Sixth Straight Senior Cup For Shannon

A 17-point first half salvo was enough for Shannon to retain the Munster Senior Cup at Thomond Park on Saturday, as they defeated Garryowen for their sixth straight title.

Munster Senior Cup Final: Saturday, April 23
Shannon 17 Garryowen 8, Thomond Park
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: David O’Donovan 2; Cons: David Delaney 2; Pen: Delaney
Garryowen: Try: Alan Purcell; Pen: Gerry Hurley

Mick Galwey’s side warmed up nicely for next weekend’s AIB League Division One semi-final against Clontarf, and also earned retribution for last November’s 13-point league loss to their Limerick rivals with the club’s 17th Cup win since 1960.

Full-back David O’Donovan, set-up by David Delaney and centre Brian Tuohy, crossed for Shannon’s opening try on 16 minutes.

Fly-half Delaney converted, kicked a subsequent penalty and added the extras to O’Donovan’s second, crafted from a Tuohy break, right on half-time for a 17-0 half-time lead.

Three minutes into the second half, busy Garryowen scrum-half Gerry Hurley attempted to fire his side – without a Cup crown since 1999 – with a well-struck penalty.

The 21-year-old missed a second shot at the posts ten minutes later. And although Alan Purcell breached the Shannon cover on 79 minutes for a late try, Galwey’s men were comfortable victors, adding to their 2004/05 haul of the Munster Senior League and Limerick Charity Cup.