Provincial Rugby Roundup

A mixture of League and Cup games dominated this weekend’s program, that saw Crosshaven and Douglas win their first league games of the season as Clanwilliam share top spot with Old Christians in Division 2.

While in the Women’s Division One Cup first round Dolphin overcame West Cork natives Roaring Water Bay in Virgin Media Park.

A bonus point win for Kanturk in Mallow in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League sees Mallow now bottom of the table as a result of a 29-15 win for Kanturk in the North Cork derby. Mallow led 15-12 at half time with tries from Jimmy Glynn and Barry Taylor along with a conversion and penalty by Hunter Cowan, but the visitors dominated proceedings after the break. Brian Sullivan, James Moylan, Andrew Vaughan and Eanna O’Mahony scored tries for Kanturk and Paul O’Keeffe kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Crosshaven moved off the foot of the table with a 26-10 win at home to Skibbereen. Killian Twomey, Jake Russell, Patrick Cotter and Denis McBarron scored tries for Crosshaven. Fergal Conway kicked two conversions and Kealan Daly one. Tom Beare and David Shannon replied with tries for Skibb’.

Clanwilliam share top spot with Old Christians in Division 2 after their 33-9 away win at Fermoy. Ben Downey scored two tries for the winners and Niall Sharpe, Phillip Treacy and Darragh Crowe got one each. Niall Leahy kicked four conversions. Ben McCarthy kicked two penalties for Fermoy and Peter Finn one.

In Division 3 Douglas defeated Galbally-Mitchelstown 29-17 at Castletreasure. Eoin Philpott, Ruairi O’Connor, Jack O’Shea and Darren Maye scored tries for Douglas and Philpott kicked three conversions and a penalty. Evan Dunne replied with two tries for the visitors and Con Dunne got one. Danny McGrath kicked a conversion.

In the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup Bandon defeated Sunday’s Well 39-22. In an evenly contested opening half the lead changed hands on six occasions but with the elements in the second half the home side ran out comfortable winners. Mark Bateman, Kain Donnellan, Ben Donegan, Harry Hall, Tom Ferguson and Adam Hutchinson were the Bandon try scorers. Hugh O’Mahony kicked three conversions and a penalty. The Well replied with tries from Finn MacFhlannchadha, Harry McHenry, Robert Loftus and Andrew Mintern. Ciaran Maguire kicked one conversion.

Bandon will have home advantage in the semi-finals against Richmond after the Limerick side defeated St. Mary’s 23-17 in a local derby tie at the Canal Bank. Cein O’Reilly and Jason Murray were Richmond’s try scorers and Brian Mullins converted both and also added three penalties. Despite trailing 20-3 early in the second half, Mary’s rallied with a try from Craig Duggan, a conversion by Adam Guerin and a penalty try to leave three between them. Tom Harrington kicked a penalty for the Saints in the opening half.

A try from Jack Lonergan converted by Laszio Rabatin in the final minute earned Old Christians a 36-29 away win at Ennis in the Junior Challenge Shield. Rabatin scored two tries and two conversions with the other tries coming from Ivan Tripp and Oscar Clarke. They were also awarded a penalty try. Joey Keane and Dylan Kenny were the try scorers for Ennis and Kenny converted both tries and also added five penalties.

Charleville defeated Castleisland 29-7 with two tries from Charlie Collins and one each by Darragh Browne and Jessie Smith. Smith kicked three conversions and a penalty. Castleisland replied with a try by Darren O’Donovan and a conversion by Joe Sheehy.

St. Senan’s advanced to the last four with a 50-20 home win against Waterpark. James McNamara and Brian Collins each scored two tries each for the Clare side and Evan O’Gorman, Berto Kelly, Craig Airey and Declan Rowe were their other try scorers. Rowe kicked five conversions. Ben Wallis, Mick Hayes and Tom Griffiths were Waterpark try scorers and Hayes added a conversion and a penalty.

In the semi-finals St. Senan’s will host Old Christians and Charleville will be at home to the winners of the Ballincollig v Clanwilliam tie.

In the Martin O’Sullivan Cup holders Carrick-on-Suir advanced to the last four with a 38-13 home win against Scariff. Fionn Barry, Braedon Wheeler, Jack O’Connell, Kieran Kinsella and Matthew O’Toole scored tries for Carrick’ and Barry kicked five conversions and a drop goal. Anthony Halpin replied with a try for Scariff, and Marc Loughran converted and also added two penalties.

Last year’s defeated finalists Killarney progressed to the semi-finals with a 50-10 home win against Dungarvan. Finn Kenneally and Donnchadh Grealy each scored two tries for the Kerry side, and Sam Buckley, Alex O’Leary, Adam Walsh and Aaron Jones got one apiece. Ciaran O’Brien kicked two conversions and Grealy three. Reinhard Groenewald scored Dungarvan’s try, and David Hickey converted and also added a penalty.

Corca Dhuibhne got revenge for last week’s defeat in the league with a 38-28 away win at Killorglin. Eoin Ó Suilleabhain scored two tries for the Gaeltacht side, and Niall Flannery, Gearoid Breathnach and Sean Fenton got one each. Tip Delaney kicked  five conversions and a penalty. Rob Lynch, Timmy Lynch, Conall Whealan and Tim Riordan replied with tries for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea converted all four tries.

The lineup for the semi-finals are Killarney v Youghal and Corca Dhuibhne v Carrick-on-Suir.

Virgin Media Park was the location for the opening round of the Women’s Division One Cup as Dolphin took on Roaring Water Bay. The home side secured the win in the narrowest of fashions with a hattrick from Rhiannon Whelan and one from captain Mairead O’Sullivan. Emma Byrne converted three out of the four tries and kicked a penalty to secure the win 29-5.

In Division Two the league continued with Mallow narrowly losing to Clonakilty 5-10