Junior Rugby Roundup

The Munster Junior League First Division title looks likely to be decided on Sunday 6th March when the top two sides Richmond and Cashel meet.

Leaders Cashel remain unbeaten after they recorded their eleventh win of the campaign with a 26-0 home win over Clanwilliam. This was not an easy victory as the score suggests. Cashel raced into an early lead with two penalties from Daragh O’Brien and a try by Brendan O’Connor five minutes before the break left it 11-0 at half time. O’Brien added a third penalty early in the second half and two late tries by Kevin Quinlan and Pat O’Connor, one of which O’Brien converted completed the scoring.

Richmond will not give up their title easily as they had to battle all the way for a 10-8 away win over Skibbereen. It was 10-3 to the visitors at half time with Pat McNamara scoring a try for Richmond and Stephen Clancy kicked a conversion and penalty. David Shannon replied with a penalty for the home side. Peter Stout was credited with a try for Skibbereen as their pack went over the line but the visitors held out to maintain their unbeaten record in the league.

At the other end of the table Ballincollig now look certain to be relegated following their 29-9 defeat away to St. Senan’s. With three games remaining against Tralee, Waterpark and Skibbereen the Tanner Park sides need to win these games to have any chance of remaining in the top flight.
In a closely fought first half Senan’s led 7-6 at half time with a try by Michael O’Connell which Dylan Sonemann converted. Keith Stafford replied with two penalties for the visitors. Tries by Daragh McCoy, Ian Fitzgerald, Ger McNamara and Paul O’Halloran and a conversion by McNamara secured maximum points for the home side and moved them ten points clear of their opponents. Ballincollig’s only reply was a drop goal from Stafford.

Cobh Pirates have now slipped to second last place after their 19-5 away defeat by Thurles and are eight points ahead of Ballincollig. John Lillis, Paul Darcy and David Walsh were try scorers for the Tipperary side and Lillis converted two of the tries. Thomas Keaveny replied with a try for Cobh.

Crosshaven got back to winning ways ahead of next weeks All Ireland Junior Cup semi final tie at home to Sligo with a 24-3 home win over a depleted Clonmel side. Bobby Rodgers, Eamon Ring, Jake Grey and Darren O’Keeffe scored tries for the home side and Liam Delaney added two conversions.

Kilfeacle remain in fourth place after a penalty from Shane Luby, five minutes from time gave the Tipperary side an 8-5 away win over Waterpark. Paul Hackett opened the scoring with a try for Waterpark but Kilfeacle were level before half time with a try from Shane Casey.

Tralee are still in the hunt for a top five finish and a place in next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup following their 20-15 away win over Old Christians. Brian Mullins, Johnny Morath and Garret Walsh scored tries for the Kerry side and Walsh kicked a conversion and penalty. Cillian Spain replied with a try for the Rathcooney side and Aidan Tobin kicked a conversion and two penalties.

There is no change at the top of the Second Division with all top four sides winning and still in the hunt for the two promotion places.

Leaders Kanturk traveled to Killarney and defeated the home side 14-8. Paul Cotter scored a try for the visitors and Darragh Meade kicked three penalties.

Galbally remain unbeaten with a 21-9 home win over Charleville. A try by Kevin Casey converted by Darren Guerin had Galbally 7-6 ahead at half time. Frankie Holly kicked two penalties for the visitors. Guerin added three further penalties to one from Holly before a late try by Liam Casey denied Charleville a losing bonus point.

Newcastle West defeated Ennis 10-3 to remain in third place. Tommy Kelleher opened the scoring with a penalty for the West Limerick side but Bryan Murphy had Ennis level by the interval with a penalty. A try by James Kelly converted by Kelleher secured the victory for the home side.

A try by Denis Lean ten minutes from time converted by Mark Connolly gave Castleisland a 7-0 home win over Muskerry.

Bandon moved off the foot of the table with an 18-15 away win over Kinsale. Pat Prendergast and Giles Murphy scored tries for the winners and Cathal Crowley kicked two penalties and a conversion.

The other two games in this Division Newport v Youghal and St. Mary’s against Mallow were postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

Only three of the six games in the Third Division went ahead. The three games that were postponed were the top of the table clash between the top two sides Presentation against Scariff. Abbeyfeale v Kilrush and Shandon v Dungarvan.

Fermoy who lost for the first time last week were defeated again when Douglas beat them 19-12 at Moneygourney. Fermoy got off to a great start with tries from Jim Mackessy and Courtney Canning and a conversion by Shane O’Riordan. Douglas hit back with two tries by Deo O’Connor and one by Alan Moyes. Padraig McSweeney converted two of the tries.

Waterford City kept their promotion challenge alive with a 34-3 home win over Bantry Bay. Damien Kennedy, Len Power, Tom Bowes, Peter Jones, Rory Hughes and Colin Lynch were try scorers for the Suirsiders and Aaron Foskin added two conversions.
Carrick-on-Suir defeated Killorglin 7-6 with Dave Kiersey scoring a try for the winners and Mikey Cronin converted. Luke O’Shea replied with two penalties.

