Young Munster
Encyclopedia
Young Munster is a Rugby union
club based in Limerick
, Ireland. It was founded in 1895 and plays its games at Tom Clifford Park in Rosbrien, Limerick.
They are the only Limerick club to have won, prior to its revival in 2011, the now defunct Bateman Cup which they won in 1928. The club song, Beautiful Munsters, remembers this victory. They also won the All Ireland League
in 1993 by beating St Mary's College
at Lansdowne Road
in front of a record attendance for a club game of 20,000.
Club Honours also include 7 wins in the Munster Senior Rugby Cup
, in 1928, 1930, 1938, 1980, 1984, 1990 and 2010 and 7 triumphs in the Munster Junior Cup
in 1911, 1922, 1927, 1959, 1960, 1984 and 1999.
The Club also was one of the first Irish teams to tour North America extensively when, in 1985, they played 5 games in New York City
, Vancouver
, Langley (B.C.)
, Los Angeles
and San Diego
.
The current Coach is Mike Prendergast.
After a decade in the A.I.L
Division 1, the club was relegated to Division 2 in 2002. The club played in Division 2 of the All Ireland League
in the 2007-2008 year, but as a result of winning promotion, it will play in Division 1 in 2008-2009. It maintained division 1 status with victory on the last day of the 2008-2009 season away to UCD. Due to the new format of the All Ireland League
Young Munster played in Division 1B in the 2009-2010 season and won promotion to Division 1A by finishing in second place behind Old Belvedere RFC. Young Munster finished the 2010-2011 regular season in third place in Division 1A, thereby earning a place in the All Ireland League semi-finals, away to Cork Constitution F.C.
The Club is known by its nickame "The Cookies"
All the above, except Ger Earls, have played at some level for Ireland, most appearances by Paul O'Connell
who currently holds 62 Ireland caps (to 1 June 2009) as well as having played 6 Tests for the British & Irish Lions and 3 as captain.
On the 17th April 2010 Young Munster defeated University College Cork RFC in the ODM Munster Senior Cup on a scoreline of 22 - 13 in Musgrave Park Cork. They also earned promotion to Division 1A for the season 2010 - 2011. The Young Munster Senior ladies team won the AIL Shield competition in the 2010 season. The Under 19 team defeated Thomond in the final of the North Munster Cup on a scoreline of 32-0 at Garryowens ground Dooradoyle on Sunday May 1, 2010. This added to the underage sections Under 13 North Munster win over Shannon earlier in May. The Club was awarded the "Munster" Club of the Year award at a gala function held at Thomond Park to end a great 2010 season.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland. It was founded in 1895 and plays its games at Tom Clifford Park in Rosbrien, Limerick.
They are the only Limerick club to have won, prior to its revival in 2011, the now defunct Bateman Cup which they won in 1928. The club song, Beautiful Munsters, remembers this victory. They also won the All Ireland League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
in 1993 by beating St Mary's College
St Mary's College RFC
St. Mary's College Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1900 by former pupils of St. Mary's College, Dublin and was originally known as Old St. Mary's. They club won the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time in 1958...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
in front of a record attendance for a club game of 20,000.
Club Honours also include 7 wins in the Munster Senior Rugby Cup
Munster Senior Rugby Cup
The Munster Senior Cup is a rugby union competition for the senior clubs affiliated to the Munster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.-1880s:* 1886 Bandon beat Garryowen* 1887 Queens College beat Limerick County* 1888 Queens College beat Garryowen...
, in 1928, 1930, 1938, 1980, 1984, 1990 and 2010 and 7 triumphs in the Munster Junior Cup
Munster Junior Cup
The Munster Junior Cup is a rugby union competition played in the province of Munster, Ireland. The competition was established for the stronger junior clubs and the second teams of the Senior clubs in the province of Munster...
in 1911, 1922, 1927, 1959, 1960, 1984 and 1999.
The Club also was one of the first Irish teams to tour North America extensively when, in 1985, they played 5 games in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Langley (B.C.)
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...
, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
The current Coach is Mike Prendergast.
After a decade in the A.I.L
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
Division 1, the club was relegated to Division 2 in 2002. The club played in Division 2 of the All Ireland League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
in the 2007-2008 year, but as a result of winning promotion, it will play in Division 1 in 2008-2009. It maintained division 1 status with victory on the last day of the 2008-2009 season away to UCD. Due to the new format of the All Ireland League
AIB League
The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...
Young Munster played in Division 1B in the 2009-2010 season and won promotion to Division 1A by finishing in second place behind Old Belvedere RFC. Young Munster finished the 2010-2011 regular season in third place in Division 1A, thereby earning a place in the All Ireland League semi-finals, away to Cork Constitution F.C.
The Club is known by its nickame "The Cookies"
Famous players
- Tom Clifford
- Peter ClohessyPeter ClohessyPeter Martin Noel Clohessy is a former Irish rugby union footballer. Clohessy played for Munster and Ireland...
- John Fitzgerald
- Ger Earls
- Mike Mullins
- Rob HendersonRob HendersonRobert Alexander James Henderson is a rugby union footballer who plays at centre for Esher RFC. He has represented Ireland with 32 caps and toured with the 2001 British and Irish Lions....
- Paul O'ConnellPaul O'ConnellPaul O'Connell is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Munster and Ireland. He also captained the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.-Early life:...
All the above, except Ger Earls, have played at some level for Ireland, most appearances by Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell
Paul O'Connell is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Munster and Ireland. He also captained the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.-Early life:...
who currently holds 62 Ireland caps (to 1 June 2009) as well as having played 6 Tests for the British & Irish Lions and 3 as captain.
On the 17th April 2010 Young Munster defeated University College Cork RFC in the ODM Munster Senior Cup on a scoreline of 22 - 13 in Musgrave Park Cork. They also earned promotion to Division 1A for the season 2010 - 2011. The Young Munster Senior ladies team won the AIL Shield competition in the 2010 season. The Under 19 team defeated Thomond in the final of the North Munster Cup on a scoreline of 32-0 at Garryowens ground Dooradoyle on Sunday May 1, 2010. This added to the underage sections Under 13 North Munster win over Shannon earlier in May. The Club was awarded the "Munster" Club of the Year award at a gala function held at Thomond Park to end a great 2010 season.
2010/11 Squad
- Full-backs: Ray Moloney, Simon Morgan
- Wings: Aaron Carroll, Derek Corcoran, Craig O' Hanlon, Mark Doyle
- Centres: Cian Clohessy, Matthew Costelloe, Danny Grace, James Jackman
- Out-halves: Alan Kingsley, Willie Staunton
- Scrum-halves: Sean Upton, Mike PrendergastMike PrendergastMike Prendergast is an Irish rugby union footballer who started his professional career with Munster. He also played a season each with Bourgoin and Gloucester before returning for one final season with Munster. He plays as a scrum half for AIB League club Young Munster. He is also the club...
- Front-rows: Alan Cotter, Ger Flaherty, Donal Murphy, David O'Dwyer
- Hookers: Eamonn Shinners, Ger Slattery (captain)
- Second-rows: Johnny Griffin, Ken Hanley, Paul O'ConnellPaul O'ConnellPaul O'Connell is an Irish rugby union player who plays lock for Munster and Ireland. He also captained the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.-Early life:...
, Shane O'Neill, Darragh Payne - Wing-forwards: Shane Hassett, Liam Og Murphy, James O'Neill
- Number 8s: Neville Melbourne