Terenure College recorded back to back Bateman Cup titles as Aran Egan’s try just after the hour mark proved the deciding factor.

A titanic tussle from start to finish, a battle and war of attrition to scoop silverware in early January and in the finish Terenure held out late as the Cookies put everything on the line with 14 warriors on the field for most of the contest.

Nure were ahead 10-8 at the break and Young Munster certainly started the second half the better to lead, tries however from Jordan Coughlan and end were statement replies to restore order for the hosts, their intense defence also working wonders in those dying minutes to hold on.

Almost a century of waiting for Young Munster as another year will tick by before maybe we see them contest a fourth Bateman cup final in their history, this a third loss since their inaugural success, they gave it their all but down to 14 after Fintan Coleman saw red shy of the break it was a tough ask.

Despite being down to 14 they asked the questions for Terenure in the second half as Ruadhan Quinn powered his way over from a close range, had Aidan Shortall’s majestic carry and chip over the top from the restart worked we could be talking about a different story from this one.

Nure did the hard work and deservedly take the Bateman home to become the first team since Cork Con in 2017 to land consecutive wins. Energy sapping to say the least, these two reconvene in a few weeks in the AIL and if this has anything to go by we are in for another treat.

Starts to finals don't come much better than a try after three minutes and Terenure who almost had a score moments earlier showed their class from a lineout. Against the Cookies it was a man who calls Tom Clifford Park his own Alma Mater, Conor Phillips showing dancing feet to dot down after just three minutes, Callum Smith with the extras.

Terenure looked quite silky with possession however when Munsters were able to get on the front foot they too started to show plenty of threat. Following a lineout close to the Nure line an infringement allowed Shane O’Leary a shot at the posts and he made no mistake cutting the gap to 7-3.

As the minutes ticked by following that penalty the possession was largely spent in the Cookies half, as the phases went by a high tackle gave Smith the chance at the posts. The penalty outside the Munsters 10m line, Smith showed why he is an accomplished kicker to land the effort and put seven back between the teams.

Momentum swung back the way of the Cookies when Campbell Classon saw yellow for a tackle on Jack Lyons after 27 minutes. Munsters went for touch, using their driving maul as a weapon. The maul started to roll closer to the Nure and another pen followed, O’Leary once again opted for touch.

Gathering the lineout and going on the charge with the rolling maul, Sean Rigney with a terrific shove dotted down for the Limerick sides opening try of the contest, O’Leary saw the conversion miss the mark, the gap however was two just after the half hour mark.

Pressure remained applied by the Cookies, that was dashed when Coleman made an illegal high tackle and the referee deemed the offence more serious than the tackle from Classon and the Munsters 8 was shown a straight red. Questions were being asked of the Nure defence prior to that and for the minutes which followed they held out to lead 10-8 at the break.

It was all Young Munster in the infancy stage of the second stanza, five minutes on the clock they pushed ever closer to the Nure line, the Christmas dinners giving extra power to their forwards to drive close to the line, Quinn took possession and thread the needle to touch down for the second try. O’Leary made it a five point lead with the conversion as the Limerick men for the first time had the advantage.

Luck can sometimes be all you need to strike a killer blow but it can also be a cruel mistress when it goes against you. From the restart Aidan Shortall claimed the ball and dashed forward into the Nure half, a sublime chip over the top saw the bounce favour him and deceive the Nure cover, just as he attempted to gather the ball it squirted loose and the knock on prevented a third Cookies try.

Very much a let off for Nure and it gave them the chance to gather possession and with a penalty awarded minutes later they were back camped in the Munsters half, phase after phase Nure were relentless in their attack, using the extra man the ball sprayed wide and Harrison Brewer offloaded to Jordan Coughlan and the number 8 powered over for the second try, the game level as Smith saw his conversion tail wide.

Big moments are needed in games and after the Cookies pressed on and applied pressure shy of the Nure line, they almost coughed up a try at the other end. Terrific drive from Conor Phillips from his own 5m line, he galloped down the field and set the afterburners to cross for a third try, Shortall arrived like a steam train with a sensational recovery tackle to bundle the Terenure winger into touch.

When Nure had possession in the Munsters half they made use of it. Rarely did they cough up the ball and with the clock ticking past the hour mark the third try arrived. Terrific lineout movement and after some silky passes, Aran Egan spotted a gap and like a hot knife through butter crossed the whitewash for the third try. Smith on hand for a 22-15 lead. 

Do or die for the Cookies in those final minutes, everything but the kitchen sink came up the M7 and they threw everything at getting a score as the clock was slowly going towards the red. Kegan Christian Goss made a terrific drive for the line and it looked like they had the score, Nure who defended with precision all afternoon held up the Centre for a crucial try saving moment. 

The narrative as the game drew to a conclusion was turnovers and intense defensive duties from both teams, Conon O’Donnell produced a stunning turnover as the clock was in the red for a crucial Nure penalty, the ref did not blow at that point but they remained attentive to see it out in the finish.