All eyes will be on Musgrave Park in Cork next Tuesday, March 14th, as an action-packed season of Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup rugby is set to come to a thrilling conclusion. A hugely-anticipated local derby is in store, with Presentation Brothers College (Cork) and Christian Brothers College (Cork) going head-to-head in the final showdown.
Now in their second year of sponsoring the Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup, Pinergy is committed to powering the difference for one of Ireland’s most prestigious and historic schools rugby tournament, while supporting the development and sustainability of the game for young players throughout the region. This year’s Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup did not disappoint, with fantastic skills, nail-biting matches, and superb support on show throughout.
For more than 110 years, the Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup has been a marquee event in the Munster Rugby calendar and has helped to carve a pathway for schools players to pursue a career with the province. The prestigious competition has been the first step towards a Munster jersey for many elite players, and Pinergy is proud to be supporting the continuation of this historic tradition.
Pinergy was joined this week by former Presentation Brothers College (PBC) star and current Munster Rugby player, Alex Kendellen, and former Christian Brothers College (CBC) and Munster Rugby star, Billy Holland, as well as the two current school captains to look ahead to next week’s big clash. Presentation Brothers come into the final after a thrilling semi-final showdown with St Munchin’s College (Limerick) in late February. The Cork side had to hold off a late comeback from Munchin’s as, after leading 35-10, three unanswered tries from the Limerick school saw them back within touching distance as the clock ticked down. PBC dug deep to prevail in the end though and now look ahead to Tuesday’s clash with their local rivals, as they hope to right the wrongs of last year, which saw them lose out in the final to Limerick’s Crescent Comprehensive.
It was a rollercoaster ride to the final for Christian Brothers College meanwhile, as their semi-final clash with reigning Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup champions, Crescent College Comprehensive of Limerick, finished all square after a hotly-contested clash. The replay on March 2nd proved just as thrilling, with CBC finally prevailing on a scoreline of 34-29 to send them through to next Tuesday’s final.
Speaking ahead of next week’s final, CEO at Pinergy Enda Gunnell said: “We are really looking forward to the final of the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup next Tuesday, and we are extremely proud to be in our second year of supporting this historic competition. This season has once more delivered thrills, skills and excitement galore, and it is a testament to the hard work going on across the province that players have been given the opportunity to shine in what is Munster Rugby’s most sought after competition. It is a great honour to support grassroots rugby in Munster and, with all eyes now on the coveted Garrett Fitzgerald Cup, we have no doubt that next Tuesday’s final is going to be another fantastic showcase of this great game. School’s rugby in Munster is fuelled by pride and passion that filters into the provincial team, and we are immensely proud to play our part in keeping rugby in Munster sustainable for the future. We would like to wish both teams the very best of luck!”
Colm McMahon, Head of Rugby Development at Munster Rugby commented: “It has been another great season of Pinergy Munster Schools Boys Senior Cup action, and we are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Musgrave Park on Tuesday, March 14th for what we have no doubt will be a superb final, played with great grit, determination and heart by both sides. The Munster Rugby Schools Boys Senior Cup and our age-grade clubs competition are intrinsically linked with the success of Munster Rugby. . We are all looking forward to the final and would like to take this opportunity to wish both teams the very best of luck.”
Pinergy is not only #PoweringTheDifference for Munster Rugby at Schools Cup level, but also through the supply of 100% renewable energy to Munster’s Thomond Park and Musgrave Park. In 2021, Pinergy began a new 10-year partnership with the province to install a Solar PV system at Cork’s Musgrave Park to support Munster Rugby’s bid to become one of the most sustainable brands in world rugby.