By Peter Silke
Cashel has a wonderful sporting history and Cashel Rugby Club has played and continues to play its part in the provision of the many sporting options available in the town and its environs.
The club was founded in 1919 and played in the local cup competitions and in later years in the Munster Junior Leagues. The Blue Ribband competition each year was the Munster Junior Cup-first played for in 1908/1909 ten years before Cashel Rugby Club was founded. Cashel had been beaten in three finals, 1954, 1966 and 1977. In 2011 the team reached the final. It had already been a successful season as eight trophies had been won and the club had been promoted to the All Ireland League which brought with it Senior status. A Junior Cup win would complete the jigsaw and banish the defeats of the past.
The final was fixed for April 24th 2011 at Musgrave Park against the competition specialists Cork Constitution. The team was fit after a long season and well coached by Ian Dunne. Every player wanted to be part of this special day. There was a roller coaster of emotion in every household, particularly those with a player in the team.
The day dawned dry and sunny and the road to Cork was busy with Cashel people travelling to support their team. Many players who played in previous finals were in attendance and their one wish was a win. There was a huge crowd in attendance at the historic stadium where Munster had played many games over the years.
Con were favourites and there were a number of connections between the two clubs. Cashel captain Brendan O’Connor had won a Junior Cup with Con. Ed Leamy and John Silke had won All Ireland League medals with Con and Andy Kelleher who played under age rugby with Cashel and whose family are steeped in Cashel Rugby Club was on the Con panel.
The game was played in perfect conditions and from the kickoff it was clear this was going to be a tight affair. Eoin O’Connor put Cashel ahead with a try after seven minutes. Darragh O’Brien converted. Con levelled the game in the thirtieth minute with a converted try. Cahel led 10-7 at half time. There were some tense moments in the first half when Cashel had two men in the sin bin. Con levelled the game in the forty fifth minute. Ed Leamy put Cashel ahead with a converted try but Con hit back with a penalty and an intercept try to go ahead. Constant pressure yielded two penalties for Cashel which Darragh O’Brien converted to put Cashel 23-20 ahead. During the final ten minutes the tension was palpable as they held on to a slender lead. Cashel president Padraig Ryan suffered a heart attack during the game as the pressure mounted but thankfully fully recovered. Only heroic defending won the day and at last Cashel had their hands on the Junior Cup. The pitch erupted in a sea of red as the supporters invaded the pitch.
Brendan O’Connor was presented with the cup by his grandfather, Eddie Ryan, who captained the 1954 team in the final defeat. Brendan’s father, Sean, was on the defeated 1977 team. This win meant a lot to them. The celebrations back in Cashel lasted long into the night but the memories of that special day will last forever as the Munster Junior Cup at last found its way back to Cashel. Following the successful season Cashel were awarded Munster Junior Club of the year.