Thurles RFC Claim Historic U14 Munster Cup Glory at Thomond Park
Date: March 22, 2026
Venue: Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick
Kick-off: 3:00 PM
Competition: Boys Clubs U14 Munster Cup – FINAL
Final Score: Thurles RFC 19 – 17 Garryowen FC
In a pulsating encounter that will live long in the memory of the traveling Tipperary faithful, Thurles RFC secured a historic 19–17 victory over Garryowen FC at Thomond Park on Sunday. This triumph marks a monumental milestone for the club—a first-ever Munster Cup win—achieved through incredible grit and a squad-wide effort from all 37 players involved in this year's campaign.
First Half: Nerves of Steel
Garryowen kicked off at 3:00 PM into a waiting Thurles pack. It was a jittery start for the Tipperary side, with an early knock-on giving Garryowen an attacking scrum in a dangerous position. Garryowen picked from the base to launch a heavy assault, but the Thurles defense held firm and successfully cleared their lines.
As nerves settled, the Thurles pack began to assert themselves. Big carries from Alex Macormack and Eamon Quigley drove play deep into the Garryowen 22. Quick rucking from Daniel O'Grady and Eoghan Kennedy provided the perfect platform for scrum-half Tommy Stapleton, who went blind before finding Harry Carroll. Carroll crossed for a superb try out at the sideline, which out-half Shay Fogarty expertly converted for a 7–0 lead.
Garryowen showed their class in response, fighting back with powerful carries from their No. 8 (Niall Hickey) and No. 6 to pull back a converted try, leveling the scores at 7–7. However, Thurles found another gear before the break. Great work from Mark Barrett and John Sheehan, followed by a massive carry from Mason Butler, gave Shay Fogarty the space to execute a brilliant cross-field kick. The ball bounced perfectly behind the Garryowen winger for speedster Daithi Dunne, who gathered and crashed over. Fogarty narrowly missed the difficult conversion, leaving the score 12–7 at halftime.
Second Half: The Defensive Stand
After the interval, Garryowen threw everything at Thurles. A heroic defensive effort led by Danny Corcoran and Sean Ryan kept the Tipp side in the hunt during a sustained period of pressure. However, a Garryowen "purple patch" eventually yielded a converted try from Sean Cowhey and a penalty kick, handing the Limerick side a 17–12 lead with just five minutes remaining.
With their backs to the wall, Thurles fought with everything they had. Tommy Rice and Killian Cleary led the charge, driving play back into the Garryowen 22. Substitutes Odhran Hogan and Liam Butler played pivotal roles in the final surge, setting the stage for man-of-the-match Shay Fogarty to crash over and level the game at 17–17.
The Historic Finish
With the weight of the club's history on his shoulders, Fogarty composed himself and slotted the extras. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation as Thurles secured the 19–17 victory. In a proud moment for the club, Co-Captains Tommy Stapleton and Mason Butler climbed the steps to lift the Munster Cup, marking a historic and memorable day for Thurles Rugby.
Non-Competitive Segment (3rd 17 Minutes)
The spirit of the day continued into a final 17-minute non-competitive segment, allowing the full depth of the Thurles squad to experience the Thomond Park turf. Thurles made extensive changes, bringing on:
Cathal Walsh, Jack Ryan, Fionn Loughnane, Dylan Delahunty, Adam McLoughlin, Rory O'Brien, Conor Guinan, Aneurin Fogarty, Oisin Cleese, Ollie Morris, William Morrissey, Conor Stapleton, Eddie Shortall, Jake McCormack, Bill Donnelly, Charlie Finnegan, Michael O'Meara, Luis Ramirez, Sam McGrath, and Daniel Cleary.
Garryowen started this segment strongly, scoring after just 2 minutes and adding a second at the 7-minute mark. However, Thurles refused to fade. Strong forward play set up Fionn Loughnane to score under the sticks, and in the final moments, Jack Ryan burst through the Garryowen defense to score, ending the day on a high.
Scoring Summary (Main Match)
* Thurles RFC (19):
* Tries: Harry Carroll, Daithi Dunne, Shay Fogarty
* Cons: Shay Fogarty (2)
* Garryowen FC (17):
* Tries: Niall Hickey, Sean Cowhey
* Cons: Jack Byrne (1)
* Pens: Sean Cowhey (1)
Player of the Match: Shay Fogarty
A Legacy for the Club
This historic achievement is a credit to all 37 players who donned the jersey this season. A notable mention must go to two of our injured players, Frank Mockler and Murt Dillon, who remained vital parts of this squad throughout the journey. Heartfelt credit also goes to the coaching staff, whose relentless work shaped these young men into Munster champions. This day will go down as one of the proudest in the history of Thurles RFC.
