Highlights Of Cup Finals On ‘Against The Head’

Tonight’s edition of ‘Against The Head’ on RTE Two comes from Clontarf rugby club in Dublin, where presenter Con Murphy and guest panellists Brent Pope and Gerry Thornley will review the weekend’s action in the AIB Cup finals and Magners League, and also take a look ahead to the upcoming Heineken Cup semi-finals and the last round of matches in AIB League Division One.

The programme begins at 8pm on RTE Two and will include highlights of Garryowen’s AIB Cup final win over Belfast Harlequins and Seapoint’s success against Coleraine in the AIB Junior Cup decider. It was certainly a memorable day for the teams, management and supporters involved at Dubarry Park, the venue for the two finals.

Garryowen ended their long wait for victory in an All-Ireland final as they beat ‘Quins 20-7 with out-half Eoghan Hickey kicking ten points and setting up a try for prop Eugene McGovern in a man of the match display.

Revealing just how much the victory meant to the Limerick club, coach Paul Cunningham said afterwards: “The All-Ireland League in 1994, when I was on the bench and Keith Wood was hooker, was the last national title we’d won – this is just massive for the club and the players. It means an awful lot to the club.”

Kiwi flanker Ben Focas stole the show for Seapoint in the Junior Cup final as the Dubliners claimed a comprehensive 47-15 win over Derry side Coleraine. Focas and Ireland U-20 full-back Felix Jones shared out four of Seapoint’s six tries in an impressive display from the pre-tournament favourites.