Pa Ryan 

Jason Kiely 

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2021/22 

9

CAPTAIN’S WORD 

“A derby is big enough on its own but the 

fact that there’s a cup at the end of it will 

make it all the sweeter for the winners, and 

the chance to walk around Limerick with the 

bragging rights on the weekend that’s in it. 

“It wasn’t our best performance in our last 

game against Ballynahinch. We were down 

to 13 men at one stage but we stuck with it 

and got a try in the last minute of the game 

to come back and win it. 

“With cup rugby you only get one chance at 

it, you either get the win or you’re gone and 

the fact that it’s a local derby in the final as 

well cranks up the pressure and cranks up 

the atmosphere. 

“I came to Garryowen four years ago and 

they had won the Senior Cup the year before 

so we got to play in the All Ireland series and 

won the Bateman Cup. 

“To win the Munster Senior Cup would be 

a massive achievement, there’s no point in 

saying otherwise. 

“It’s a very prestigious competition and 

when you speak to past players and former 

professional players, everyone says it’s a 

nice cup to get 

your hands on. 

“There have been 

some great players 

who have won 

it down through 

the years and the 

memories stick 

with a lot of people 

so we’d be thrilled 

to get our hands 

on it.” 

Kevin Seymour, 

Captain 2021/2022, 

Garryowen FC 

“We just beat Lansdowne in the league, that 

was a big scalp for us and we’ll take great 

confidence from that and hopefully we’ll 

bring that into the match on Friday. 

“The fact that it’s an all-Limerick final adds a 

totally different dimension. We’ll be playing 

lads we see around Limerick a lot and our 

lads would have went to school with lots of 

their lads. 

“With the supporters there will be a lot of 

banter back and forth and that will be the 

good side of it as well. It adds an extra bit 

of spice on the day and I’m sure it will be a 

close affair no matter what happens. 

“It would mean a lot to win the Senior Cup, 

we have a great group of players and we’ve 

put so much into the season so it would be 

great to win such a prestigious title. 

“If we can win it, we’ll be the first-ever Young 

Munster squad to win back-to-back Senior 

Cup titles. It’s never been done and the club 

have only won it eight times as well. 

“Garryowen obviously have such a great 

history in the competition, I think they’ve 

won it over 40 times so we’d love to get 

another title in the history books for Young 

Munster. 

“It would be great 

to win it for the 

supporters and 

all the people in 

the background 

who have done 

trojan work, they 

deserve it as much 

as anyone else so 

it would be great 

to get over the line 

but we know it’s 

going to be a big 

battle on Friday.” 

Alan Kennedy, 

Captain 2021/2022, 

Young Munster RFC 

WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE

Shay McCarthy celebrates 

scoring a try with 

teammates 

MATCH PREVIEW 

By Eolan Allen 

Today’s Bank of 

Ireland Munster Senior 

Challenge Cup promises 

to be a gripping and 

intense final between 

two fierce local rivals. 

Young Munster and 

Garryowen have 

managed to split both 

their games in the 

Energia All Ireland 

League with both 

matches being very close 

and it is unlikely that 

there will be more than a 

score between the sides 

at the final whistle. 

Garryowen sit on top 

of the honours list 

in this competition 

and will be hoping to 

claim their trophy for 

the 40th time in their 

prestigious history. 

Their last victory came 

in 2018 as they ended 

Cork Constitution’s 

dominance over the 

competition, overcoming 

UL Bohemian in the final. 

Young Munster are the 

reigning holders after 

coming out on top 

against Shannon in the 

rescheduled final last 

August which was held 

over from the previous 

season. The Cookies 

have their own renowned 

history with their first 

success in 1928 leading 

on the Bateman song that 

is remembered in the 

club anthem. 

The pathway to the 

final started back 

in September for 

both clubs. With the 

competition having an 

open draw, both clubs 

were certainly not given 

handy openers as they 

took on fellow sides from 

Division 1A. 

Garryowen made their 

intent known from the 

outset as they ran away 

with an impressive 45-12 

victory away to UCC. 

They ran in seven tries 

with Jamie Shanahan 

and Dylan Murphy both 

bragging a brace for 

themselves to ease their 

way into the second 

round. 


Kevin Seymour leads 

his team out 

Young Munster’s victory 

was equally impressive, 

if a lot narrower, against 

Cork Constitution. Having 

just claimed the trophy 

weeks beforehand the 

Cookies were eager not 

to relinquish it quickly 

in front of their home 

fans. They produced a 

powerful display to race 

into a 16-5 lead with 

Adam Maher and Barry 

Galvin notching tries 

and Evan Cusack kicking 

two penalties. Con as 

expected struck back 

but Munsters saw out 

the game with Cusack 

kicking another penalty 

for a 19-12 win. 

Both sides enjoyed 

convincing victories 

in the next round. 

Garryowen were far 

too good for Bruff and 

managed to secure a 

convincing 48-10 lead. 

Eight tries were scored 

this time; shared out 

among Colm Quilligan, 

Jamie Heuston, Niall 

Horan, Luke Cronin, 

Aaron Cosgrove, Ed 

Barry, Bryan Fitzgerald 

and Alexander Wood. 

