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BANK OF IRELAND<br />

MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP<br />

FINAL 2023/2024<br />

GARRYOWEN FC<br />

VERSUS<br />

CORK CONSTITUTION FC<br />

SUNDAY 17TH MARCH | THOMOND PARK | KO 3PM<br />

#MSCC<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 1


<strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong> is regulated by the Central <strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong>.<br />

2 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


PRESIDENT’S<br />

MESSAGE<br />

On behalf of <strong>Munster</strong> Rugby, I would like to<br />

welcome you all to this afternoon’s <strong>Bank</strong> of<br />

<strong>Ireland</strong> <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Challenge</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>Final</strong><br />

between Garryowen and Cork Constitution.<br />

This <strong>Cup</strong> has been in existence for the past<br />

138 years. In that time, these two clubs have<br />

been the most successful in the competition.<br />

Garryowen has achieved a remarkable 39<br />

successes and Cork Constitution a total of<br />

30. These are wonderful achievements for<br />

two clubs when one considers the history and<br />

competitiveness of the competition between<br />

all the clubs in <strong>Munster</strong>. It still remains the Blue<br />

Riband of <strong>Munster</strong> Rugby.<br />

I wish to thank the Competitions Committee<br />

and the <strong>Senior</strong> Clubs Committee for organising<br />

and managing the cup fixtures this year and<br />

devising a new and innovative format which<br />

ensured competitive games for all clubs<br />

involved.<br />

Best wishes to international referee, George<br />

Clancy and to his team, Kevin Coffey and John<br />

Lillis, in today’s <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>Final</strong>.<br />

I would also like to thank the <strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong> for<br />

their ongoing sponsorship of this competition<br />

and indeed their overall support for <strong>Munster</strong><br />

Rugby. Their loyalty and commitment is much<br />

appreciated.<br />

I would like to wish all the players, coaches<br />

and management of both clubs best wishes<br />

for today’s game and I am confident they<br />

will uphold the traditions and history of this<br />

enduring competition.<br />

Michael Carroll<br />

President,<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> Branch IRFU<br />

President Michael Carroll Vice President Brendan Foley Junior Vice President Sean Loftus<br />

Hon. Secretary Muiris Mahon Hon. Treasurer Tom Kinirons Chief Executive <strong>Of</strong>ficer Ian Flanagan<br />

Head Coach Graham Rowntree Team Manager Niall O’Donovan<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 3


MUNSTER SENIOR CUP A TO Z<br />

By Frank Byford,<br />

Former Hon. Secretary,<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> Branch<br />

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

Highfield who were making their initial appearance in the decider at Thomond Park,<br />

the successful XV was Paddy Downes, Paddy Moran (captain), Christy English, Basil<br />

Fitzgibbon, Maurice Mortell, Mick English, Tom Cleary, William Slattery, Dermot Geary,<br />

John Nagle, John Mulcahy, Ted Watson, John Ryan, Caleb Powell, Billy Hurley.<br />

B - Bandon under the captaincy of Frank Levis became the first winners of the trophy in<br />

1886 defeating Garryowen in a replay at the Cork Park.<br />

C - <strong>Cup</strong>, the original trophy in 1886 was procured through the house of Messrs Martin Hall<br />

& Co. of Sheffield. It was made specially to order and was described as ‘a valuable prize<br />

and a beautiful exhibition of the silversmith’s art and skill’. It was valued at £65 sterling.<br />

When the Branch replaced the famous old trophy in 1994, the cost had risen to 13K punts.<br />

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

RFC, Clanwilliam FC v Tralee RFC, Cork Football Club v Bandon RFC and Queen’s College<br />

