Garryowen Win 38th ODM Financial Senior Cup Title

Garryowen got sweet revenge for last season’s ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup Final defeat by Bruff, when they deprived the County Limerick side of back to back wins with a deserved win under the Thomond Park lights.

Bruff 9, Garryowen 19;
Bruff not alone lost their Munster crown but also their All Ireland Ulster Bank Bateman Cup title.

Like their semi final victory over Cashel, Garryowen made a blistering start and were 11-0 ahead inside the opening fifteen minutes. Fergal Lawlor opened the scoring with a penalty on eight minutes. Three minutes later Ronan O’Mahony went in for an unconverted try. Lawlor extended their advantage with his second penalty shortly after.

Brian Cahill opened Bruff’s account with a penalty mid way through the half to leave Garryowen 11-3 ahead at half time.

Cahill closed the gap to five with his second penalty on fifty eight minutes. Corey Hircock went in for Garryowen’s second try on sixty four minutes to leave it 16-6.

Cahill added his third penalty three minutes later to keep the holders in contention.

Fergal Lawlor put the game beyond the Co Limerick side with his third penalty four minutes from time to give Garryowen their thirty sixth title.

Garryowen will travel to the Connacht champions in January in the semi final of the Ulster Bank Bateman Cup.

Bruff: Andrew Cashman; Mark Cosgrave, Brian Carroll, John Carroll, Tom O’Callaghan; Tony Cahill (Capt), Eoghan Maher; David Horan, Cathal O’ Regan, Stephen Foster; Maurice O’ Connell, Alan Bourke; Peter Malone, John Shine, Michael Carroll.
Replacements: John Horgan, Ger Collins, Brian Morrissey, Padraig Cleary, Garry Leonard, Nigel Riordan, Paul O’Brien.

Garryowen: Lorcan Burke; Ronan O’Mahony, Ian Hanley, Corey Hircock, Alan Gaughan; Conan Doyle (Capt), Fergal Lawlor; J P Cooney, James Rael, Declan Lavery; Frank McKenna, Mark Melbourne; Paul Neville, Kieran O’Gorman, Le Meki Vai Pulu.
Replacements: Alan McMahon, Michael Kennedy, Alan Kennedy, Shane Buckley, Conor Hartigan, Neil Cronin, Adam O’Loughlin.

Referee: Frank Butler (M.A.R.)