Munster Senior Challenge Cup Preview

This week see’s the Bank Of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup Semi Finals kick off with Shannon facing Cork Constitution and Garryowen locking horns with Highfield.

Shannon kicked off their campaign with a Round One victory against 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 to the Quarter Finals.

They held Cork side Midleton scoreless in the Quarter Finals with a final score of 24-0. Harry Long and Matt Te Pou crossed the white wash for the Takumi Park natives who were also awarded a penalty try. Cillian O’Connor converted both tries and also kicked a penalty sending them into a Semi Final meeting with Cork Constitution this weekend.

The 2024 runners up, Cork Constitution, begun their Challenge Cup campaign my welcoming fellow Cork side Dolphin to Temple Hill. The game saw the home side come away with a comprehensive win with a final score of 38-6.

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.

Next up for the Cork side was a trip to New Ormond Park to face titleholders Nenagh Ormond.

A strong opening half saw Con come away with the spoils as it ended 13-35.

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.

The Leesiders will now face Shannon in Thomond Park this Saturday at 2:30pm.

The second Semi Final sees Garryowen take on Highfield in Dooradoyle.

2024 winners Garryowen faced Old Crescent in their opening round fixture.

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.

Next up was a trip to Cork city to face UCC in the Quarter Finals.

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 Kamil Novak and Tom Coughlan and Charlie O’Shea kicked a conversion to bring the final score to 12-27, punching the Limerick native’s ticket to a Semi Final place.

Highfield got their Senior Challenge Cup underway against 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.

Their Quarter Final pairing saw the Cork natives face Young Munster in an exciting game at Woodleigh Park,

The home side came out on top on the day with a final score of 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 the Cookies and Kelvin Langan kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Garryowen will lock horns with Highfield in the Semi Final this Saturday at 2:30pm on the back pitch in Thomond Park.