Junior Rugby Round Up

The Senior club second sides dominated in the opening round of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup, as Clonmel took another step closer to reclaiming their Munster Junior League title.

All six scheduled games in the opening round of the Junior Cup did not produce any major upsets as Thomond edged out Ennis 22-17 in a thrilling tie at Liam Fitzgerald Park with a late try from Stephen Hayes clinching victory. Two tries from Cian Guilfoyle and one by Adam Ryan along with a conversion by Ronan O’Halloran kept Ennis in front. Cian Hinchy replied with two tries for Thomond and Adam Guerin converted both tries and added a penalty to keep Thomond in contention.

Thomond will now host Waterford City in the next round.

Midleton proved too strong for Douglas-Carrigaline at Wilton winning 40-10. Rob Mitchell and Michael Cronin each scored two tries for the east Cork side and Rob Williams and Jordan Lynch got one each. Williams kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Luke Johnson replied with a try for the home side and Padraig McSweeney kicked a conversion and a penalty. Midleton’s reward will be a home tie against U.L. Bohemian in Round 2.

Sunday’s Well were too strong for Dunmanway at winning 29-5. Hero for the ‘Well was winger Kieran Maye who scored three tries and Eathon Ackland and Gary Downey got one each Josh Featherstone kicked two conversions. The ‘Well will now renew rivalry with Youghal in the next round.

A strong first half which saw Bruff lead 22-0 was the basis for their 44-19 home win over Killorglin. Mike Cooke, Davy O’Grady, Tadgh Leddin, Brian O’Connell, Joe Berry, Gary Boyce and Graham Whelan were try scorers for Bruff. O’Grady kicked a penalty and two conversions with Leddin also adding a conversion. Killorglin had tries from Darragh O’Shea and Mike Breen and were also awarded a penalty try. Luke O’Shea kicked one conversion. Bruff will now host Cashel in the next round.

Killarney continued their recent good run with an 18-11 away win over Bantry Bay to set up a home tie against Muskerry. Barry Lynch scored two tries for the Kerry side and Oisin O’Shea kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Tralee defeated Dungarvan 40-17 to set up a home tie with Ballincollig. Nessan Crean scored two tries for the winners and Eoin O’Carroll, Shane O’Sullivan and Fearghal Ó’Nuallain got one each. Jack Quilter kicked four conversions and Gavin Peevers one. Doug Petit and Lár Houlihan replied with tries for Dungarvan and Dave Hickey converted both and also added a penalty.

The draw for the Second Round of the Bank of Ireland is:

Bruff v Cashel

Castleisland v Nenagh Ormond

Clonakilty v Thurles

Dolphin v Cobh Pirates

Fethard v Kinsale

Highfield v Charleville

Killarney v Muskerry

Mallow v Old Crescent

Midleton v U.L. Bohemian

Old Christians v Fermoy

Sunday’s Well v Youghal

Thomond v Waterford City

Tralee v Ballincollig

The draw for Round One of the Munster Junior Bowl is:

Douglas-Carrigaline v Bantry Bay

Ennis v Dungarvan

All these games are to be played on Sunday January 27th.

Clonmel have taken another step towards regaining their Munster Junior League crown after their 35-12 home win over St. Mary’s sees them see them extend their lead to six points with just five games remaining.

Dylan Cadogan, Stephen Pyke, Niall Campion, Colin van Staden and Darren Cass scored tries for Clonmel. Cass converted all five tries. Darragh Fitzgerald and Eoghan O’Byrne replied with tries for Mary’s and Alan Kiely kicked a conversion.

Kilfeacle and Newcastle West played out an 8-8 draw in a game that was hard fought from start to finish at the Tipperary venue. The visitors led 8-5 at half time with a try James Kelly and a penalty from Sean Herlihy. Jack McLoughlin scored a try for Kilfeacle and Shane Luby added a penalty.

Skibbereen‘s hopes of a top four finish received a setback when they lost away to struggling Clanwilliam 31-19. Michael Sharpe, Ben Downey, Jack Quinlan, Sean Walsh and Kieran O’Donnell scored tries for Clan’ and Brian Kissane kicked three conversions. Jack O’Driscoll, Tom Bushe and Donnie Collins scored tries for Skibb’ and Bushe added two conversions.

Crosshaven eased their relegation worries with a dramatic 19-18 away win at Kanturk, a result that leaves the Duhallow side with a big job to avoid relegation.

Tries from Killian O’Keeffe and Oisin Conway both converted by Cian McGovern gave Crosshaven an early lead. A try from Conor Cremin left the score 14-5 in favour of the visitors at half time.

Two penalties from Cremin and a conversion of a try by Gary Pigott put the former All Ireland League side ahead. Crosshaven rallied and a try from Adam Kent sat them take the spoils.

Clonakilty took a major step closer to promotion with a 76-0 drubbing of Castleisland in Division Two. They now trail leaders Mallow by five points but more significantly they are eight points clear of their nearest rivals.

Eoghan Deasy contributed twenty five points to the tally with two tries, six conversions and a penalty. JD O’Hea and Victor Lovell each scored two tries; Josh Wilcox, Damian Kozik, Shane Deasy, Olan Deane and Ben Hodgins got one each with Mark Purcell adding three more conversions.

Old Christians defeated Muskerry 20-13 in a game that was played on the main pitch in Irish Independent Park with tries from Eddie Delahunt, Ryan Butt and Eugene Redmond. Ryan O’Connell kicked a conversion and a penalty. George O’Mahony was Muskerry’s try scorer and Jonathan Buckley converted and added two penalties.

A penalty eight minutes into injury time by Dylan Lacey earned Fermoy a 6-5 home win over Fethard. Lacey kicked a penalty in the opening half for the winners and Michael Gaynor replied with a try for Fethard.