Late try secures Munster Junior Plate for Cashel after thrilling final with St Senan's

Munster Junior Plate

Cashel 25 St Senan's 20

Cashel were on the road again on Sunday last with their Junior 1 team to contest the Munster Junior Plate final at Musgrave Park against St Senan’s of Shannon. Played in perfect conditions on the artificial pitch it turned out to be an enthralling contest with Cashel coming out on the right side of the result by the skin of their teeth.

They led 18-3 at half time but with seven minutes left they trailed by 18-20 as Senans dominated the second half. Only a brilliant forwards try by Kelan Murphy and a brilliant conversion by James O’Sullivan rescued Cashel and enabled them bring the trophy home for the first time since 2007.

With both teams well supported they entered the field together and the tension could be cut with a knife. Cashel were led by captain John Ed O’Connor, one of the most experienced and decorated players in club rugby. It took Cashel two minutes to register their first score. Dan O’Neill kicked a penalty to the corner. Cashel won the lineout, set up a maul and drove over for a try by Dylan Foley. It was a proud moment for the Foley family as his late uncle Eamonn was on the 2005 team that won this trophy.

St Senan’s responded quickley with a penalty. From there to the end of the first half Cashel totally dominated. In the 13th minute Aidan O'Connor won a lineout on the St Senan’s 22 and offloaded to Michael Hickey who broke through a gap. He was tackled close to the line and offloaded to the on-rushing Adam Shirley who scored. Incidently Michael Hickey was on the winning team in 2007 - 16 years ago.

At this stage the power of the Cashel pack was evident as they dominated the exchanges. Idris Rqibi was extremely prominant in this first half. Into the second quarter Jack O’Rourke made twenty five meters offloaded to John Ed O’Connor who fed Sean O’Connell who powered over for a try.

Cashel went 18-3 ahead 12 minutes before half time when Dan O’Neill kicked a penalty. From then to half time both teams had opportunities. Sean O’Connell robbed a ball at the breakdown to prevent a St Senan’s score. Harry Fitzgerald almost scored at the other end for Cashel.

On the stroke of half-time Cashel were under the kosh five metres out but won an opposition scrum and cleared their lines. Cashel led by 18-3 at half time.

Having dominated the first half Cashel went completely into their shell in the second as the county Clare side came out of theirs and began to dominate. Eight minutes in the were almost over. Only a despairing tackle by Brendan Crosse saved a try. However he was penalised and given a yellow card for his trouble. St Senan’s ran the ball to the wing and scored. They kicked a penalty on 58 minutes and three minutes later Cashel were reduced to 13 men as Aidan O’Connor followed Crosse to the bin.

With 12 minutes left St Senan’s kept the pressure on. They were awarded a five metre scrum when Cashel kicked a goal line kick directly to touch. From there they crossed for a converted try to go two points ahead.

It was going to take something special to retrieve the situation for Cashel. Head coach Barry Moloney sprung two ypung players, James O’Sullivan and Lee McCarthy from the bench and immediately they upped the tempo. The scrum dominance came to the rescue when Cashel won a scrum penalty on the St Senan’s 10m line. O’Sullivan sent the ball to the 5m line, the lineout maul was set up and Kelan Murphy touched down. O’Sullivan converted from a most difficult angle and Cashel were five points ahead.

They had to weather further St Senan’s pressure but to the relief of their supporters they closed it out. Final score Cashel 25 St Senans 20.

It was a wonderful game of rugby played in a wonderful spirit. Cashel had to work hard to win and it was a pity that there had to be a loser as St Senan’s brought a lot of quality to the game.

For Cashel’s coaches Barry Moloney and Michael Kelly it was a very satisfying result in the end

Cashel Squad. S O’Connell, D Foley, J Evans, A Shirley, B Crosse, J E O’Connor, A O’Connor, I Rqibi, M Hickey, D O’Neill, M McCormack, E Chesser, J O'Rourke, H Fitzgerald, O Ó Suilleabhain, K Murphy, J Tierney, L Shine, J O’Sullivan, L McCarthy, H O’Donoghue.