Champions Make Winning Start To Junior League Campaign

Defending champions Richmond and Clonmel were the only sides to pick up bonus point victories in the opening series of games in Division One of the Munster Junior League.

Richmond ran in nine tries in their opening encounter at home to Crosshaven. It was 34-10 to the Limerick side at half time. Emmet Harty and James Kelly both scored two tries each and Michael Kelleher, Stephen Clancy, Tony Flynn, Pat Humphreys and Barry McNamara also crossed the line. Clancy kicked three conversions. Crosshaven replied with three tries, two from Cian Keegan and one by Gary Fitzgibbon.

Clonmel defeated St. Senan’s 29-13 with Conor Cooney contributing nineteen points to his side’s tally. David Lonergan gave Clonmel the lead with a try after five minutes which Cooney converted. Further tries by Cooney and Robbie Carroll and a Cooney conversion had the home side 17-6 in front at the break. Declan Collins replied with two penalties for Senan’s. Cooney scored two further tries and a conversion and Stephen Ryan replied with a late consolation try for the Clare side and Phil Noone converted.

Both the promoted sides had mixed luck with away games in Tipperary. Newcomers Newcastle West got off to a winning start with an 18-9 away win over Clanwilliam. A try from John Sheehan to a Richard Childs penalty had the West Limerick side 5-3 ahead at the break. Declan Moloney added two tries for the winners and Alan Roche kicked a penalty. Childs replied with a penalty and a drop goal for Clanwilliam.

The other promoted side St. Mary’s lost away to Kilfeacle 18-15. Pat Ryan and Darren Lowry scored tries for the winners and Shane Looby kicked two penalties and a conversion. Sean Markham and Matthew Hickey replied with tries for Mary’s and Kevin South kicked a conversion and penalty.

A last minute penalty from Darragh Meade earned Kanturk a narrow 19-18 home win over Old Christians. Aaron Jones scored a try for Kanturk and Meade converted and kicked four penalties in all. Aidan Ware and Conor Mangan replied with tries for the Rathcooney side. Mangan kicked a penalty and Max Castell added a penalty and conversion.

Galbally started their campaign with a 21-15 home win over Waterpark. Three penalties by Tom Kiersey had Waterpark 9-8 ahead at half time. Ian Ryan scored a try for Galbally and Craig Airey kicked a penalty. James Taylor scored a second try for the home side and Airey added two penalties and a conversion. Kiersey replied with two further penalties for Waterpark.

A last minute penalty by Eoin Geary earned Cobh Pirates a 16-15 home victory over Tralee. Tomas Kearney was Cobh’s try scorer and Geary kicked a conversion and three penalties. Gareth Walsh replied with five penalties for the Kerry side.

In the Munster Junior Clubs Shield quarter finals, Muskerry looked like to be heading to the semi finals when they led Castleisland 23-10 with minutes remaining, but two converted tries saw the Kerry side emerge winners. 24-23. Mick Cronin scored two tries for the home side, Sean Riordan one and a penalty try and JJ Casey kicked two conversions. Rob O’Keeffe contributed nineteen points to Muskerry’s total with two tries, two penalties and a conversion. JJ Herlihy also scored a try for the Mid Cork side.

Andy Cashman kicked a last minute penalty to give Mallow a 16-14 away win over Kinsale. Leonard Browne scored a try for Mallow and Cashman kicked a conversion and three penalties. Rob Darmody replied with a try for Kinsale and Peter Murphy kicked three penalties.

Ennis defeated Presentation at rathuard 19-5. Cathal Talty, Niall O’Brien and Luke Carmody scored tries for the Clare side and Conor Kearns kicked two conversions. Ger Clancy scored a try for Presentation.

A try from Liam Bannon and a penalty by Owen Dwyer was not enough for Thurles who lost at home to Youghal 9-8.

In the Martin O’Sullivan Cup only two of the quarter final ties went ahead. Abbeyfeale defeated Scariff 51-0. Tom Enright contributed two tries, five conversions and two penalties to the West Limerick side’s total. Matt Behan scored three tries and Ciaran McCarthy and Donagh Kelly got one each.

