UCC looking to bridge 45 year gap since Junior Cup glory 

UCC’s Jason Aherne and Kilfeacle’s Cian Caroll.

Sunday's meeting of Kilfeacle and UCC in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup final represents a meeting of two clubs looking to get back into the winner’s enclosure in this storied competition.

West Tipperary meets Cork at the Grove Island home of St Mary’s RFC in Limerick (1:30pm) with College looking to lift the Munster Junior Cup for the first time in 45 years. Their 11th and most recent success in this grade came with a 12-6 win over Richmond in 1979, two years before Kilfeacle & District RFC was founded.

Yet Kilfeacle have the more recent Junior Rugby pedigree, bringing both the Munster Junior League Division 1 title and the Energia All Ireland Junior Cup back to the Hill in 2020, though they have not lifted the Munster Junior Cup since their only triumph over Crosshaven in 2002.

UCC booked their ticket to the 109th final, first claimed by Crescent College in 1909, with a 50-28 semi-final victory at their Mardyke home over Thomond, the students taking a 19-14 half-time lead over the visitors from Limerick before cutting loose after the interval. David Cogan converted six of UCC’s seven tries, two from Peter O’Sullivan and one apiece from Dan Squires, David McPolin, James Wixted, Jack O’Sullivan, and Conor Ryan with the goal kicker also adding a penalty.

Kilfeacle, meanwhile, also made the most of home advantage to give themselves an opprtunity to atone for last season’s final defeat to Garryowen. The Hill witnessed an 18-12 last-four win over Highfield, through tries from Gavin Heuston and Jacques van Wyngaardt and eight points from the boot of Luke Heuston.