Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Final
Garryowen FC v Cork Constitution FC
Garryowen FC v Cork Constitution FC
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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 />
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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 />
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