Junior Rugby Roundup

29th November 2010 By Munster Rugby

Crosshaven kept the Munster flag very much flying in the All Ireland Junior Cup with another highly impressive performance on the road as they overcame Dromore 36-15.

Having run up another high score at a Dundalk side who are doing well in the Leinster League, the Myrtleville club will fancy their chances of claiming this illustrious piece of silverware.

Monivea, Sligo and Cooke are the other semi-finalists with all clubs having to wait for the draw on the 9th of December before knowing who they will each face in the last four.

Crosshaven didn’t let the long journey north, nor the disappointment of their recent top of the table defeat to Cashel deter them going into this clash. They played a very physical game from the off to wear down their opponents. They put themselves in a good position at the break having established a 19-10 lead having scored three tries and ran in a further three tries after the interval to secure victory.

The firm conditions proved favourable to the runners on the Crosshaven team with Ross O’Connell and Chris Kearny both getting a pair of tries for themselves. Scrum-half Paul Cogan and Brian Murphy were also able to touch down while Andrew Lane kicked two conversions and Paul Memory slotted over one.

On the domestic front, the weather played havoc with the fixtures list. Only one of the five scheduled games took place in Division One with Clanwilliam continuing to prove their credentials in the top flight as they earned maximum points in a 34-3 win at home to St Senan’s.

Gavin Ryan proved to be the hero for the Tipperary Town club as he managed to breach the Senan’s defence in the last couple of minutes to secure the bonus point, with the Clare team putting in a dogged defensive display in a bid to hold their opponents. Ciaran Merrigan, Bernard Callaghan and John Reddigan were the other try scorers for Clanwilliam with Richard Giles kicking fourteen points. Ger McNamara responded with an early penalty for Senan’s.

Four games reached their conclusion in Division Two with St Mary’s joining Galbally at the top of the table after a narrow 21-18 victory at Newcastle West. The game could have gone either way and a win for the hosts would have seen them join Galbally on twenty points.

Mary’s got two tries through Matt Hickey and Glen Callaghan while Sean Lyons kicked three penalties and a conversion. Shane Neville got all of Newcastle West’s points with a brace of tries, two penalties and one conversion.
Castleisland kept their promotion hopes alive with a big 9-6 victory over local rivals Killarney. Three penalties from the boot of Mark Connolly proved crucial with Paudie Sheehan scoring two in reply for Killarney.

There were also a couple of big results at the bottom end of the table. Kinsale earned a big win away at Ennis to move themselves up the table as they won out 22-21. Peter Murphy bagged a total of twelve points with a try two conversions and a penalty while Frazer Hodgson and Tadgh Wright got a try each for the victors.

Ennis trailed 22-16 in the closing stages when Dylan O’Mahony broke through for his second try. Brian Murphy was unable to add the conversion which would have given Ennis the win but he did kick three penalties and a conversion earlier in the game to keep his side in touch throughout the game.

Charleville earned a draw at Muskerry but could very much have earned the victory. The North Cork team led 16-9 going into the last five minutes. James Leahy kicked three penalties and also converted a try from Tony Moffat. Eoin Keohane kept the hosts in touch with three penalties and his conversion of Darren O’Farrell’s late try secured the draw.

The North Cork derby between Kanturk and Mallow was also played but an injury to referee Paul O’Brien after twenty minutes meant that the game had to be abandoned.

In the Junior Two League South Dolphin continued their push for a place in phase two with a 52-17 home win over Crosshaven. Gary Ross scored three of his side’s eight tries. Roger Bevan, Mark Long, Jesse Griffin, Adam Sheahan and Tim Cotter were the other try scorers. Pat Ahern converted six of the tries.

Ballincollig defeated Muskerry 27-5. Kevin Ryan, Kevin Healy, Conor Owens John White and Andy Coughlan scored tries for Ballincollig and Ryan kicked a conversion.

Cork Constitution defeated Old Christians 26-15 with tries from Kevin Minihane, Dave Hayes, James Sullivan and Rory O’Sullivan and Gary Byrne kicked three conversions.

Cork Constitution had a narrow 20-18 home win over Shannon in the Under 21 League. Rob Clune, Darren Loftus and Cian McGovern scored tries for the winners and McGovern added a conversion and penalty.

All Ireland Junior Cup Quarter Finals:

Cooke 28,Skerries 24;
Dromore 15,Crosshaven 36;
Monivea 24,Ballymoney 0;
Sligo 24,Armagh 21;

Munster Junior League Division 1:Clanwilliam 34,St. Senan's 3;

Division 2:Castleisland 9,Killarney 6;
Ennis 21,Kinsale 22;
Kanturk 0,Mallow 0 (abandoned);
Muskerry 16,Charleville 16;
Newcastle West 18,St. Mary's 21;

Gleeson League Division 1:

Richmond 18,Bruff 15;
Young Munster 26,Old Crescent 19;

Junior 2 League South Section A:

Killarney 15,Kenmare 19;
Tralee 48,Castleisland 0;

Section C: Mallow 20,Kanturk 16;
Muskerry 5,Ballincollig 27;

Section E: Carrigaline 41,Sunday's Well 7;
Dolphin 52,Crosshaven 17;

Section F: Old Christians 15,Cork Constitution 26;

Junior 3 League South Section A:

Douglas 8,Ballincollig 44;
U.C.C. v Bandon OFF;

Under 21 South Western Conference Division 1 Section A:

Garryowen 13,Young Munster 13;
N.U.I.G. 3,Corinthians 26;
Old Crescent 24,Dolphin 10;

Section B: