JUNIOR side Clanwilliam put up a great battle against the holders, Garryowen, before going down in the Munster Senior Cup at Thomond Park yesterday.

Clanwilliam were unfortunate to be deprived of the services of their out-half Brian Maguire beforehand and their excellent second row Brendan McCormack during the game.

Garryowen were not at their best but they did enough to win comfortably, getting off to the right start with a penalty by Kenny Smith after two minutes and a try by Kieran Ronan in the 16th minute. A penalty by Smith on the stroke of halftime left them 11-0 ahead at the break.

Two minutes after the restart out-half Barry Everett jinked his way through for a lovely try, which Smith converted, before Clanwilliam responded almost immediately with an opportunist try by full-back Tommy Crowe.

After that Garryowen coasted home with tries by Richard Wallace and Dan Larkin and two further penalties by Kenny Smith

Richard Wallace went off shortly before the finish with a bruised thigh but the injury is not serious.