RFC v Limerick Football Club.<br />

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

meeting of Cork Constitution and Highfield - Tony Loughry landed the equalising penalty<br />

from the half way line with the last kick of the match, the ball going over after hitting the<br />

crossbar – it was all the more remarkable as Loughry had been down injured for what<br />

seemed like ages, before he was helped from the ground, dusted himself down before he<br />

earned the ‘field’ a deserved draw.<br />

F - Fire Station, Roches Street, Limerick, was the venue for the draw for the initial<br />

competition in 1886.<br />

G - Garryowen FC, found in 1884, became the first Limerick side to lift the trophy in 1889,<br />

going on a dominant run with a further eight triumphs before the turn of the century.<br />

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

O’Brien, Tony Loughry, Gary O’Reilly, Pierce McNamara, Donal Kiely, Billy O’Lehan, Finny<br />

Pope, Sean Hayes, Liam Ormonde, Jim Dennehy, Joe McDonnell (captain), Dougie<br />

Burke, Denis Dennehy, Terry Moore, Gary ‘Hank’ O’Reilly.<br />

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

Markets Field, Limerick when Garryowen beat Nenagh Ormond by two goals and three<br />

tries to nil.<br />

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

Garryowen XV in Limerick.<br />

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

University College Cork, and the remainder with Cork Constitution, while his brother Jim<br />

was on the successful winning UCC (1955) and Cork Constitution (1957) XVs.<br />

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

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

and Cork Constitution decider.<br />

4 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


M - Midleton RFC reached the final of the competition in 2003, their only appearance<br />

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

scoreline.<br />

N - Noel Glynn had the honour of leading Shannon to victory over Garryowen in the 1986<br />

final, the centenary year of the competition.<br />

O - Old Crescent have yet to win the trophy, having been losing finalists in 1955, 1962 and<br />

2009.<br />

P - Personalities who have won senior cup medals include John Skehan (Radio Eireann<br />

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

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

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

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

cup final in Cork.<br />

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

players at the time was Eamonn de Valera, who was later to become leader of Fianna Fail<br />

and then President of <strong>Ireland</strong>.<br />

S - Suspended – following a drawn final in 1892 between Garryowen and Queen’s College<br />

Cork, it transpired that the replay never took place, as both clubs could not agree on<br />

a venue. Subsequently the <strong>Munster</strong> Football <strong>Challenge</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> committee declared the<br />

competition null and void.<br />

T - This evening’s match sees Cork Constitution go for their 31st title.<br />

U - University College Cork XV won the trophy in 1976 against Dolphin which was the last<br />

occasion of an all Cork final – Joe Fitzgerald, Danny Buckley, Peter Rolls, Pat Parfrey,<br />

Jack Shorten, Moss Finn, Eddie Cogan, Paul Turner, Gerry Hurley, Garrett Fitzgerald,<br />

Charlie McCarthy, Jerry Holland, Christy Cantillon, Richard Kennefick (captain), Anthony<br />

O’Leary.<br />

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

Garryowen had 29 points to spare over Shannon in the final.<br />

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

Cork Constitution – the laurels going to the Temple Hill side who were led by Noel<br />

Murphy.<br />

X - XV - Dolphin team who won the club’s last <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> in 1956 after defeating<br />

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

Dave McCormick, Norman Colman (Captain), Tim Harrington, Derry Donnery, Dave Barry,<br />

Bob Dowley, Mick Sullivan, Jerry O’Sullivan, Jerry Healy, Dick Hyde, Paddy O’Callaghan.<br />

Y - Young <strong>Munster</strong> bridged a gap of 42 years in 1980, when they regained the trophy at<br />

the expense of Bohemians, the successful XV - Ger McNamara, Michael Moore, Pat Cross,<br />

Francis Brosnihan, Derek McCarthy, Gerry Casey, Eddie Costello, Branden O’Connor, Pat<br />

McGrath, John Murphy, Richie Daly (captain), Brian O’Connor, Eamonn Madden, Michael<br />

Sheehan, Jim McNamara. It is worth noting that on the following day John Murphy won a<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> Junior <strong>Cup</strong> medal with Thomond.<br />

Z - Zero score, of the 125 finals to date only seven have finished scoreless, those being in<br />

1886, 1890, 1892, 1907, 1914 and 1933 (twice).<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 5


