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Prendergast Extends Contract With Young Munster

November 7, 2018

Mike Prendergast has agreed a two-year contract extension with Ulster Bank League Division 1A club Young Munster
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Young Munster RFC have confirmed that Mike Prendergast will be at the helm for the next two years following his successful first two seasons as Director of Rugby with the Limerick based club.
Coming ahead of their Ulster Bank League Division 1 semi-final against Cork Constitution at Temple Hill on Sunday (kick-off 2.35pm), this is a significant boost for the Cookies.

In his first season in charge, Mike Prendergast guided Young Munster to the Limerick Charity Cup and Munster Senior Cup titles and the team were also promoted to Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League.

Following on from that, this season Munsters have retained the Charity Cup, and on Sunday are looking forward to battling it out with defending champions Cork Con for a place in the Division 1 final.

Speaking this week ahead of the big game, Prendergast commented: ‘I’m delighted that Young Munster have offered me another two years and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the club.

‘It’s a club that is on the rise at the moment, both on and off the pitch. This year we launched a state-of-the-art gymnasium and all-weather pitch adding to our existing facilities.

‘Also, on the pitch, I’m working with a core group of players who, time and again, have stepped up to the plate and worked extremely hard throughout the season.

‘The same is to be said of all the teams in Young Munster, supported by a strong committee in the background which is vital.’

The former Munster scrum half added: ‘Obviously all our focus at the moment is towards Sunday, going down to Cork to play against a strong Cork Con team who are the reigning champions.

‘But we’re going with nothing to lose and everything to play for. We can be confident with our recent performances but will have to work very hard to grind out a win.’

Prendergast’s role as Young Munster’s player-coach changed somewhat at the start of this season when he tore his cruciate knee ligament and was forced to spend the rest of the campaign on the sidelines in his coaching capacity. Thankfully this has not hindered the side’s success in the league.

Speaking about Prendergast’s contract extension, Young Munster RFC President Derek Tobin said: ‘We are delighted that Mike has agreed to extend his contract.

‘It is great for the club that we can have this continuity going into the next couple of seasons. He is a great coach and leader, and has had huge success with Young Munster over the last two seasons.

‘Certainly an up-and-coming coach in terms of Irish rugby and a guy who has gained a wealth of experience as a player with Munster, Gloucester and Bourgoin, and has brought all that professional experience into his coaching role.’