Heineken Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup Final

Cobh Pirates and Crosshaven are set to fight it out for another piece of silverware this weekend, as the final of the Heineken Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup takes place at Musgrave Park on Sunday.

Crosshaven have already got the better of their East Cork rivals in one competition this season, as they managed to narrowly claim the Division One Title in a campaign that went right down to the wire. This should give the Pirates even more incentive, but the Myrtleville outfit won’t be found lacking for desire either.

Whatever happens in this match, it will go down as the most successful season in Crosshaven’s history. They were deserving League champions, as they produced consistently top- class performances, losing only one game away to Cashel throughout the campaign.
Tommy Crowe has done immense work with a group of players primarily from the local area and has a good combination of forward strength and incisiveness out wide.

Up front, the Samoan Jake Grey has been a major addition in the front-row and he is also a renowned ball carrier making good ground in open play. He is backed up by a group of extremely committed local talent, with the likes of Peter Morrissy and Paul Memory amongst others contributing greatly to their side’s success.

Amongst the back-line, Conor Deane has been excellent throughout the course and is able to play in several different positions. He is a dangerous runner and also has a great strike of the ball with the boot.

Crosshaven have faced a difficult month and a half, as they have failed to win any of their last five games; although it should be noted that each of these was against very high class opposition.

In contrast, the Pirates have bounced back from the disappointment of narrowly missing out on League glory for the third year in succession, with a string of outstanding performances that has seen them progress to the Final of the County Cup. Ian Dunne has taken over as Coach from John O’Sullivan and has built on the strong foundations left from his predecessor.

The Pirates are noted for playing at a high intensity with the forwards moving around the park quickly. Fergus McCormack and James Frahill do plenty of work to give their side momentum while Peter Ahern and Dave Mulcahy are always bulldozing away at the rucks and mauls.

Eamon Ronan has controlled many games for the Pirates at out-half, where he has enjoyed a magnificent season. When he is not kicking accurately to the corners, he helps release his strong running back-line where the Cronin brothers and Barry Morehan regularly opening up the opposing defence.

This should be a keenly contested final between two sides who have proved their worth over the course of the season.