PREVIOUS SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS<br />

1886 Bandon<br />

1887 Queen’s College, Cork<br />

1888 Queen’s College, Cork<br />

1889Garryowen<br />

1890 Garryowen<br />

1891 Garryowen<br />

1892 Not Awarded<br />

1893 Garryowen<br />

1894 Garryowen<br />

1895 Garryowen<br />

1896 Garryowen<br />

1897 Queen’s College,Cork<br />

1898 Garryowen<br />

1899 Garryowen<br />

1900 Queen’s College,Cork<br />

1901 Queen’s College,Cork<br />

1902 Garryowen<br />

1903 Garryowen<br />

1904 Garryowen<br />

1905 Cork Constitution<br />

1906 Cork Constitution<br />

1907 Cork Constitution<br />

1908 Garryowen<br />

1909 Garryowen<br />

1910 Cork Constitution<br />

1911 Garryowen<br />

1912 UCC<br />

1913 UCC<br />

1914 Garryowen<br />

1915-19 Suspended<br />

1920 Garryowen<br />

1921 Dolphin<br />

1922 Cork Constitution<br />

1923 Cork Constitution<br />

1924 Garryowen<br />

1925 Garryowen<br />

1926 Garryowen<br />

1927 Bohemian<br />

1928 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1929 Cork Constitution<br />

1930 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1931 Dolphin<br />

1932 Garryowen<br />

1933 Cork Constitution<br />

1934 Garryowen<br />

1935 UCC<br />

1936 UCC<br />

1937 UCC<br />

1938 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1939 UCC<br />

1940 Garryowen<br />

1941 UCC<br />

1942 CorkConstitution<br />

1943 Cork Constitution<br />

1944 Dolphin<br />

1945 Dolphin<br />

1946 Cork Constitution<br />

1947 Garryowen<br />

1948 Dolphin<br />

1949 Sunday’s Well<br />

1950 UCC 1951 UCC<br />

1952 Garryowen<br />

1953 Sunday’s Well<br />

1954 Garryowen<br />

1955 UCC<br />

1956 Dolphin<br />

1957 Cork Constitution<br />

1958 Bohemian<br />

1959 Bohemian<br />

1960 Shannon<br />

1961 Cork Constitution<br />

1962 Bohemian<br />

1963 UCC<br />

1964 Cork Constitution<br />

1965 Cork Constitution<br />

1966 Highfield<br />

1967 Cork Constitution<br />

1968 Highfield<br />

1969 Garryowen<br />

1970 Cork Constitution<br />

1971 Garryowen<br />

1972 Cork Constitution<br />

1973 Cork Constitution<br />

1974 Garryowen<br />

1975 Garryowen<br />

1976 UCC<br />

1977 Shannon<br />

1978 Shannon<br />

1979 Garryowen<br />

1980 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1981 UCC<br />

1982 Shannon<br />

1983 Cork Constitution<br />

1984 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1985 Cork Constitution<br />

