Age-old rivals Garryowen and Cork Constitution will meet once again in the final of the Munster Senior Cup at Musgrave Park on Saturday next. Garryowen join their All Ireland League final conquerors in the decider by defeating Dolphin 36-3 before a very small crowd at Thomond Park on Saturday.
Garryowen were under pressure in the first half of a poor game with Dolphin moving 9-5 ahead with three penalty goals by out-half John O'Mahony against a Garryowen try by Jack Clarke approaching half-time. Indeed, the first half was three minutes into stoppage time when scrumhalf Shane Whelan and winger Michael Roberts made the running for a well taken try by David Wallace which was converted from an acute angle by Conor Kilroy to put Garryowen 12 -10 ahead at the interval.
They went on to dominate the second half, scoring four more tries through Colin Varley (2), Niall Hartigan and Michael Roberts, two of which were converted by Kilroy. In reply Dolphin had a try by O'Mahony which he converted himself.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins J O'Mahony pen. 0-3; 15 mins J Clarke try 5-3; 30 mins O'Mahony pen 5-6; 36 mins O'Mahony pen 5-9; 43 mins D Wallace try, Kilroy con 12-9 half- time. 46 mins C Varley try 17-19; 50 mins Varley try, Kilroy con 24-9; 56 mins O'Mahony try and con 24-14; 61 mins N Hartigan try, Kilroy con 31-16; 67 mins M Roberts try 36-16.
GARRYOWEN: C Kilroy; M Roberts, J Clarke, K Hartigan, K O'Riordan; M Fitzgerald, S Whelan; N Hartigan, P Humphreys, R Laffan, D Peters, P Hogan, C Varley, D Wallace, B Cronin. Replacements: M Connolly, P Fitzgerald 63 mins; N Collins for Whelan 75 mins; K Sheehan for N Hartigan 75 mins; P Cunningham for Humphreys halftime; R Leahy for Wallace halftime.
DOLPHIN: P MacCoitir; L Buckley, M Manning, C Cronin, M O'Donovan; J O'Mahony, I Smith; E Knowles, C Twomey, D Davis, J Forde, P Farraher, T O'Connell, D Pomeroy, R Power. Replacement: B Curran for Smith 3 mins.
Referee: B Smith (Munster).
