St Munchin's march to reclaim Munster Schools Senior Cup glory inspired by class of 2006

The 2006 final was Munchins' third Senior Cup in five years, all three won against Pres. The first ended a 20-year drought. The same gap they’re seeking to bridge on Wednesday.

MIGHTY MUNCHIN'S: A couple of decades ago, these men were boys and they won the Senior Cup. Today they were back in Munchin's to remember. Pic: St Munchin's.

There was a happy coincidence on Monday at St Munchin’s.

The 20-year team from their last Munster Schools Senior Cup title had long since organised a gathering to mark the anniversary of their 2006 triumph.

With the school set to play their first final since 2012 on Wednesday, that occasion doubled up as a jersey presentation.

Each winning player gave their corresponding jersey to the current holder. So 2006 captain Ger Slattery handed over the no.2 jersey to 2026 hooker Michael Landers, while Ireland centurion Keith Earls offloaded the no.13 to semi-final hero Brendan Minogue.

In his autobiography, Earls recalled making the move to Munchin’s and being asked what subjects he wanted to do for his Leaving Cert. Put me down for whatever Ger Sla is doing, he replied.

Earls had been “gobsmacked by the occasion” when attending the 2004 final at Thomond Park, where Sla won his first Senior Cup against PBC.

Mr Slattery, as he is now known in the Munchin’s corridors, remembers getting the initial call from Earls in the aftermath of that final. Two years later, it was Earls who scored the end-to-end try and Slattery who nailed the touchline conversion in a 7-3 win over Pres.

‘Heroic Munchin’s survive Pres siege’, read the Irish Examiner account. It estimated that the Cork school owned up to 80% of possession but couldn’t land a blow.

“If we were still there today, we'd have been tackling for you. That was the kind of pride we had in the group and in the school and in our coaches,” Slattery recalls.

“We really played on that underdog card and John (Broderick) really instilled that into us and that work ethic that came with it.

"That was what was good about us and it's what's always been good about Munchin’s. That workmanship and that work ethic. That we feel like we should be the hardest-working team on the field.

“Obviously, there's a lot of talent there as well, but if you get the other side of it right, then you'll always have a chance.”

Earls would later write: “As far as I was concerned, the whole world revolved around the Munster Schools Senior Cup.”

These days, Slattery echoes that sentiment: “We lived for the rugby, there's no secret around that.

“I don't think you can put into words the impact that has on your life. Winning it is very special, but the whole culture in Munchin’s around rugby is just unbelievable. Some guys came to school for that reason alone and it kept lads going and there's nothing wrong with saying that.

“Then you look at the path people take after it. I ended up going to college and studying through a big influence from John Broderick, our coach. Any lad could pick up the phone to him still to this day and he'd have the right advice. That's the impact Munchin’s had on us as a group and is still having today.

“The rugby is really important and the success was huge at the time for the school and for Limerick, but it's the friendships and the bonds that you have for life, really.”

The St Munchin's team of 2006. Pic: St Munchin's.

That was a golden era for Munchin’s. The 2006 final was their third Senior Cup in five years, all three won against Pres. The first ended a 20-year drought. The same gap they’re seeking to bridge today.

They’ve only been to the decider once since then, a 2012 loss to Rockwell. Qualifying for both the Senior and Junior Cup finals this year carries a sense of getting back to where they belong.

“Limerick is often looked at more than anywhere else and criticised, but we've a proud tradition,” says Slattery.

“Look, we have dipped off in the last few years, but it hasn't been for a lack of trying. A lot of work has gone in this year to getting groups to finals and if you look at the current Munster Academy, there's very healthy Limerick representation there, through Munchin’s and other schools.”

Andrew O’Byrne, who succeeded Slattery as head coach last season, can take some inspiration from that 2006 success.

“It's one more chance, one more game to write their name in the history books and be like that 20-year team are now,” he says.

Their other two-try semi-final hero, Ryan Angley, has been back in training for the past week after suffering a blow to his knee against Bandon Grammar.

They will need everyone fit and firing to reverse the 64-0 defeat inflicted upon them by Pres in the group-stage opener last October.

“It was a long time ago and we have improved since then,” says O’Byrne.

“The lads definitely haven't forgotten and are fully aware of how good of guys Pres are. Some of them might still have battle wounds from that day. Hopefully, the lads can channel it in the right direction, use it as motivation, and not as fear, but it's hard to know.

“We have addressed it and spoken about it. It's a chance to right the wrong of that day and that's the way we're looking at it.”

To do so, they must channel the spirit of ‘06.