1986 Shannon<br />

1987 Shannon<br />

1988 Shannon<br />

1989 Cork Constitution<br />

1990 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1991 Shannon<br />

1992 Shannon<br />

1993 Garryowen<br />

1994 Sunday’s Well<br />

1995 Garryowen<br />

1996 Shannon<br />

1997 Garryowen<br />

1998 Shannon<br />

1999 Garryowen<br />

2000 Shannon<br />

2001 Shannon<br />

2002 Shannon<br />

2003 Shannon<br />

2004 Shannon<br />

2005 Shannon<br />

2006 Shannon<br />

2007 Garryowen<br />

2008 Shannon<br />

2009 Cork Constitution<br />

2010 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

2011 Bruff<br />

2012 Garryowen<br />

2013 Cork Constitution<br />

2014 Cork Constitution<br />

2015 Cork Constitution<br />

2016 Cork Constitution<br />

2017 Cork Constitution<br />

2018 Garryowen<br />

2018/19 Cork Constitution<br />

2019/20 Cork Constitution<br />

2020/21 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

2021/22 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

2022/23 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

6 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


GARRYOWEN FC<br />

FINAL STAGES<br />

SEMI-FINAL Garryowen 39 – 10 Bruff<br />

GROUP STAGE<br />

UCC 24 – 36 Garryowen,<br />

Cashel 5 – 34 Garryowen,<br />

Garryowen 5 – 15 Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

CORK CONSTITUTION FC<br />

FINAL STAGES<br />

SEMI-FINAL: Old Crescent 10 – 48 Cork Constitution<br />

GROUP STAGE<br />

Cork Constitution 34 – 17 Shannon<br />

Cork Constitution 28 – 11 Nenagh Ormond<br />

Highfield 20 – 36 Cork Constitution<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 7


GARRYOWEN FC<br />

15. Colm Hogan<br />

14. Gordon Wood<br />

13. Brian Fitzgerald (C)<br />

12. Jack Delaney<br />

11. Colm Quilligan<br />

10. Kelvin Langan<br />

9. Neil Cronin<br />

1. George Hadden<br />

2. Max Clein<br />

3. Oisin Kearney<br />

4. Cian Hurley<br />

5. Kevin Seymour<br />

6. Jeronimo Ureta Saenz Pena<br />

7. Jack Daly<br />

8. Donnacha Byrne<br />

Replacements:<br />

16. Dean Fanning<br />

17. Darragh McCarthy<br />

18. Des Fitzgerald<br />

19. Sean Rennison<br />

20. Jonathan Keane<br />

21. Jack Oliver<br />

22. Nicky Greene<br />

Match O<br />

Referee: Ge<br />

AR1: Kev<br />

AR2: Jo<br />

No.4 Colin O’S<br />

Teams correct at time of publication<br />

8<br />

WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


CORK CONSTITUTION FC<br />

fficials<br />

orge Clancy<br />

in Coffey<br />

hn Lillis<br />

haughnessy<br />

15. Rob Hedderman<br />

14. Rob Jermyn<br />

13. Daniel Hurley<br />

12. Harry O’Riordan<br />

11. Matthew Bowen<br />

10. Te Atawhai Mason<br />

9. Adam Maher<br />

1. Brendan Quinlan<br />

2. Billy Scannell<br />

3. Luke Masters<br />

4. Sean Duffy<br />

5. John Forde<br />

6. Jack Kelleher<br />

7. Ronan O’Sullivan<br />

8. Dave Hyland (C)<br />

Replacements:<br />

16. Gordon Good<br />

17. Mark Donnelly<br />

18. Charlie Connolly<br />

19. Kamil Nowak<br />

20. Matisee Lamarque D’Arrouzat<br />

21. Louis Kahn<br />

22. Johnny Murphy<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24<br />

9


©Kieran Ryan-Benson<br />

PLAYER’S WORD<br />

OISIN KEARNEY<br />

Garryowen<br />

“Yeah it’s a hugely exciting time for<br />

the club at the minute. We’re having<br />

a good campaign and a good run of<br />

games so hopefully we can put on<br />

a good performance for all of our<br />

supporters.<br />

“Cork Con are a very exciting and<br />

good team. We obviously have had<br />

a good run of performances in our<br />

past few games so hopefully we<br />

can use that confidence to put on a<br />

good result against them.<br />

“They’re in second place at the<br />

minute so it will be a huge test for<br />

us and hopefully we can get a good<br />

result. They’re a big team up front<br />

and have exciting backs so we just<br />

have to put our best foot forward to<br />

get a result against them.<br />

“It would mean a hell of a lot to the<br />

club, obviously we didn’t do too<br />

well last year so we could top off St<br />

Patrick’s Day by winning the cup to<br />

show how much progress and hard<br />

work we have put in, it would be a<br />

good reward all round.”<br />

DAVE HYLAND<br />

Cork Constitution<br />

“It’s a really exciting time for us.<br />

We’re delighted to be back in a<br />

<strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> final. It’s a competition<br />