A try by Niall Coady and three penalties by Aaron Foskins helped Waterford City to a narrow 14-11 home win over Ballincollig.

Dolphin defeated Cork Constitution 20-10 in the final of the Dennehy Cup at Woodleigh Park. David Griffin, Rob Hyde and Tim Cotter scored tries for Dolphin and Mark Long added a conversion and a penalty. Cormac Fouhy replied with a try for Con’ and Simon Barry converted and also kicked a penalty.

In the Munster Seconds League South Cork Constitution defeated Midleton 34-9. Mark O’Mahony scored two tries for the winners and Sean Glynn, Eoin O’Donnell and Brendan Monaghan got one each. Brian Derham kicked three penalties and Robert Colan-O’Leary replied with three penalties for the home side.

RESULTS:
Under 19 Inter Provincial Play Offs: Leinster Whites 23, Munster 19;

Club Under 18 Inter Provincial: Ulster 12, Munster 34;

Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Cork Constitution 22, Clontarf 20;
Garryowen 19, Dolphin 3;
Old Belvedere 9, Lansdowne 16;
Shannon 3, Young Munster 36;
St. Mary's College 17, U.L. Bohemian 13;

Division 1B: Belfast Harlequins 20, U.C.D. 48;
Bruff 25, Ballymena 5;
Buccaneers 17, Ballynahinch 27;
Dublin University 29, Blackrock College 11;
Malone 36, Dungannon 13;

Division 2A: Bective Rangers 26, Highfield 33;
City of Derry 15, U.C.C. 45;
Corinthians 33, D.L.S.P. 15;
Greystones 17, Banbridge 28;
Midleton 11, Cashel 21;
Old Crescent 27, Queens University 17;
Old Wesley 25, Seapoint 18;
Terenure College 19, Galwegians 8;

Division 2B: Clonakilty 13, City of Armagh 13;
Connemara 6, Boyne 24;
Instonians 22, Skerries 20;
NUIM Barnhall 19, Naas 22;
Rainey Old Boys 22, Nenagh Ormond 17;
Sligo 12, Navan 27;
Sunday's Well 33, Thomond 28;
Suttonians 21, Ards 12;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Clanwilliam 9, Newcastle West 18;
Clonmel 29, St. Senan's 13;
Cobh Pirates 16, Tralee 15;
Galbally 21, Waterpark 15;
Kanturk 19, Old Christians 18;
Kilfeacle 18, St. Mary's 15;
Richmond 51, Crosshaven 15;

Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield: Castleisland 24, Muskerry 23;
Kinsale 14, Mallow 6;
Presentation 5, Ennis 10;
Thurles 8, Youghal 9;

Martin O'Sullivan Cup: Scariff 0, Abbeyfeale 51;
Waterford City 14, Ballincollig 11;

Munster Seconds League North: Garryowen 28, Thomond 12;
Young Munster 31, Shannon 7;

Munster Seconds League South: Cashel 11, Highfield 10;
Dolphin 52, Sunday's Well 19;
Midleton 9, Cork Constitution 34;

Dennehy Cup Final: Cork Constitution 10, Dolphin 20;

McInerney Cup Semi Finals: Bruff 29, Old Crescent 17;
Young Munster 17, Richmond 21;

North Munster Under 16 League Section 2: Newcastle West 32, Newport 14;

North Munster Under 14 Conference: Kilrush 5, Newcastle West 7;

West Munster Under 17 League: Killorglin 5, Tralee Colts 28;
Listowel 17, Killarney 7;

Women's All Ireland League Division 1: Galwegians 8, U.L. Bohemian 51;
Highfield 65, Cooke 0;
St. Mary's College 5, Old Belvedere 41;
Tralee 37, Blackrock College 0;

Division 2: Nenagh Ormond 38, New Ross 0;
Shannon 5, Portlaoise 37;
Young Munster 22, Ballincollig 12;