Last Sunday’s Junior Cup Final started off with both sides getting stuck in to the game which was to prove unrewarding for the first half for both teams. Monivea had the most opportunities with the majority of possession and three kickable penalties that went wide and Corinthians applied the pressure towards the end of the first half but despite several breaks for the line they didn’t get to convert them into scores which resulted in both sides going into the half time break nil all. Scores finally appeared on the board for the second half. The first try came after nine minutes as a result of a stolen lineout and run up the wing for a try under the posts by Rory O'Connor which was converted by Ger O'Connor. Corinthians responded with huge pressure from their back row and replacement out half Dave Clarke got scores on the board for Corinthians when he kicked a penalty and executed drop goal in an effort to snatch back the lead. It wasn’t to be however, as a turnover deep in Monivea territory resulted in Ger O’Connor scoring off an inside pass from Darren Blade from inside the Corinthian 22 and which he duly converted. Monivea came out deserved winners in a hard fought game that saw them finally clinching victory after 4 previous defeats in their last 4 finals.
Monivea: K Higgins; R O’Connor, F O’Neill, F Cloonan, G Divilly; G O’Connor, D Blade; G Fitzmaurice, P Devane, F Farrell; W Parker, R Lally; P Fitzmaurice, M King, E Rooney.Replacement: R Coughlin for Farrell, C Divilly for G Fitzmaurice, L Mitchell for King, P Blade for Ger O’Connor and B McDonnagh for O’Neill.
Corinthians: R Ferguson; G Divilly, F Gormley, D O’Sullivan, K Dolan; B O’Sullivan, G Faherty; M Kelly, D Barber, C O’Shea; J Dileen, G Ward; B McCann, T Linnane, C McGuckian.Replacements: B Barrett for Kelly, D Clarke for Faherty, S McInearney for McGuckian, D Murphy for McGuckian.
Referee: D Flood
