Bruff face another final with Garryowen

HOLDERS Bruff reached another ODM Munster Senior Cup final with a 31-14 victory over Shannon at Coonagh on Saturday to set up a clash with tournament specialists Garryowen for the second year in succession.

Bruff, who lifted the trophy for the first time last season before going on to win the national Bateman Cup, laid the groundwork for the win with two first half tries when playing against the wind.

Shannon were rocked when Mike Carroll peeled off the back of a scrum to score a 22nd minute try and Cathal O’Regan heaped further misery on the hosts with a second try before the interval that Tony Cahill converted.

Nine minutes into the second-half, winger Paul O’Brien sped away for a third try to establish a very handy 17-0 lead.

Shannon responded with a Mossie Lawlor try, converted by Gareth Quinn- McDonagh but Bruff refused to panic and the champions repelled a number of attacks before John Shine touched down in the 67th minute with Cahill again adding the extras for a 24-7 lead.

With nine minutes remaining, Aaron Spring scored for Shannon and Quinn-McDonagh’s conversion edged his side to within ten points.

But Bruff finished in style as O’Brien grabbed his second try in the dying seconds, with Cahill’s conversion taking his side to 31 points.

Garryowen have been waiting a year to exact revenge on Bruff and their passage to the final was never in doubt as they ran in eight tries against Cashel at Dooradoyle (47-10)

The light blues produced a blistering first half display that saw them lead 34-5 at the break.

Alan Gaughan’s first minute try converted by Fergal Lawlor set the scene as Cashel struggled to settle.

Ian Hanley got the second score after eight minutes before Ronan O’Mahony (try) and Lawlor (conversion), Corey Hircock (try), Hanley (try) and Lawlor (conversion) combined to carve out a 31-0 lead in as many minutes.

Darragh O’Brien had a 35th minute consolation try but Lawlor’s penalty on the stroke of half time gave Garryowen a 29 points advantage.

Brian Silke got another score back for Cashel 12 minutes into the second half but it was only a brief interruption to Garryowen’s dominance.

The flow of tries slowed down, and Lawlor had to suffice with stretching the lead with a 55th minute penalty for a 37-10 lead.

However, Hircock got on the mark again and Paul Neville rounded off the rout with a further touchdown late on. The final has been fixed for Thomond Park on October 22 (2.30pm).