that means a huge amount to the<br />

club and we’re hoping our form in<br />

1A will transfer to the final.<br />

“We would be delighted to have it<br />

back in Cork, it’s probably been in<br />

Limerick a bit too long for our liking<br />

anyway! We’re definitely looking<br />

forward to the final.<br />

“We spoke about it a lot before the<br />

season, our goals and what we<br />

want to achieve this season and the<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> was up there<br />

with the AIL in terms of what we<br />

want to do so we’re really looking<br />

forward to this.<br />

“We’re well aware of Garryowen’s<br />

form at the moment and the<br />

strengths they have. It’s going to be<br />

a physical game in Thomond and it<br />

will be very close I’d say.<br />

“It would mean a huge amount. We<br />

have spoken a lot about the history<br />

of the competition and what it<br />

meant to previous generations and<br />

what it means to the current group<br />

so it would mean a huge amount.”<br />

WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


MATCH PREVIEW<br />

By Eolan Allen<br />

Whichever of the two clubs who<br />

will win Sunday’s <strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong><br />

<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Challenge</strong> <strong>Cup</strong><br />

clash in the iconic Thomond Park<br />

Stadium, in doing so, they will be<br />

ending the recent dominance of<br />

Young <strong>Munster</strong> who claimed a hattrick<br />

of titles.<br />

Con’ were the last team to win<br />

before the Cookies while the Light<br />

Blues came closest to usurping<br />

them in the final two years ago,<br />

with a narrow three-point loss in a<br />

compelling tight decider.<br />

This season saw a new structure to<br />

the competition with the opening<br />

round divided into two groups of<br />

four and two groups of three with<br />

the winners progressing to the<br />

semis.<br />

Garryowen looked like they weren’t<br />

going to make it to Sunday’s<br />

final with a 15-5 opening loss to<br />

holders Young <strong>Munster</strong> with Bryan<br />

Fitzgerald scoring a try for the<br />

Dooradoyle outfit.<br />

Garryowen did ensure that their<br />

title hopes were retained with two<br />

big victories. In Round Two they<br />

overcame Cashel 36-5 but it was<br />

UCC’s surprise success over Young<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> that re-opened the path for<br />

