2nd May , 2008
	COBH PIRATES RFC	15 – 5	SKIBBEREEN RFC	Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Dave O'Flynn, M.A.R.
	Tries: Con: Pen: Eamon Ronan (5) Drop:	6 - 5 HT	Tries: Mehigan Con: Pen: Drop: 0

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PIRATES RETAIN CORK COUNTY CUP !

 

Pirates retained their County Cup title with an impressive performance over favourites Skibbereen at Musgrave Park.

 

The Pirates looked the more hungrier side, while Skibbereen really only played in patches and never produced the form that saw them push for league honours. Man of the match , Eamon Ronan, saved one of his best place and out of hand kicking displays of the season for the game, he controlled the game at all stages and capped his kicking game off with some superb incisive breaks that threatening the Skibbereen defensive line on numberous occasions.

 

Pirates' out-half put them in front after 3 minutes, and within moments of this after his brother, Brendan had a drop goal caome back off the up-right, he increase the lead further from long range effort 8 minutes to the break.

 

Skibbereen then, made their first visit to the Pirates 22, and after taking a controlled lineout 15 metres out they mauled their way over out wide, but, failed to convert leaving the half-time score 6-5 to Pirates.

 

Despite a strogn wind favour the west Cork team in the 2nd half, they never really were allowed to use this to their advantage as Pirates upped the effort at the break down, and injected pace in their attacks, that was rewarded in field position and ball ownership dominance for long periods. The much vaunted Skibbereen scrum never materialised either, but, most would agree that this was more to do with the collective tight unit Pirates' front 5 presented on the night.

 

The line out was a good source of primary pocession and this was not wasted with the backline using the fast ball off the top to great effect and really threatened late on when Niall Walley nearly put Jack Hickey away for a try. Colm O'Donovan deserves a special mention as he punched about his body weight all evening with a superb win forward display and definitely now looks like he can look forward to next year's Division 1 league as he is starting to cement down a position here as his own. Mick Keating took some big carries into contact and presented a good forward platform at all times, along with his partner Kevin Geary, who dominated the line out battle.

 

Eamon Ronan added penalties on the 50, 66 and 69 minutes to make sure of the victory.

Team:

1	Peter Cronin
2	Martin Clifford	Tom Keaveney (67')
3	Phil Weir
4	Kevin Geary
5	Mick Keating
6	Eoin McCoitir	John O'Malley (60')
7	Colm O'Donovan
8	Cillian Casey
9	Ruari Geary	Noel Dunne (47')
10	Eamon Ronan
11	Jack Hickey
12	John Barry-Murphy
13	Brendan Ronan
14	Rob O'Donovan	Mark Cronin (56')
15	Niall Walley

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