Junior Club Round-Up

The Munster Junior League has reached the half way stage and while Waterpark hole a six point lead in Division Two and Killorglin are nine points clear in Division Three with a game extra played, there is only a point between defending champions and leaders Clonmel over Newcastle West in Division One.

The best of Munster Junior Rugby was on display at Newcastle West when they hosted Abbeyfeale in a West Limerick derby. While a last minute penalty by Sean Herlihy decided the game in favour of Newcastle West 27-26, Abbeyfeale went into the Newcastle West dressing room after the game with a few crates of beer which were shared by both sides. How good to know that the spirit of rugby still exists.

This was a game that ebbed and flowed. Abbeyfeale went into the lead with a try from Colm O’Sullivan and Tom Hassett converted. Sean Murphy opened the home side’s account with a try but Abbeyfeale hit back with a try from Adam Roche for a 12-5 lead after 30 minutes, a lead they held until half time. Two tries from Sean Neville, both converted by Herlihy, put Newcastle West 19-12 ahead after just three minutes of the second half.
A John Murphy try converted by Hassett tied the scores after 51 minutes. Kieran McCarthy put Abbeyfeale back in front with a try which Hassett converted for a 26-19 lead with 15 minutes remaining. Sean Murphy scored his second try to reduce the margin to two points with four minutes remaining and then came Herlihy’s match winner in an absorbing contest.

Leaders Clonmel travelled to Galbally and led 7-0 at half time with a try by David O’Gorman which Brian Lonergan converted. A second try in the closing stages by Keelan McDonald converted by Lonergan secured the points for Clonmel.

Bandon won the big west Cork derby 29-17 against arch rivals Skibbereen. Gearoid Crowley, Tim Crowley and Sean Óg Murphy scored tries for Bandon with the latter converting three and also kicking a penalty. They were also awarded a penalty try to secure the bonus point. Skibbereen replied with tries from Ger Hurley and Kieran Shannon. Denis McCarthy converted both and also added a penalty.

Clanwilliam defeated Cobh Pirates 10-5 at the Paddocks with all the scores coming in the opening half.
Kieran O’Donnell was Clanwilliam’s try scorer and Niall Leahy converted and also added a penalty. Adam Devlin replied with a try for the home side.

St. Senan’s defeated bottom side Old Christians 21-13 at Jim Slattery Park. Brian Collins scored three tries for the Clare side and Dale O’Loughlin converted all three. Cian Smith replied with a try for Christians and John Marnell kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Richmond edged out Muskerry 23-13. Shane Burke put Muskerry ahead with a penalty after 12 minutes.
A try by Gearoid Phelan converted by Brian Bennett made it 7-3 for the visitors. Two penalties from Bennett to one by Burke left it 13-6 at half time in favour of Richmond. A penalty and a conversion by Bennett of a second Phelan try made it 23-6. Daniel Howard scored a try for Muskerry and Burke added the extras but home side were unable to score again to secure a losing bonus point.

Clonakilty were unable to produce the form that saw them defeat Richmond last when they lost at home to Kilfeacle 31-21. Kevin Kinnane was Kilfeacle’s star scoring three tries and they were also awarded a penalty try. Shane Looby converted all four tries and Jamie Heuston kicked a penalty. Paul O’Regan and Peter Deane scored tries for Clonakilty and Eoin Deasy added three penalties and a conversion.

Waterpark extended their lead at the top of the Second Division following their 23-3 away win over Kinsale under lights on Saturday evening. A try by Alex Molloy to a penalty by Tim Broderick gave Waterpark a 5-3 half time lead. Tries by Ivan Kiersey, Dave O’Donoghue and Scott Hornibrook and a Molloy penalty secured the points for the visitors.

Youghal defeated Castleisland 36-17 to move into second place. Alan Frahill O’Connor scored two tries for the east Cork side and Ian Broderick, Stephen Kelly, Killian Daly and Keith McCarthy got one each. McCarthy kicked three conversions. Shane Flynn, Gearoid Leonard and Willie Casey replied with tries for Castleisland and Casey added a conversion.

Thurles kept their promotion hopes alive with a hard earned 10-8 win over Crosshaven at the Tipperary venue in a thrilling contest. Adrian Burke scored a try for the winners and John Lillis kicked a conversion and a penalty. Tomas O’Donovan was Crosshaven’s try scorer and Ian Smith kicked a penalty.

