Domestic Season Review | Adult Rugby

It has been a fantastic season for adult rugby throughout the province with a huge number of exciting games and finals taking place over the last year.

Here, we take a look back at the winners from the 2024/25 season, highlighting the stand-out moments and clubs who performed exceptionally across the province.

Senior Clubs

Cork Constitution found themselves in yet another Men’s AIL final this year as they took on Dublin side Clontarf in the Aviva Stadium.

Con finished third in the table with 12 wins, a draw and five losses but overcame St. Marys College in the semi-final to book their spot in the Aviva for the second year in a row.

But it was not to be for the Leesiders this year as they were beaten 22-21 in an end to end final.

Elsewhere in Division 1A Young Munster finished in 7th position with a total of 7 wins and 11 losses, while freshly promoted Garryowen finished bottom of the table and will return to 1B next season having won 3 games and suffering 15 losses.

Nenagh Ormond were the stand out stars of this season and will now become the first ever Tipperary team to join 1A next season. The team finished second in the table with 12 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses. They then went on to beat UCC 36-33 to write themselves into AIL history. On top of this they also overcame Old Crescent to secure their first ever Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup title.

UCC finished the season in fourth place and will see out another season in 1B. While Highfield finished in 8th.

Shannon will return to Division 2A next year after finishing at the bottom of the 1B table.

In 2A Cashel finished in 2nd while Old Crescent ended the season in 7th.

UL Bohemian will remain the only Munster team in 2B for the second year in a row as they finished out the season in 6th.

While in Divison 2C Midleton finished 2nd in the table with Dolphin just three points behind them in 3rd. Clonmel saw out the season in 6th place while Bruff finished 8th.

Thomond will make their return to AIL next season after a six year absence after a thrilling 23-15 play-off final win against Omagh Academicals of Tyrone.

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UL Bohemians were crowned WAIL champions for the second year in a row as they met rivals Railway Union in a repeat of last year’s final. A try from Eilish Cahill just before the final whistle saw the Limerick natives take the win with a score line of 24-29.

Elsewhere in the women’s AIL Ballincollig finished in 6th with 4 wins, a draw and 13 losses.

Junior Rugby

After the disappointment of losing out in AIL glory, Cork Constitution turned things around in just a week to secure themselves the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup as they overcame Old Crescent in Virgin Media Park.

Clanwilliam were this year’s winners of the Junior Plate while Youghal beat fellow East Munster natives Waterford City to take the Junior Bowl.

In the Junior League Thomond were victorious in Division 1, Old Christians took the spoils in Division 2 and Carrick on Suir took the Division 3 crown.

Thomond were also winners of the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup while Charleville & District took home the Plate.

Women’s Rugby

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Ennis-Kilrush had another cracker of a year as they won the coveted three-peat in both the league and the cup.

Their third year in existence also saw the side qualify for next season’s WAIL for the very first time.

The West Clare side also found success in the Munster Open Cup final securing them a clean sweep of silverware for the year.

Elsewhere in Division 2 of the league Clonakilty claimed the spoils while Bruff earned themselves the Division 2 Cup.

The Munster Open Bowl then headed to Kerry as Tralee overcame Dolphin in UL.