Young Munster faced 

another city side in UL 

Bohemian who they 

proved far too strong for. 

They led 19-8 at halftime 

with tries from Sean 

Rigney, Aaron Hennessy 

and Evan Cusack and 

further tries by Sean 

McCarthy-Burbage and 

Mark O’Mara after the 

break saw them secure a 

34-15 win. 

The Light Blues’ semifinal 

was played on 

the October Bank- 

Holiday weekend where 

they faced a game 

Cashel side. It was 

an entertaining highscoring 

affair as the 

Tipperary side threw 

everything they had at 

the Dooradoyle outfit. 

Garryowen edged the 

first half; with a try 

from Hugh O’Brien- 

Cunningham and the 

kicking of Jamie Heuston 

helping them to a 13-11 

lead at the break. 

Cashel were holding the 

lead 21-19 going into 

the final seven minutes 

but Garryowen came 

strong with tries from 

Quilligan and Heuston, 

who finished the game 

with 23 points, saw them 

emerge victorious 33-21. 

Young Munster travelled 

to face Highfield in 

December for their semifinal. 

It wasn’t quite as 

high-scoring but was 

every bit as compelling 

as the Woodleigh Park 

side, with ambitions 

of a Division 1A place, 

showed their ability. 

It was nip and tuck early 

on with a pair of Cusack 

penalties nudging his 

side in front before he 

was able to convert an 

Aaron Hennessy try, 

giving his side a 13-6 

lead. 

Highfield levelled shortly 

after the break; and the 

game was in the balance 

all the way to the end; 

with a Cusack penalty 

10 minutes from time 

proving decisive. 


Young Munster’s Alan 

Kennedy in action in last 

season’s Bateman Cup 

Final in Musgrave Park 

A HISTORY OF THE BATEMAN CUP 

The Cup was presented 

to the IRFU by Godfrey 

Bateman, in ever-fresh 

loving memory of his darling 

sons Major Reginald John 

Godfrey Bateman, Canadian 

Infantry, who was killed 

instantaneously in action, 

in Dury, France, on the 3rd 

of September 1918, aged 

34, and Captain Arthur 

Cyril Bateman, M.B. Dublin 

University, who on 28th 

March 1918, near Cambrai, 

gave his life for his wounded 

‘Cameron’s aged 27. 

‘Sacrifice alone is Fruitful.’ 

The competition was 

played annually between 

the four provincial Senior 

Cup winners on the last 

weekend of the season, with 

the exception of 1933 and 

1934 when a number of the 

provincial cup campaigns 

had not been completed 

on time. The tournament 

was finally terminated at 

the outbreak of the Second 

World War owing to the 

restriction on travel. 

Garryowen Football Club 

ran a once off Bateman 

Cup style competition in 

the spring of 1975, this in 

conjunction with the IRFU 

Centenary Celebrations, the 

laurels eventually rested with 

St. Mary’s College. 

For the season 2010/11, 

the IRFU reverted back to 

the provincial structure 

having run with an open 

draw All-Ireland Senior Cup 

competition for the five 

previous seasons. 

The Trophy has come to 

Munster on 11 occasions 

– Young Munster in 1928, 

University College Cork 

eight years later, Bruff in 

2011, Garryowen in 2012 and 

2019, and Cork Constitution 

in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 

by Frank Byford 

2017 and 2020 (shared with 

Lansdowne). 

Cork Constitution (1922), 

Garryowen (1925) and (1926) 

all fell to Leinster opposition 

at the final hurdle, before 

Young Munster came in 

1928, the boys from the 

‘Yellow Road’ won the 

Munster Senior Cup for the 

first time in thrilling fashion 

that year. Many pundits 

were of the opinion that this 

would be the limit of their 

ambitions, however, they 

surprised all and sundry by 

going on and winning the 

coveted trophy. 

Lansdowne who had 

enjoyed a very successful 

season, losing only 5 of 

their 29 starts were the 

warmest of favourites 

to lift the trophy for the 

second time. As Instonians 

the Ulster standard 

bearers had withdrawn 


Garryowen’s Niall Horan celebrates after 

winning the Bateman Cup 

from the competition, the 

headquarters side were 

expected to have an easy 

passage. Young Munster 

having got the better of 

the rugged challenge of 

Galwegians the previous day 

stood toe to toe with their 

more vaunted opponents, 

who boosted seven 

internationals in their ranks 

and gained a meritorious 

and highly deserving victory 

by two tries, courtesy of 

Joe McNeice and Mick 

O’Flaherty to a penalty goal. 

The contest was rated as 

one of the best to have been 

played in the competition, 

Mr. Godfrey Bateman the 

donor of the cup, who was 

himself a Munster man born 

in Co. Kerry, in presenting 

the trophy, warmly 

congratulated both teams. 

He continued by saying that 

as this was the first occasion 

that the cup had gone South, 

and the fact that the winners 

were now the undisputed 

champions of Irish Rugby, 

would do an immense 

amount of good for the game 

in the province. 

