Junior Rugby Roundup

There were no major upsets in the Fifth round of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup, as St. Mary’s win the big promotion game in Division Two of the Munster Junior League.

The closest game that came to an upset in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup was at Temple Hill when a great start by Crosshaven saw them race into a 13-5 lead after thirty minutes.
The sides were level 13-13 at half time and Cork Constitution finished out deserving winners 30-20.
Barry Galvin, Vincent O’Brien, Luke Duffy and Sean O’Leary scored tries for Con’ and Jamie Murphy kicked two conversions and two penalties.
Michael Lynch and Jamie Kind replied with tries for Crosshaven and Ian Smith converted both and added two penalties.

Mitchelstown cup dream came to an end when they lost at home to holders Young Munster 33-0.
Conor Bartley two, David Gleeson, Karl Madden and Cian Clohessy were Munsters try scorers and Paul Downes converted four of the tries.

Cashel won the all senior club clash at Coonagh defeating Shannon 17-9. Brendan Crosse got the game’s only try for Cashel and in the battle of the kickers Eamon Connolly kicked four for Cashel and Barry McGrory replied with three for Shannon.

Clonmel defeated Midleton 44-5 with Dylan Cadogan, Greg Carroll and Paul Denn each scoring two tries. Niall Campion and David Lonergan also scored tries and Conor Cooney kicked two conversions. Eoin McGrath replied with a try for Midleton.

Highfield, Bandon and Richmond all could be a serious threat to take the trophy.

Highfield became the fourth Senior club to reach the last eight after their 39-12 home win against Abbeyfeale. Highfield scored six tries and were 27-7 ahead at half time.
Michael Dillane, George French scored two tries each for Highfield, Colin Lougheed and Derek Houlihan got one each. Kieran Duggan kicked a drop goal and two conversions and Andy Finn added a conversion.
Pat Brislane and Eoin McEnery replied with tries for Abbeyfeale and Derry O’Connor kicked a conversion.

Bandon had to battle all the way for a 19-7 home win over Galbally. Tries from Gearoid O’Leary and Olan Crowley, the latter converted by Kerry Desmond had Bandon 12-0 ahead at half time.
Jack Donovan brought Galbally back into the tie with a try which Liam Casey converted.
A third try by Garth Burton converted by Desmond ensured Bandon’s passage to the last eight.

Richmond proved too strong for Skibbereen at the west Cork venue winning 30-3. A try by Kealan Stephenson and a conversion and a penalty by Brian Mullins had the visitors 10-3 ahead at half time. Denis McCarthy kicked a penalty for the home side.
Further tries by Stephenson and Sami Farag, a penalty by Mullins and a conversion each by Tadhg Bennett and Darragh Oxley eased Richmond into the next round.

The Cobh Pirates v Clanwilliam tie was postponed due to a bereavement that affected the Tipperary club and will be played next Sunday.

The draw for the quarter finals is –
Cork Constitution v Cobh Pirates or Clanwilliam,
Richmond v Clonmel,
Young Munster v Highfield,
Bandon v Cashel.
Ties to be played 12^th March with a 2.30pm kick off.

St. Mary’s took another big step towards a return to the top flight of the Munster Junior League with a 12-10 away win over fellow promotion chasing side Thurles.
The Tipperary side led 10-5 at half time with tries from Eoin O’Dwyer and Shane Moloney to a try by Ger McInerney.
The only score of the second half was a Greg Barry try which Sean Lyons converted, but Thurles will regret the many missed kicks at goal.

Castleisland booked their place in the semi final of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate after their 21-10 home win against Ballincollig.
Kieran Downey, Jack Daly and CJ O’Sullivan scored tries for the Kerry side and Brian Leonard converted all three.
Steve O’Connell was Ballincollig’s try scorer and Charlie Boland converted and also added a penalty.

Dungarvan and Fethard will contest the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl final after wins over Killarney and Killorglin.

Dungarvan defeated Killarney 24-13 with Maurice Power scoring two tries and Martin Houlihan and Cillian Corkery getting one apiece. Dave Hickey kicked two conversions.

Fethard defeated Killorglin 13-7 to reach their second final this season.
Matthew Walsh was Fethard’s try scorer and Conor Kavanagh kicked a conversion and two penalties. Seamus Doyle replied with a try for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea converted.

Charleville needed extra time to see off the challenge of Fermoy 15-12 in the quarter final of the O’Neill Cup. Charleville led 9-0 at half time with three penalties from Oran Hennessy. Dylan Lacey and Eric Stapleton had tries for Fermoy with Lacey converting the latter but a fourth penalty from Hennessy sent the game into extra time.
Another penalty from Hennessy decided the contest.

RESULTS:

Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup: Bandon 19, Galbally 7 ;
Clonmel 44, Midleton 5;
Cork Constitution 30, Crosshaven 20;
Highfield 39, Abbeyfeale 12;
Mitchelstown 0, Young Munster 33;
Shannon 9, Cashel 17;
Skibbereen 3, Richmond 30;

Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate: Castleisland 21, Ballincollig 10;

Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl: Dungarvan 24, Killarney 13;
Fethard 13, Killorglin 7;

Munster Junior League Division 2: Thurles 10, St. Mary's 12;

O'Neill Cup: Charleville 15, Fermoy 12(aet);

McInerney Cup: Richmond 19, Shannon 26;

South Junior 2 League Play Offs: Bandon 5, Highfield 17;
Dolphin 15, Cork Constitution 14;

South Mick Barry Cup: Cobh Pirates 35, Mallow 15;

South Junior 3B League: Kinsale 0, Sunday's Well 19;

Donal Walsh Trophy: Bruff 35, UL Bohemian 21;
Garryowen 18, Dolphin 11;
Sunday's Well 16, UCC Beagles 27;
UCC Bloodhounds 12, Cork Constitution 27.