Cork Con take top gong at Munster Rugby awards
SOME of the top performers in another special year at domestic level were given their dues at the Irish Independent Munster Rugby Awards held at the Maryborough House Hotel yesterday afternoon.
While the clubs who won the awards were all fitting winners, there have been others who have won major honours and can also be proud of their efforts over the season.
Last year’s Junior Club of the year Bandon upset the odds against Young Munster to win their first ever Munster Junior Challenge Cup, while Skibbereen picked up the U-16 Cup.
The U-18 title went to Ennis, in a historic day for the Clare side, while Kilfeacle & District picked up the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup.
Thurles also provided stiff competition after a bumper year at underage level.
CBC picked up Junior Cup honours, rounding of a good year for Schools rugby on Leeside after PBC’s achievements at Senior level.
SENIOR CLUB Cork Constitution
Last Saturday Con picked up an incredible five-in-a-row of Bateman Cup titles with victory against Old Belvedere.
The Corkmen also retained their Munster Senior Cup and have reached the All-Ireland League final.
Con players Max Abbott, Rob Jermyn and Ger Sweeney were given the honour of representing their country at their own ground, with Temple Hill providing a fitting venue once more for the Irish Club International side.
JUNIOR CLUB Clonmel RFC
Founded in 1892, Clonmel is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland.
They showed themselves to be the best in the province at Junior level, despite being eventually conquered in the All-Ireland Provincial League.
The Tipperary outfit lost just one game all season, their only dropped points of the season, winning the other 13, including against Munster Junior Cup champions Bandon on the opening day.
YOUTHS SECTION Nenagh Ormond RFC
Nenagh Ormond’s juvenile section has gone from strength to strength over the last few years.
This season both the U-18s and U-16s were beaten semi-finalists in the Munster plate, while last Sunday the U-16 side came from 22-3 down against Ennis to win the North Munster Cup 24-22.
In addition three teams went on foreign tours at Easter, while they hosted Larne for four days also over the Easter holidays, and with 180 mini players every Sunday morning the future of the Juvenile section is bright.
MINI SECTION Fethard & District RFC
Since their formation in 2001, Fethard & District have become one of the area’s largest sports clubs, now fielding boy’s teams at every age group from U-6 to U-18.
We also have two senior men’s teams competing at J1 and J2 levels, plus successful girls’ teams at minis, U-13, U-15 and U-18 level.
SCHOOL OF THE YEAR Presentation Brothers Cork
PBC, who field 375 players across 15 teams, have had a memorable year with Senior Cup triumph and several international milestones for current and past pupils.
The Cork school beat Ardscoil Rís at Thomond Park in the Munster Senior Schools Cup final, with a mature performance in difficult conditions: Sean French got the only try in an 11-3 victory after a campaign that saw Pres concede a single try.
A memorable season ended with eight selected in the Munster U-18/U-19 interprovincial series, with French, Jonathan Wren, Billy Scannell, Bryan O’Connor and captain Jack O’Sullivan all receiving Irish honours in the last few weeks.