Junior Rugby Round-Up

The opening round of games in Division One of the Munster Junior League produced some exciting rugby with five of the seven losing sides gaining a bonus point.

The meeting of last season’s top two teams, Clonmel and Bandon, ended in a home win for the defending champions Clonmel on a 21-14 win.

Clonmel led 8-7 at half-time with a try from Jacko Oostuysen and a Conor Cooney penalty. Kerry Desmond was Bandon’s try-scorer and Alex Morrissey converted.

A Cooney penalty and a penalty try which Cooney converted extended Clonmel’s lead to 18-7, before a try by Enda Phelan converted by Morrissy closed the gap. Cooney added a penalty in the closing stages.

Trailing 6-0 at half-time, Richmond came from behind to defeat Clanwilliam 14-9. Niall Leahy kicked Clanwilliam’s penalties. Darren Gallagher and Brion Bennett scored tries for Richmond and Bennett converted both but a third Leahy penalty secured a losing bonus point for the Tipperary side.

Galbally opened their campaign with a 16-10 home win over newly promoted Cobh Pirates. Mark Sweeney scored a try for Galbally, Jack O’Mullane kicked a conversion and two penalties and Liam Casey also added a penalty. Ian O’Donovan replied with a try for the Pirates and Alan Langford converted and also kicked a penalty.

The other promoted side Abbeyfeale lost away to Kilfeacle 16-7. A try by Brian McLoughlin and a conversion and two penalties by Shane Looby had Kilfeacle 13-0 ahead at half-time. Looby added another penalty before Abbeyfeale were awarded a penalty try which Tom Hassett converted.

St. Senan’s had an impressive 23-18 away win over Clonakilty. Eoin Deasy kicked two penalties to give Clon’ an early 6-0 lead but tries from Ian Fitzgerald and Brian Collins both converted by Declan Rowe had the Clare side 14-6 ahead at the interval.

Batt Duggan scored a try for Clonakilty, but a Dale O’Loughlin penalty and a Rowe drop goal and a penalty made it 23-11, before a Steve Cotter try converted by Deasy earned the home side a losing bonus point.

An injury-time try by Dave Hennessy earned Muskerry a 15-14 home win over Newcastle West. Tries by Daniel Horgan and Stephen Murray had Muskerry 10-6 ahead at the interval. Michael O’Leary kicked two penalties for the visitors.

A Sean Neville penalty and a try by Sean Murphy looked like giving Newcastle West the points until Hennessey’s late try.

Skibbereen defeated Old Christians 26-18 with tries from Richie Byrne, Denis McCarthy and Dave Jennings. McCarthy added a conversion and three penalties. Dave Heaphy and Darragh Daly replied with tries for the Rathcooney side and John Marnell kicked two conversions and two penalties.

In Division Two the two relegated clubs from the top flight made a winning start.

At Grove Island St. Mary’s defeated Mallow 11-3. A Brian Purcell try had the Saints 5-0 ahead at half-time.
Jimmy Glynn kicked a penalty for Mallow but Sean Lyons kicked two penalties for the home side, the second in the last minute of the game to deny Mallow a losing bonus point.

Waterpark got their campaign off to a winning start when they travelled to Castleisland and defeated the home side 28-10. Paddy Pierce scored two ties for Waterpark and David O’Donoghue and Emmett O’Shea got one each. James Pierce kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Sean Nolan was Castleisland’s try scorer and Willie Casey kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Waterford City defeated Tralee 36-22 in a game that produced ten tries. Waterford City had two tries from Simon O’Hara. Cian Foskin, Jack O’Neill and Aidan Power scored a try each and they were also awarded a penalty try. Michael Hayes kicked three conversions.

Darragh O’Neill (2), Simon Behan and Kevin O’Shea replied with tries for Tralee and O’Neill added a conversion.

Ballincollig defeated Charleville 19-12 at the north Cork venue. Dave Power scored the game’s only try for Ballincollig and Charlie Boland kicked four penalties. Michael O’Flynn replied with four penalties for Charleville.

Newly-promoted Youghal recorded a bonus point 30-9 home win over Ennis. Keith McCarthy, Aaron Daly, Brendan Mackey and Aaron Hogan each scored tries for Youghal and McCarthy tagged on two conversions and two penalties. Shane Galvin replied with three penalties for Ennis.

A try from Sean Kingston and a Cian O’Brien penalty was not enough for Kinsale who lost away to Thurles 38-8.

RESULTS:
Schools Interprovincial: Leinster 15, Munster 13;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Clonakilty 18, St. Senan's 23;
Clonmel 21, Bandon 14;
Galbally 16, Cobh Pirates 10;
Kilfeacle 16, Abbeyfeale 7;
Muskerry 15, Newcastle West 14;
Richmond 14, Clanwilliam 9;
Skibbereen 26, Old Christians 18;

Division 2: Castleisland 10, Waterpark 28;
Charleville 12, Ballincollig 19;
Crosshaven v Presentation postponed;
St. Mary's 11, Mallow 3;
Thurles 38, Kinsale 8;
Waterford City 36, Tralee 22;
Youghal 30, Ennis 9;

Munster Seconds League North: Nenagh Ormond 12, Old Crescent 14;

Munster Seconds League South: Highfield 43, Cashel 0;

Junior 2 Friendly: Clanwilliam 10, Mitchelstown 5;
Cobh Pirates 35, Dolphin 38;

Schools Junior Friendly: P.B.C. 11, RBAI 5;
P.B.C. B 7, RBAI B 32;

North Under 14 League Section 1: Nenagh Ormond 14, Bruff 5;

Section 2: Old Crescent 5, Ennis 52;
Richmond 22, Kilrush 0;
Shannon 5, U.L. Bohemian 5;
St. Senan's 17, Ballina-Killaloe-Scariff 17;

Under 18 Friendly: Bandon 12, Clonakilty 14;
Clanwilliam 3, Thurles 13;
Cork Constitution 22, Midleton 5;
Crosshaven 19, Douglas-Carrigaline 26;
Killorglin 21, Listowel 28;
Kinsale 12, Muskerry 24;
Old Christians 15, Sunday's Well 29;
Waterford City 18, Cashel 32;

Under 16 Friendly: Highfield 29, C.B.C. 27;
Killorglin 25, Listowel 5;
Tralee 41, Newcastle West-Estuary 10;

Women's All Ireland League: Cooke 12, Blackrock 27;
St. Mary's 25, Highfield 17;
Railway Union 23, Galwegians 12;
UL Bohemian 8, Old Belvedere 26;

Women's Qualifying League Conference A: Thurles 8, Shannon 0;

Conference B: Bandon 0, Tralee 50;
Dungarvan-Youghal 15, Bantry Bay 39;