Garryowen to progress.<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 11


They faced the Cork students in<br />

the last round of group games with<br />

the three sides still in contention. It<br />

was an enthralling back and forth<br />

game. Garryowen pulled away at<br />

the end with Jerónomi Pena scoring<br />

two tries with Kyle Read, JJ O’Neill,<br />

Colm Quilligan and Nick Greene<br />

getting one each as they eventually<br />

pulled away to secure a vital bonuspoint<br />

36-24 victory to progress to<br />

the last four.<br />

Cork Constitution meanwhile did<br />

have a tough series of games<br />

themselves but it was relatively<br />

smoother as they won out in all<br />

three games to be clear at the top<br />

of their group. Their campaign<br />

started with a tough local derby at<br />

Highfield. The Temple Hill scored<br />

five tries in a 36-20 win courtesy of<br />

two by Matthew Bowen and one<br />

each from Luke Kerr, Daniel Hurley<br />

and James Taylor who also kicked<br />

11 points.<br />

Con’ then went on to win their<br />

two home games. Firstly against<br />

Nenagh Ormond. After a tight firsthalf<br />

that saw the Cork side hold a<br />

narrow 11-8 lead, they pulled away<br />

after the break to win 28-11; with<br />

Max Abbot scoring two of Con’s<br />

four tries.<br />

The final game was a showdown<br />

with fellow Division 1A side<br />

Shannon. With tries shared about<br />

between Bowen, Taylor, Dan Hurley,<br />

Jack Kelleher and Ronan O’Sullivan,<br />

they won out 34-17.<br />

Con’ travelled to Old Crescent<br />

in the first semi-final and put in<br />

a complete dominant display to<br />

emerge victorious 48-10. Crescent<br />

did enjoy a great campaign but the<br />

class difference was clear as the<br />

visitors ran in eight tries; with Billy<br />

Crowley scoring two of these.<br />

Garryowen faced Division 2C side<br />

Bruff in the second semi-final and<br />

had a similar type of victory as<br />

they won out 39-10. Sean Rennison<br />

ran in two tries for the city side<br />

with Jack Delaney, Kyle Read, Des<br />

Fitzgerald and Donncha Byrne also<br />

touching down.<br />

It will be the first clash of the two<br />

clubs this season. Garryowen are<br />

pushing for a promotion play-off<br />

spot in Division 1B of the Energia<br />

Men’s All <strong>Ireland</strong> League while<br />

Con’ in Division 1A have virtually<br />

secured a title play-off spot and will<br />

push hard for a home play-off spot.<br />

It should be a tough encounter<br />

between these two historic rivals.<br />

12 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


Terenure College vs Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

Energia Bateman <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>Final</strong> 2023/24, Lakelands Park, Dublin<br />

A HISTORY OF THE BATEMAN CUP<br />

by Frank Byford<br />

The <strong>Cup</strong> was presented<br />

to the IRFU by Godfrey<br />

Bateman, in memory of his<br />

sons Major Reginald John<br />

Godfrey Bateman, Canadian<br />

Infantry, who was killed in<br />

battle, in Dury, France, on<br />

the 3rd of September 1918,<br />

aged 34, and Captain Arthur<br />

Cyril Bateman, M.B. Dublin<br />

University, who died near<br />

Cambrai in France on 28th<br />

March 1918.<br />

The competition was<br />

played annually between<br />

the four provincial <strong>Senior</strong><br />

<strong>Cup</strong> winners on the last<br />

weekend of the season, with<br />

the exception of 1933 and<br />

1934 when a number of the<br />

provincial cup campaigns<br />

had not been completed<br />

on time. The tournament<br />

was finally terminated at<br />

the outbreak of the Second<br />

World War owing to the<br />

restriction on travel.<br />

Garryowen Football Club<br />

ran a once off Bateman<br />

<strong>Cup</strong> style competition in<br />

the spring of 1975, this in<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 13


conjunction with the IRFU<br />

Centenary Celebrations, the<br />

laurels eventually rested with<br />

St. Mary’s College.<br />

For the season 2010/11,<br />

the IRFU reverted back to<br />

the provincial structure<br />

having run with an open<br />

draw All-<strong>Ireland</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong><br />

competition for the five<br />

previous seasons.<br />

The Trophy has come to<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> on 11 occasions<br />

