Garryowen end 13-year drought as All-Ireland Cup added to trophy haul

GARRYOWEN ended a 13 year drought without a national title with this AIB All-Ireland Cup final victory on Saturday.

They were two converted tries in front after ten minutes, had stretched their advantage to 20-0 by the interval and although held scoreless in the second half, did more than enough to replace Cork Constitution as champions in this, the second year of the competition.

“We said beforehand whichever side gets off to a good start in cup finals invariably wins them,” said coach Paul Cunningham. “We went out and hit them like a ton of bricks. Our fellas were up for this in a big way. Eoghan (Hickey) was throwing the ball well and kicked a couple of great penalties and the forwards were putting people under pressure. The tackle count by our tight five was amazing.

“Mark Melbourne again proved himself a fabulous young forward. He’s had an outstanding season. His tackle count around the field was huge and he made yards in possession. We had a great back-row, Paul Neville an outstanding captain, Anthony Kavanagh and Peter Malone is a real warrior. Andy Ward would have been out and about in the middle of the field showing some nice touches, but if you were looking for Malone, you’d find him in the thick of the battle grunting away doing something.”

Garryowen’s early tries were well taken by Ciaran O’Boyle and tight head prop Eugene McGovern who was passed fit to play only a half hour before kick-off.

Eoghan Hickey, who leaves Garryowen and Munster at the end of the season to fulfil a two year contract at London Irish, converted both and also landed two penalties.

Harlequins (facing a make or break AIL relegation clash with UCD on Saturday) were a much stronger force in a wind assisted second period but couldn’t break down a superb Garryowen defence until the 69th minute when full-back Mark Kettyle made a fine break and sent Paul McKenzie between the posts for a splendid try that Keith Pyper converted.

Garryowen also turn their attentions to the league but at the other end of the table, while fully acknowledging they need others to do them a favour if they are to make the play-offs. Paul Cunningham points out that they have nothing to lose and either way is happy it’s been a great season for the club given that their sideboard is already decorated by the All-Ireland Cup and the Munster Senior and Junior Cups.

“The AIL in 1994, when I was on the bench and Keith Wood was hooker, was the last national title we had won,” said Cunningham. “This is massive for the club and the players and means a lot to the club.”

GARRYOWEN: C. Kilroy; A. O’Loughlin, K. Hartigan, C. Doyle, Ciaran O’Boyle; E. Hickey, G. Hurley; R. Brosnan, D. Varley, E. McGovern, M. Melbourne, E. Mackey, P. Neville capt, A. Kavanagh, P. Malone.

Replacements: J. Staunton for McGovern, injured, 20 mins; D. Sheehan for Mackey 64; Cillian O’Boyle for O’Loughlin, A. Kingsley for Hickey, F. Quaglia for Doyle, all 76; N. Melbourne for Staunton (55) and Malone (68), both temporary, for Malone 79.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS: M. Kettyle; J. Lowe, P. McKenzie, K. Pyper, G. McLoughlin; N. O’Connor, P. Marshall; N. Conlon, S. Philpott, J. Andress, G. Rourke, L. Stevenson, A. Ward, C. Atkinson capt, A. Gillespie.

Replacements: R. Blake-Knox for O’Connor, injured, 21 mins; D. Johnson for Gillespie and S. Ray for McLoughlin, both 45 mins.

Referee: A Rolland