Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup State Of Play

The 2025/26 rugby season got underway in early September as round one of the Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup kicked off proceedings.

This season sees the competition return to the straight knockout format.

Round one opened on the 5th of September as last season’s runners up Old Crescent faced 2024 winners Garryowen in Takumi Park.

Tries from Gordon Wood, Fionn Rowsome and Jonathan Byrne with Lachlan Stewart kicking three conversions and a penalty added 29 points to the Dooradoyle sides score line.

While Crescent responded with tries from Daithi Byrnes and Niall Hardiman as Glen Kelly kicked a penalty and Aaron Cosgrove a conversion to bring the final score to 29-15.

The remaining six games in round one kicked off the following day as Bruff met Shannon, Cashel took on Highfield, Cork Constitution faced off with Dolphin, Midleton played Thomond, Young Munster clashed with Clonmel and last season’s champions Nenagh Ormond went toe-to-toe with UL Bohemian.

It was Shannon that saw themselves into a quarter final as they met Bruff in Kilballyowen Park. Bruff earned themselves a solid 22-10 lead as they entered the final quarter. But Shannon rallied from behind to take the victory with a final score of 22-27.

David Smith crossed the white wash twice but it was late tries from Josh Costelloe (2) and one by Jack O’Donnell with a Jamie Gavin conversion saw Shannon advance.

Conor Fitzpatrick, Wiktor Wilczuk and John Bateman were among the Bruff try scorers and Paul Collins kicked a conversion.

Highfield made the trip to Cashel where they ran out winners with a score of 12-32.

Highfield raced into a 29-0 lead with three tries from Travis Coomey and one by David O’Sullivan. Shane O’Riordan kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Fearghal O’Donoghue and Richard Moran replied with tries for Cashel and Ben Twomey kicked one conversion. Shane Buckley completed the scoring with a penalty for the visitors.

Cork Con welcomed fellow Cork side Dolphin to Temple Hill for their first round matchup which saw the home side come away with a comprehensive 38-6 win.

Daryl Foley kicked two first half penalties for Dolphin who trailed 10-6 at half time, but Constitution dominated the second half to run out comfortable winners.

George Good, Jack Kelleher, Dylan Hicks, Danny Sheahan, Darragh French and Mike Cogan were the Con’ try scorers. French kicked three conversions and Hicks one.

Midelton came out on top after an end-to-end battle with fellow Division 2C side Thomond. A penalty from Conall Doyle and a try by Ted Coleman saw Midleton open up an early 8-0 lead but tries from Ryain Ahern and Sean Rice, along with a conversion from Luke Costelloe gave Thomond a 12-8 halftime lead.

A try by Joannes du Toit, which Conall Doyle converted, restored Midleton’s advantage to three points but a Luke Costelloe penalty tied the scores before a second du Toit try saw Midleton run out as 20-15 winners.

Young Munster had a strong start to their campaign as they overcame Clonmel in Tom Clifford Park 64-0. Ihechi Oji and Hubert Gilvarry each scored two tries for the winners, and Stephen McLoughlin, Kelvin Langan, Jake O’Riordan, Fionn Gibbons, Luke McCready and Ajae Hanson were the other try scorers. Langan kicked four conversions and Henry Langbridge three.

Holders Nenagh Ormond cruised through to the last eight with a 40-17 home win against U.L. Bohemian.

Mikey Doran, Matt Burke, Patrick Scully, Derek Corcoran, Conor Shaughnessy and John O’Flaherty all scored tries for the Tipperary side and Aaron Kelly kicked five conversions.

Donnacha O’Callaghan, Darragh O’Gorman and Darren Ferrar replied with tries for Bohs and O’Gorman added a conversion.

After an exciting opening round the quarter final draw saw Nenagh Ormond face Cork Constitution, UCC take on Garryowen, Highfield went head to head with Young Munster while Midelton met Shannon.

A strong opening half saw Cork Constitution defeat title holders Nenagh Ormond 13-35 in New Ormond Park.

The visitors led 3-35 at half time with tries from Danny Sheahan, Rob Hedderman, Julian Royer, Matthew Bowen and Adam Maher. Darragh French converted all five tries. Conor McMahon kicked a penalty for Nenagh.

The only scores of the second half were two unconverted tries for the Tipperary side from Luke Kerr.

UCC were the only team to receive a bye into the quarter finals of this years competition as they welcomed Garryowen to the Mardyke. A try from Jordan Power gave the Limerick natives a 0-5 lead going into half time.

Tries from Joe Finn, Tom Ironside Wickham and Des Fitzgerald added to the sides tally while Lachlan Stewart kicked two conversions.

The students replied with tries from Kamis Novak and Tom Coughlan and Charlie O’Shea kicked a conversion to bring the final score to 12-27.

In an exciting game at Woodleigh Park, Highfield defeated Young Munster 26-25, thanks to a last-minute try from Cillian Twomey, which Shane Buckley converted.

James Cronin, Jamie Sheehan and Travis Coomy were Highfield’s other try scorers, two of which Buckley converted.

Hubert Gilvarry, Oran O’Reilly and Jake O’Riordan replied with tries for Munsters and Kelvin Langan kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Shannon booked their semi-final spot with a 24-0 away win at Midleton. Harry Long and Matt Te Pou scored tries for Shannon, who were also awarded a penalty try. Cillian O’Connor converted both tries and also kicked a penalty.

The draw for the Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup semi finals will take place this evening.