– Young <strong>Munster</strong> in 1928,<br />

University College Cork<br />

eight years later, Bruff in<br />

2011, Garryowen in 2012 and<br />

2019, and Cork Constitution<br />

in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,<br />

2017 and 2020 (shared with<br />

Lansdowne).<br />

Cork Constitution (1922),<br />

Garryowen (1925) and (1926)<br />

all fell to Leinster opposition<br />

at the final hurdle, before<br />

Young <strong>Munster</strong> came in<br />

1928, the boys from the<br />

‘Yellow Road’ won the<br />

<strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> for the<br />

first time in thrilling fashion<br />

that year. Many pundits<br />

were of the opinion that this<br />

would be the limit of their<br />

ambitions, however, they<br />

surprised all and sundry by<br />

going on and winning the<br />

coveted trophy.<br />

Lansdowne who had<br />

enjoyed a very successful<br />

season, losing only 5 of<br />

their 29 starts were the<br />

warmest of favourites<br />

to lift the trophy for the<br />

second time. As Instonians<br />

the Ulster standard<br />

bearers had withdrawn<br />

from the competition, the<br />

headquarters side were<br />

expected to have an easy<br />

passage. Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

having got the better of<br />

the rugged challenge of<br />

Galwegians the previous day<br />

stood toe to toe with their<br />

more vaunted opponents,<br />

who boosted seven<br />

internationals in their ranks<br />

and gained a meritorious<br />

and highly deserving victory<br />

by two tries, courtesy of<br />

Joe McNeice and Mick<br />

O’Flaherty to a penalty goal.<br />

The contest was rated as<br />

one of the best to have been<br />

played in the competition,<br />

Mr. Godfrey Bateman the<br />

donor of the cup, who was<br />

himself a <strong>Munster</strong> man born<br />

in Co. Kerry, in presenting<br />

the trophy, warmly<br />

congratulated both teams.<br />

He continued by saying that<br />

as this was the first occasion<br />

that the cup had gone South,<br />

and the fact that the winners<br />

were now the undisputed<br />

champions of Irish Rugby,<br />

would do an immense<br />

amount of good for the game<br />

in the province.<br />

The victory was celebrated<br />

in Limerick the following<br />

day. As the train drew into<br />

the station fog signals<br />

exploded and thousands of<br />

people who congregated on<br />

the streets outside and on<br />

the platform gave vent to<br />

their jubilation in frequent<br />

rounds of cheering. The<br />

team were congratulated by<br />

the mayor (Mr.J.G.O’Brien)<br />

on their achievement in<br />

bringing the trophy South<br />

for the first time since it was<br />

presented for competition.<br />

The team was subsequently<br />

entertained to dinner at<br />

the Glentworth Hotel. The<br />

successful XV was – Murty<br />

King, Mick O’Flaherty,<br />

Martin Cosgrove, Paddy<br />

Deegan, Joe McNeice, Joe<br />

O’Dea, Michael ‘Danaher’<br />

Sheehan, Charlie St.George,<br />

Frank Garvey, Fonnie Neilan<br />

(captain), Henry Raleigh,<br />

Tom Hickey. John Joe<br />

Connery, Jerry Killeen,<br />

James ‘Ter’ Casey. The<br />

referee was W. Harland<br />

(Ulster Branch).<br />

Eight years later University<br />

College Cork produced an<br />

outstanding team, a hattrick<br />

of senior cups, senior<br />

league champions, and<br />

charity cup wins culminated<br />

in a Bateman <strong>Cup</strong> success in<br />

1936. Five of the team were<br />

to represent <strong>Ireland</strong>, while<br />

many others wore the red<br />

of <strong>Munster</strong>. The defeat of<br />

Clontarf in the semi-final was<br />

something of a staggering<br />

surprise. There may have<br />

been an overwhelming<br />

confidence in their ranks<br />

that influenced them to rest<br />

their star player scrum half<br />

George Morgan, and, if so,<br />

they paid a galling price in<br />

their defeat at the hands of<br />

University College Galway<br />

by the narrowest of margins<br />

following extra time.<br />

The other semi-final proved<br />

to be a hectic struggle<br />

between the students<br />

of Cork and Belfast, the<br />

exchanges were fought<br />

out with relentless vigour –<br />

entering the closing stages<br />

the southern men lost<br />

Laycock who was put off for<br />

shoving in the lineout, with<br />

Billy O’Sullivan and Dave<br />

O’Loughlin carrying injuries<br />

the winners had to injure<br />

many anxious moments<br />

before the referee blew for<br />

14 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE


no side with the Cork side<br />

ahead on the scoreboard by<br />

nine points to eight.<br />

The efforts of the previous<br />

day eventually told on the<br />

reserves of endurance of the<br />

Galway students, following a<br />

scoreless first half, a scoring<br />

burst in the last quarter<br />

which yielded 17 points<br />

gave the trophy to UCC over<br />

their Galway counterparts.<br />

The College team that<br />

brought the first ever<br />

Bateman <strong>Cup</strong> to Cork was –<br />

Con Moloney (Roscrea), Ben<br />

McKenna (PBC), David Lane<br />

(CBC), Barry Collins (PBC),<br />

Joe O’Connor (Rockwell<br />

College), Brendan O’Brien<br />

captain (Blackrock College),<br />

Robert McClement (PBC),<br />

T.Reid, Denis Rearden<br />

(Castleknock College),<br />

Donagh Tierney (CBC),<br />

Dick Bergin (Blackrock<br />

College), Jack Russell (St.<br />

Colman’s College, Fermoy),<br />

Joe Laycock (Clongowes<br />

Wood College), Jim Buckner<br />

(Clongowes Wood College),<br />

Tom McDermott (PBC).<br />

In 2010, Bruff confronted<br />

the critics by winning<br />

the <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Senior</strong> <strong>Cup</strong><br />

