Clare men share in Munster Rugby's URC success

TWO Clare men were involved as Munster powered to a 19-14 win over the Stormers in Cape Town to win a first United Rugby Championship title.

Ending a 12 year trophy drought for the province, Munster became the first Irish side to win the URC and picked up their first piece of silverware since defeating Leinster to win the 2011 Magners League.

Graham Rowntree’s side were in control for the majority of Saturday’s contest but nonetheless trailed by two points for large spells of the second half. That was until John Hodnett’s try six minutes from time which was converted by Jack Crowley.

This gave Munster the coveted lead and ensured loyal servant Peter O’Mahony would lift the URC in front of the 2,500 Munster supporters among the capacity crowd of 55,000.

Over 9,000 supporters travelled to Thomond Park on Monday for the homecoming in Limerick.

Former Ennis RFC man Ethan Coughlan was part of the extended squad that travelled to South Africa. The Barefield native was one of three scrum halves in the squad alongside Conor Murray and Craig Casey. He joined the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy in the summer of

2020.

Coughlan made his senior competitive debut for Munster in their opening Champions Cup fixture away to English club Wasps on 12 December 2021, coming on as a replacement for Conor Murray in the province's 35–14 win alongside fellow Ennis RFC men Conor Moloney and Tony Butler. Ethan captained the Ireland U18 Clubs in Italy in 2019 under Head Coach Fiach O’Loughlin before signing up with All Ireland League side Shannon RFC.

An unsung hero behind the success was Newmarket-on-Fergus native, Ged McNamara. The Stonehall man was appointed as the province’s Head of Athletic Performance in November 2020 having previously held the role of Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Lead Athletic Development Coach.