St. Mary’s kept their promotion challenge alive with a 31-6 home win over Charleville. Darragh Kerley, Tommy Galvin, Paul O’Loughlin and Kelton Fallon scored tries for the Saints and Sean Lyons converted all four and also added a penalty. Michael O’Flynn replied with two penalties for Charleville.

Waterford City maintained their promotion challenge with a 36-3 home win over Ennis. Cian Foskins scored two tries and Darren Walsh, Michael Hayes and Stephen Walsh got one each. Hayes kicked three penalties and a conversion. Bryan Murphy replied with a penalty for the Clare side.

Mallow eased their relegation worries with a 31-20 home win over Presentation. Matt Taylor, Andrew Cashman, Jimmy Glynn and Dave Walsh scored tries for Mallow and Glynn added a penalty and four conversions. James Ryan, Shane O’Brien and Dan Lillis replied with tries for Presentation and O’Brien kicked a penalty and a conversion.

Ballincollig continued their climb up the table with a 23-15 away win over bottom side Tralee. Podge O’Flynn, Taljaard Hardus and Kevin Ryan scored tries for the winners. Charlie Boland kicked two penalties and a conversion. Ronan O’Sullivan and Ben O’Neill were try scorers for Tralee and O’Neill kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Killorglin remain undefeated in the Third Division after their 34-22 away win at Bantry Bay. Fionn O’Shea, John Michael Cronin O’Reilly, Liam Foley and Luke O’Shea scored tries for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea kicked four conversions and two penalties.

Fethard travelled to the Kerry Gaeltacht and defeated Chorca Dhuibhne 36-27 in a game that also doubled up as a Martin O’Sullivan Cup semi final. Gary Kavanagh scored two tries, four conversions and a penalty for Fethard. Conor Coen, Ritchie Carroll and Willie Power also scored tries for the winners. Shane Griffin, Michael Breathnach and Ciaran O Coileain replied with tries for the home side and Seamus Moriarty kicked three conversions and two penalties.

Killarney continued their recent good run with a 15-12 away win over Fermoy. The home side led 9-3 at half time with Eddie O’Connell kicking three penalties for the North Cork side and Mike Sheahan replying for Killarney. Two tries from Paul O’Sullivan and a Sheahan conversion secured the points for the Kerry side. Fermoy’s only response was a fourth penalty from O’Connell.

Dungarvan defeated Douglas-Carrigaline 16-14 at Moneygourney. David Hickey and Liam Sheehan scored tries for Dungarvan and Hickey added two penalties. Ben Atkins replied with a try for Douglas-Carrigaline and Padraig McSweeney kicked three penalties.

Two tries from Richard O’Sullivan and one by Richard Desmond helped Cobh Pirates to a 15-10 away win over Muskerry in the Junior Two League South.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior League Division 1: Clonakilty 21, Kilfeacle 31;
Cobh Pirates 5, Clanwilliam 10;
Galbally 0, Clonmel 14;
Muskerry 13, Richmond 23;
Newcastle West 27, Abbeyfeale 26;
Skibbereen 17, Bandon 29;
St. Senan's 21, Old Christians 13;

Division 2: Kinsale 3, Waterpark 24;
Mallow 31, Presentation 20;
St. Mary's 31, Charleville 6;
Thurles 10, Crosshaven 8;
Tralee 15, Ballincollig 23;
Waterford City 36, Ennis 3;
Youghal 36, Castleisland 17;

Division 3: Bantry Bay 22, Killorglin 34;
Chorca Dhuibhne 27, Fethard 36;
Douglas-Carrigaline 14, Dungarvan 16;
Fermoy 12, Killarney 15;

Martin O'Sullivan Cup Semi Final: Chorca Dhuibhne 27, Fethard 36;

Gleeson League Section A: Garryowen 49, Young Munster 3;
Newcastle West 13, Old Crescent 31;
Richmond 33, Scariff 20;
Shannon 41, Castleisland-Abbeyfeale 0;

Section B: Waterford City 17, Kilfeacle 7;

Junior 2 League South Section 1: Bandon 38, Skibbereen 7;

Section 2: Muskerry 10, Cobh Pirates 15;