defeating renowned cup<br />

fighters Garryowen in the<br />

first final to be staged in<br />

the re-furbished Thomond<br />

Park, many keen observers<br />

rated it the best deciders for<br />

many years, it is also worth<br />

noting that the winners<br />

are only campaigning in<br />

senior ranks for the last five<br />

seasons. They followed this<br />

up with a thrilling victory<br />

over centenary celebrating<br />

University College Dublin<br />

in the penultimate stages<br />

and finished the job by<br />

getting the better of Ulster<br />

representatives Dungannon<br />

in the final to finish off a<br />

memorable campaign.<br />

In season 2011/12<br />

Garryowen continued<br />

<strong>Munster</strong>’s dominance of<br />

the Ulster <strong>Bank</strong> All-<strong>Ireland</strong><br />

Bateman <strong>Cup</strong>. Having<br />

reversed the result of the<br />

previous season’s <strong>Senior</strong><br />

<strong>Cup</strong> final loss to Bruff,<br />

the light blues saw off the<br />

challenge of the Connacht<br />

representatives Buccaneers<br />

at Dubarry Park.<br />

In 2019, Garryowen claimed<br />

the Bateman <strong>Cup</strong> for the<br />

first time since 2012 with<br />

brothers Neil and Liam<br />

Cronin combining for three<br />

tries in their 45-21 win over<br />

first-time finalists City of<br />

Armagh last season.<br />

In most recent times,<br />

Cork Constitution shared<br />

the Bateman <strong>Cup</strong> with<br />

Lansdowne in 2020 after the<br />

season was cancelled due to<br />

the Covid-19 pandemic. This<br />

year, Young <strong>Munster</strong> lost out<br />

to Terenure College 22-15 in<br />

the final.<br />

BATEMAN ALL-IRELAND<br />

SENIOR CUP WINNERS<br />

1922 – Lansdowne<br />

1923 – Bective Rangers<br />

1924 – Queen’s University<br />

1925 – Bective Rangers<br />

1926 – Dublin University<br />

1927 – Instonians<br />

1928 – Young <strong>Munster</strong><br />

1929 – Lansdowne<br />

1930 – Lansdowne<br />

1931 – Lansdowne<br />

1932 – Queen’s University<br />

1933/1934 – Suspended<br />

1935 – North of <strong>Ireland</strong> FC<br />

1936 – University College Cork<br />

1937 – Queen’s University<br />

1938 – University College Dublin<br />

1939 – Blackrock College<br />

1940/1974 – Suspended<br />

1975 – St.Mary’s College<br />

1976/2009 – Suspended<br />

2010/2011 – Bruff<br />

2011/2012 – Garryowen<br />

2012/2013 – Cork Constitution<br />

2013/2014 – Cork Constitution<br />

2014/2015 – Cork Constitution<br />

2015/2016 – Cork Constitution<br />

2016/2017 – Cork Constitution<br />

2017/2018 – Lansdowne<br />

2018/2019 – Garryowen<br />

2019/2020 - Cork Constitution /<br />

Lansdowne.<br />

2020/2021 - N/A.<br />

2021/2022 - Lansdowne.<br />

2022/2023 Terenure College<br />

2023/24 Terenure College<br />

BANK OF IRELAND MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP 2023/24 15


<strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong> is regulated by the Central <strong>Bank</strong> of <strong>Ireland</strong>.<br />

16 WWW.MUNSTERRUGBY.IE

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