Presentation Brothers College Clinch 33rd Munster Schools Senior Cup Title in Dominant Display
Cork, Ireland – March 18, 2026 – Presentation Brothers College (PBC) of Cork secured their 33rd Munster Schools Senior Cup title today with a resounding 51-3 victory over St. Munchin’s College at Virgin Media Park. The win elevates PBC to the top of the roll of honour, surpassing Christian Brothers College (CBC) who previously held the record with 32 titles.
Match Highlights
PBC demonstrated a commanding performance throughout the match, scoring nine tries and maintaining a dominant presence in both forward play and the backline. Fly-half David Nolan orchestrated the attack, although Bobby O’Callaghan contributed a second-half brace to the scoreline.
St. Munchin’s, appearing in their first senior final since 2012, put up a spirited defense, particularly in the early stages, but were ultimately overwhelmed by PBC’s relentless attack. A series of dominant tackles and turnover penalties initially kept the game competitive, with St. Munchin’s opening the scoring through a penalty by Oisín Madden.
Team Lineups
Presentation Brothers College: Daniel Murphy; Olan Healy, Alex Moloney, Harry Galvin Carty, Bobby O’Callaghan; David Nolan, Frankie Óg Sheahan; Fionn O’Sullivan, Nathan Mac Carthy, Diarmuid Sheehy; Tom Murray, Cathan Bruhn; Eddie Dooley, Cormac Bohan; Rían MacFarlane O’Shea.
Replacements: Sam McKenna Carroll, Mikey Fitzgerald, Matthew Riordan, Ronan Dillon, Gearóid Coughlan, Bobby Waters, Liam O’Brien, Joe Healy, George McSweeney, Dan O’Leary.
St. Munchin’s College: Ryan Angley; Darragh Mullane, Brendan Minogue, Michele Ferrara, Evan Quin; Oisin Madden, Thomas O’Brien; Bobby Meagher, Michael Landers, Conor Dillon; Callum McGrath, Cillian McGrath; Ronan O’Brien, Jack Meaney; Dan Foley.
Replacements: Oisin Gleeson, Donnacha Colgan, Stephen Bisette, Sam McGlynn, Alex Fennell, Darragh Newman, Sam Frost, Joe Browne, Paddy O’Driscoll, Denis O’Driscoll, Milo Keane, Kyle Yoxall.
Captain’s Perspective
Prior to the final, PBC captain Rían MacFarlane O’Shea and St. Munchin’s College captain Jack Meaney shared their thoughts on the upcoming match, highlighting the significance of the occasion for both schools.
Tournament Dominance
Throughout the seven games leading to the final, PBC showcased their dominance, scoring a total of 363 points while conceding only 42 – an average winning margin of 52-6. This victory marks one of the most dominant runs in the history of the Munster Schools Senior Cup.
Historical Context
The Munster Schools Senior Cup, inaugurated in 1909, is a prestigious under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated with the Munster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). Rockwell College previously held the record for most wins with 26 titles, but their dominance waned after the 1980s. CBC and PBC have consistently been the most successful schools in the competition, particularly within Cork city. Limerick CBS and Crescent College Comprehensive have also enjoyed periods of success, with Crescent College (including Mungret College) claiming 13 titles in total.
The final traditionally takes place around Saint Patrick’s Day, alternating between Thomond Park and Musgrave Park, unless both finalist schools are from the same city, in which case the match is held in that city.
Looking Ahead
PBC’s victory solidifies their position as a powerhouse in Munster schools rugby. The competition continues to serve as a vital pathway for young players to develop their skills and potentially progress to represent Munster and Ireland at the senior level.