In the Munster Seconds League South, three penalties by Horace Kenworthy earned Sunday’s Well a 9-7 away win over Midleton.

Carrigaline continued their good run with a 41-12 home win over U.C.C. in the Junior Two League South. Dave Donoghue scored an outstanding tries for the winners.

Ballincollig defeated Cork Constitution 20-10 with tries by Fergal Considine and Michael Cantwell-Murphy. Kevin Ryan converted both and also kicked two penalties.

Dolphin defeated Dungarvan 29-3 with Tim Cotter and Adam Sheehan scoring two tries each and Pat Ahern adding three conversions and a penalty.

Cobh Pirates defeated Mallow 16-3 in their section of the Mick Barry Cup. Dave Mulcahy and Peter Mullen scored tries for the Pirates and Liam Greaney kicked two penalties.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior League Division 1:Cashel 24,Clanwilliam 0;
Crosshaven 24,Clonmel 3;
Old Christians 13,Tralee 20;
Skibbereen 8,Richmond 10;
St. Senan's 29,Ballincollig 9;
Thurles 19,Cobh Pirates 5;
Waterpark 5,Kilfeacle 8;

Division 2:Castleisland 7,Muskerry 0;
Galbally 21,Charleville 9;
Killarney 8,Kanturk 14;
Kinsale 15,Bandon 18;
Newcastle West 10,Ennis 3;
Newport v Youghal Off;
St. Mary's v Mallow Off;

Division 3:Abbeyfeale v Kilrush Off;
Carrick-on-Suir 7,Killorglin 6;
Douglas 19,Fermoy 12;
Presentation v Scariff Off;
Shandon v Dungarvan Off;
Waterford City 34,Bantry Bay 3;

Munster Seconds League North:Bruff ,Nenagh Ormond ;
Garryowen ,Old Crescent ;
UL Bohemian ,Shannon ;
Young Munster ,Thomond ;

South: Dolphin 11,U.C.C. 21;
Midleton 7,Sunday's Well 9;

Gleeson League Final:Cashel v Shannon Off;

Webb Cup:Clanwilliam ,Fethard ;

Junior 2 League Group A:Carrigaline 41,U.C.C. 12;
Clonakilty 7,Tralee 0;

Group B:Cork Constitution 10,Ballincollig 20;
Dolphin 29,Dungarvan 3;

Mick Barry Cup Group A:Cobh Pirates 16,Mallow 3;
Youghal 55,Crosshaven 0;

Group B:Kenmare 3,Bandon 16;
Skibbereen 13,Old Christians 7;

George O'Connell Cup Group A: Waterford City 5,Muskerry 5;

Junior 3 League South Group A:Ballincollig 26,Mitchelstown 0;

Group B:Cork Transport 25,Bandon 10;

Under 21 South Western Conference Division 1 Group A:Garryowen 6,U.L. Bohemian 16;
Highfield 9,Shannon 28;
Young Munster v Cork Constitution Off;
U.C.C. 17,Buccaneers 9;

Group B:Corinthians 3,Galwegians 18;
Dolphin 0,Waterpark 3;

Avonmore Milk Schools Senior Cup:P.B.C. 21,Glenstal Abbey 5;

Avonmore Milk Under 19 League Group A:Thomond 52,Tralee 0;
Thurles ,Shannon Abandoned;

Group B:Kilfeacle ,Bruff Off;
Sunday's Well 18,Nenagh Ormond 0;

Group C:Crosshaven 38,U.L. Bohemian 0;
Garryowen 12,Waterpark 54;

Group D:Scariff ,Highfield Off;
Young Munster ,Clonmel Off;

Avonmore Milk Under 17 League Group A:Bandon ,Waterpark Off;
Shannon ,Killarney ;

Group B:Muskerry 5,Kilfeacle 36;

Group C:Dungarvan 10,Sunday's Well 10;
Listowel 5,Old Crescent 43;

Group D: Thomond 0,Abbeyfeale 7;

South Munster Under 19 League Group A: Fermoy 0,Cobh Pirates 20;

Group 2B:Clonakilty 5,Bandon 8;

South Munster Under 18 League:Youghal 17,Cork Constitution 10;

South Munster Under 17 League Group A:Crosshaven 17,Kinsale 15;
Fermoy 0,Midleton 19;

Group B: Ballincollig 31,Bantry Bay 5;

Group C: Old Christians 32,Cobh Pirtaes 5;

South Munster Under 15 League Section 1:Kanturk 24,Sunday's Well 5;
Mallow 16,Midleton 14;
Muskerry 46,Charleville 0;

Section 2:Dunmanway 5,Clonakilty 34;
Highfield 10,Kinsale 5;
Skibbereen 20,Crosshaven 21;

East Under 17 Development League: Clonmel 34,Carrick-on-Suir 0;

Womens Munster Cup:Youghal 0,Ballincollig 5;
Young Munster v Thurles Off