Garryowen claim Munster Senior Cup

Garryowen 18 Cork Constitution 13

Garryowen scooped their first Munster Senior Cup title since 1999 as they outscored Cork Constitution by two tries to one at Thomond Park.

Lock Mark Melbourne and centre Kevin Hartigan both touched down in what was their club’s 36th Munster cup triumph.

Conor Kilroy and Con’s Australian winger Dan Nethery swapped penalties before Melbourne’s score, teed up by Hartigan and Conan Doyle, gave Garryowen an 8-3 interval lead.

Another Nethery penalty was followed by Hartigan’s try, and although Con centre Tom Gleeson crossed the whitewash on 54 minutes, a late Eoghan Hickey penalty kept the trophy in Limerick.

Garryowen: C Kilroy; A O’Loughlin, K Hartigan, C Doyle, K O’Riordan; E Hickey, G Hurley; R Brennan, D Varley, E McGovern, M Melbourne, E Mackey, P Neville (capt), A Kavanagh, P Malone.

Replacements used: Ciaran O’Boyle for O’Loughlin (53 mins), J Staunton for McGovern (57), D Sheehan for Mackey (66), P Humphreys for Varley (80+1).

Cork Constitution: D Hurley; D Nethery, D O’Riordan, T Gleeson, C Healy; D Lyons, P McKee; Tom Ryan, D Murray, C Murphy, M O’Connell, S O’Connor, R Noonan, B Cuttriss, F Cogan (capt).

Replacements used: Timmy Ryan for Murphy (half-time), C Quaid for O’Riordan (52 mins), R Quinn for Murray (63), J Maloney for Noonan, C Murphy for Tom Ryan (both 75).

Referee: Ger English (Munster)

Scorers: Garryowen: Tries: Mark Melbourne, Kevin Hartigan; Con: Eoghan Hickey; Pens: Conor Kilroy, Hickey Cork Con: Try: Tom Gleeson; Con: Dan Nethery; Pens: Nethery 2