Coach Soper delighted with opening day victory

“I don’t think Cashel expected us to play with that width to our game,” he commented after the victory.

“It took us a while to get going but once we settled we played very well.

“We had a good platform from the set scrums and with the backs running onto the ball well, they looked very sharp and threatening. Cashel had nearly twice as much ruck ball as we had but we just made better use of it.

“They’re a very strong team and in wetter conditions the story could have been different. But we made the most of a good dry pitch and it’s good to have those five points.”

Bann’s Adam Doherty picked up the MOTM award for defensive and attacking play of a consistently high standard, including two mid-air catches of Cashel ‘garryowens’ of which Rob Kearney would have been proud.

Next up for Bann is a trip to Queens in the All Ireland League on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)