Thomond RFC v UL Bohemian RFC

Sunday 2^nd October 2005

Clifford Park, 2.30pm

Thomond RFC and UL Bohemian RFC will contest the 81^st Limerick Charity Cup final at Clifford Park on Sunday, in a repeat of their last weekend s clash in the first round of the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup. On that occasion, UL Bohemians got the upper hand, winning 18-12. However, Thomond will be determined to reverse that result and pick up their fourth Charity Cup title.

The two clubs have a long history in the competition and this year s final is a repeat of the 2002, with Thomond 27-21 victors on that occasion, adding a third title to their two Charity Cup titles won as a Junior club. Before the amalgamation of UL and Bohemians, Bohemians won the Charity Cup seven times, and were one of the finalists of the very first final, losing to Garryowen on that occasion. Although having competed in three finals since the amalgamation, UL Bohemians have yet to come away with the prize.

It is interesting to note that both finalists have competed away form home in their two games to date in this year s competition. Thomond defeated Nenagh Ormond 17-3 in the quarter final, and went onto beat Young Munster by just one point in the semi final, on a 16-15 score line. UL Bohemian ended Garryowen s title hopes in the quarter final with a 20-3 victory, and won 47-31 away to Bruff in the semi final.

Originally known as the Hospital Cup, the competition was introduced in 1924 by Garryowen s Jack O Sullivan to raise funds for Barrington and St. John s Hospital in Limerick. A dynamic character, Jack was a founder playing member of Garryowen, going onto play for Munster and winning two Irish caps. He also won five Munster Senior Cup medals. He went onto become President of Garryowen, the Munster Branch and the Union, and was responsible for bringing the first international game to Limerick in the late 1800 s, with Ireland playing Wales on that occasion. The name of the competition changed five years after it was introduced to encapsulate other charities that became involved. Garryowen were the first winners of the competition, and hold the record for the most titles, winning 24 in total. Young Munster have won the Limerick Charity Cup 20 times.

With thanks to Michael O Flaherty