Scant consolation it certainly was but that did not dampen the Garryowen celebrations at Musgrave Park on Saturday when they gained sweet revenge for their All-Ireland final reverse by beating Cork Constitution in the Munster Senior Cup decider.
Constitution had looked determined to confirm their superiority over their great rivals and their cause gained momentum after a mere three minutes when they took a 7-0 lead through a Cian Mahony try and Ronan O'Gara's conversion.
A Melvin McNamara try, converted by Conor Kilroy, soon had the scores level and when Paul Hogan and Keith O'Riordan added futher Garryowen tries, Constitution's cause looked a desperate one.
Kilroy continued to turn the screw with two penalties and a successful conversion of O'Riordan's try to see them turn over with a commanding 24-7 lead at the interval.
Garryowen did not add to their tally on the resumption but not even an O'Gara try and conversion could rally Constitution.
Garryowen: J Clarke; M McNamara, K Hartigan, J Brooks, K O'Riordan; C Kilroy, S Whelan; N Hartigan, P Humphries, R Laffan, R Leahy, D Peters, P Hogan, D Wallace, B Cronin. Replacements: C Varley for Peters, P Cunningham for Humphries. J Giltinane for Laffan.
Cork Constitution: D O'Brien; A Horgan, Conor Mahony, Cian Mahony, J Kiernan; R O'Gara, C Murphy; P Soden, F Sheahan, J O'Driscoll, D Sheehan, D O'Callagahan, J Fogarty, J Murray, U O'Callaghan. Replacements: J Kelly for Cian Mahony, K Murphy for Sheehan, J Canning for Sheahan, J Doyle for U O'Callagahan, J Ellis for O'Driscoll.
Referee: D McHugh.
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