The victory was celebrated 

in Limerick the following 

day. As the train drew into 

the station fog signals 

exploded and thousands of 

people who congregated on 

the streets outside and on 

the platform gave vent to 

their jubilation in frequent 

rounds of cheering. The 

team were congratulated by 

the mayor (Mr.J.G.O’Brien) 

on their achievement in 

bringing the trophy South 

for the first time since it was 

presented for competition. 

The team was subsequently 

entertained to dinner at 

the Glentworth Hotel. The 

successful XV was – Murty 

King, Mick O’Flaherty, 

Martin Cosgrove, Paddy 

Deegan, Joe McNeice, Joe 

O’Dea, Michael ‘Danaher’ 

Sheehan, Charlie St.George, 

Frank Garvey, Fonnie Neilan 

(captain), Henry Raleigh, 

Tom Hickey. John Joe 

Connery, Jerry Killeen, 

James ‘Ter’ Casey. The 

referee was W. Harland 

(Ulster Branch). 

Eight years later University 

College Cork produced an 

outstanding team, a hattrick 

of senior cups, senior 

league champions, and 

charity cup wins culminated 

in a Bateman Cup success in 

1936. Five of the team were 

to represent Ireland, while 

many others wore the red 

of Munster. The defeat of 

Clontarf in the semi-final was 

something of a staggering 

surprise. There may have 

been an overwhelming 

confidence in their ranks 

that influenced them to rest 

their star player scrum half 

George Morgan, and, if so, 

they paid a galling price in 

their defeat at the hands of 

University College Galway 

by the narrowest of margins 

following extra time. 

The other semi-final proved 

to be a hectic struggle 


etween the students 

of Cork and Belfast, the 

exchanges were fought 

out with relentless vigour – 

entering the closing stages 

the southern men lost 

Laycock who was put off for 

shoving in the lineout, with 

Billy O’Sullivan and Dave 

O’Loughlin carrying injuries 

the winners had to injure 

many anxious moments 

before the referee blew for 

no side with the Cork side 

ahead on the scoreboard by 

nine points to eight. 

The efforts of the previous 

day eventually told on the 

reserves of endurance of the 

Galway students, following a 

scoreless first half, a scoring 

burst in the last quarter 

which yielded 17 points 

gave the trophy to UCC over 

their Galway counterparts. 

The College team that 

brought the first ever 

Bateman Cup to Cork was – 

Con Moloney (Roscrea), Ben 

McKenna (PBC), David Lane 

(CBC), Barry Collins (PBC), 

Joe O’Connor (Rockwell 

College), Brendan O’Brien 

captain (Blackrock College), 

Robert McClement (PBC), 

T.Reid, Denis Rearden 

(Castleknock College), 

Donagh Tierney (CBC), 

Dick Bergin (Blackrock 

College), Jack Russell (St. 

Colman’s College, Fermoy), 

Joe Laycock (Clongowes 

Wood College), Jim Buckner 

(Clongowes Wood College), 

Tom McDermott (PBC). 

In 2010, Bruff confronted 

the critics by winning 

the Munster Senior Cup 

defeating renowned cup 

fighters Garryowen in the 

first final to be staged in 

the re-furbished Thomond 

Park, many keen observers 

rated it the best deciders for 

many years, it is also worth 

noting that the winners 

are only campaigning in 

senior ranks for the last five 

seasons. They followed this 

up with a thrilling victory 

over centenary celebrating 

University College Dublin 

in the penultimate stages 

and finished the job by 

getting the better of Ulster 

representatives Dungannon 

in the final to finish off a 

memorable campaign. 

In season 2011/12 

Garryowen continued 

Munster’s dominance of 

the Ulster Bank All-Ireland 

Bateman Cup. Having 

reversed the result of the 

previous season’s Senior 

Cup final loss to Bruff, 

the light blues saw off the 

challenge of the Connacht 

representatives Buccaneers 

at Dubarry Park. 

In 2019, Garryowen claimed 

the Bateman Cup for the 

first time since 2012 with 

brothers Neil and Liam 

Cronin combining for three 

tries in their 45-21 win over 

first-time finalists City of 

Armagh last season. 

In most recent times, 

Cork Constitution shared 

the Bateman Cup with 

Lansdowne in 2020 after the 

season was cancelled due to 

the Covid-19 pandemic. This 

year, Young Munster were 

beaten by Lansdowne in the 

2022 final. 

BATEMAN ALL-IRELAND 

SENIOR CUP WINNERS 

1922 – Lansdowne 

1923 – Bective Rangers 

1924 – Queen’s University 

1925 – Bective Rangers 

1926 – Dublin University 

1927 – Instonians 

1928 – Young Munster 





1933/1934 – Suspended 

1935 – North of Ireland FC 

1936 – University College Cork 


1938 – University College Dublin 

1939 – Blackrock College 


1975 – St.Mary’s College 


2010/2011 – Bruff 

2011/2012 – Garryowen 

2012/2013 – Cork Constitution 





2017/2018 – Lansdowne 

2018/2019 – Garryowen 

2019/2020 - Cork Constitution / 

Lansdowne. 

2020/2021 - N/A. 

2021/2022 - Lansdowne.

Garryowen v Young Munster Match Programme

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