Date: March 22, 2026
Venue: Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick
Kick-off: 3:00 PM
Competition: Boys Clubs U14 Munster Cup – FINAL
Final Score: Thurles RFC 19 – 17 Garryowen FC
In a pulsating encounter that will live long in the memory of the traveling Tipperary faithful, Thurles RFC secured a historic 19–17 victory over Garryowen FC at Thomond Park on Sunday. This triumph marks a monumental milestone for the club—a first-ever Munster Cup win—achieved through incredible grit and a squad-wide effort from all 37 players involved in this year's campaign.
First Half: Nerves of Steel
Garryowen kicked off at 3:00 PM into a waiting Thurles pack. It was a jittery start for the Tipperary side, with an early knock-on giving Garryowen an attacking scrum in a dangerous position. Garryowen picked from the base to launch a heavy assault, but the Thurles defense held firm and successfully cleared their lines.
As nerves settled, the Thurles pack began to assert themselves. Big carries from Alex Macormack and Eamon Quigley drove play deep into the Garryowen 22. Quick rucking from Daniel O'Grady and Eoghan Kennedy provided the perfect platform for scrum-half Tommy Stapleton, who went blind before finding Harry Carroll. Carroll crossed for a superb try out at the sideline, which out-half Shay Fogarty expertly converted for a 7–0 lead.
Garryowen showed their class in response, fighting back with powerful carries from their No. 8 (Niall Hickey) and No. 6 to pull back a converted try, leveling the scores at 7–7. However, Thurles found another gear before the break. Great work from Mark Barrett and John Sheehan, followed by a massive carry from Mason Butler, gave Shay Fogarty the space to execute a brilliant cross-field kick. The ball bounced perfectly behind the Garryowen winger for speedster Daithi Dunne, who gathered and crashed over. Fogarty narrowly missed the difficult conversion, leaving the score 12–7 at halftime.
Second Half: The Defensive Stand
After the interval, Garryowen threw everything at Thurles. A heroic defensive effort led by Danny Corcoran and Sean Ryan kept the Tipp side in the hunt during a sustained period of pressure. However, a Garryowen "purple patch" eventually yielded a converted try from Sean Cowhey and a penalty kick, handing the Limerick side a 17–12 lead with just five minutes remaining.
With their backs to the wall, Thurles fought with everything they had. Tommy Rice and Killian Cleary led the charge, driving play back into the Garryowen 22. Substitutes Odhran Hogan and Liam Butler played pivotal roles in the final surge, setting the stage for man-of-the-match Shay Fogarty to crash over and level the game at 17–17.
The Historic Finish
With the weight of the club's history on his shoulders, Fogarty composed himself and slotted the extras. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation as Thurles secured the 19–17 victory. In a proud moment for the club, Co-Captains Tommy Stapleton and Mason Butler climbed the steps to lift the Munster Cup, marking a historic and memorable day for Thurles Rugby.
Non-Competitive Segment (3rd 17 Minutes)
The spirit of the day continued into a final 17-minute non-competitive segment, allowing the full depth of the Thurles squad to experience the Thomond Park turf. Thurles made extensive changes, bringing on:
Cathal Walsh, Jack Ryan, Fionn Loughnane, Dylan Delahunty, Adam McLoughlin, Rory O'Brien, Conor Guinan, Aneurin Fogarty, Oisin Cleese, Ollie Morris, William Morrissey, Conor Stapleton, Eddie Shortall, Jake McCormack, Bill Donnelly, Charlie Finnegan, Michael O'Meara, Luis Ramirez, Sam McGrath, and Daniel Cleary.
Garryowen started this segment strongly, scoring after just 2 minutes and adding a second at the 7-minute mark. However, Thurles refused to fade. Strong forward play set up Fionn Loughnane to score under the sticks, and in the final moments, Jack Ryan burst through the Garryowen defense to score, ending the day on a high.
Scoring Summary (Main Match)
* Thurles RFC (19):
* Tries: Harry Carroll, Daithi Dunne, Shay Fogarty
* Cons: Shay Fogarty (2)
* Garryowen FC (17):
* Tries: Niall Hickey, Sean Cowhey
* Cons: Jack Byrne (1)
* Pens: Sean Cowhey (1)
Player of the Match: Shay Fogarty
A Legacy for the Club
This historic achievement is a credit to all 37 players who donned the jersey this season. A notable mention must go to two of our injured players, Frank Mockler and Murt Dillon, who remained vital parts of this squad throughout the journey. Heartfelt credit also goes to the coaching staff, whose relentless work shaped these young men into Munster champions. This day will go down as one of the proudest in the history of Thurles RFC.
