Junior Rugby Round Up

With just four games remaining in the Munster Junior League, Clonmel have moved eight points clear at the top of Division One as all their nearest challengers failed to keep pace with the Tipperary side.

Clonmel travelled to Kanturk and came away with a 38-16 bonus point victory. They scored six tries with Shay Vandam and Luke Hogan getting two each. Greg Carroll and Darren Cass also scored tries with Cass also kicking four penalties. Daithi Fitzpatrick was Kanturk’s try scorer and Conor Cremin converted and added three penalties.

A last minute drop goal from Darren Lowry earned Kilfeacle a 9-6 home win over Richmond. Brian Mullins had given Richmond a 6-0 interval lead with two penalties. Brodie Flannery brought Kilfeacle level with two penalties before Lowry’s kick decided it.

Newcastle West defeated Waterpark 10-3 with tries from Declan Moloney and Sean Herlihy. A Jeff Deegan penalty earned Waterpark a crucial losing bonus point.

A last minute try from Tom Ferguson converted by Jerry Crowley earned Bandon a 10 -6 away win over bottom side St. Mary’s. This leaves the defending champions nine points adrift of the leaders. Crowley also kicked a penalty for the visitors. Two penalties from Alan Kiely looked enough for Mary’s to cause a major upset.

Crosshaven unveiled their new floodlights with a 13-9 win over St. Senan’s. Graham Smith scored a try for Crosshaven and Cian McGovern converted and added two penalties. Dale O’Loughlin replied with three penalties for the Clare side.

Skibbereen defeated Abbeyfeale 11-6 with a try from Aidan Stoutt and Matthew Bushe kicked two penalties. Derry O’Connor kicked two penalties for the visitors.

Galbally moved ahead of Clanwilliam in the relegation battle with a 6-0 home victory. John Kearns kicked two penalties for the winners.

In Division Two all the top three sides recoded bonus point wins.

Leaders Mallow still remain seven points clear of Clonakilty after their 27-10 home win over fourth placed Fermoy. The winners led 15-3 at half time with two tries from Chris O’Regan and one by Jimmy Glynn to a Dylan Lacey penalty. Mike O’Flynn and Daniel Breen added further tries for Mallow with Glynn converting the last one. Ian Pratt scored a try for Fermoy which Lacey converted.

Clonakilty defeated Old Christians 41-0 at Rathcooney to maintain their push for promotion. Rob Finglas scored two tries for the winners. Mike O’Hea, Shane Deasy, Batt Duggan, Damian Kozik and Aaron Hayes all got one each. Eoghan Deasy kicked three conversions.

Kinsale who trail Clonakilty by four points maintained their challenge with a 46-12 home win over Youghal. Timmy Lynch and Johnny Sheehan each scored two tries with Fergus Gimblett, Ciaran Keogh, Will Crowley and Ieuan Walters getting one apiece. Sheehan kicked three conversions. Stephen Kelly and Scott O’Sullivan replied with tries for Youghal one of which Keith McCarthy converted.

Fethard and Castleisland played out a 17-17 draw at the Tipperary venue. Jack Kealy, Joey Noonan and Conor Kavanagh scored tries for Fethard and Gary Kavanagh kicked a conversion. Shane Brosnan, Mike Cronin and Brian Leonard replied with tries for Castleisland and Leonard added a conversion.

Cobh Pirates eased their relegation worries with a 24-19 home win over Ballincollig, a result that leave Ballincollig propping up the table. Jack Hickey, Ian O’Donovan, and Owen McSweeney scored tries for Cobh with Hickey converting one. Each side were awarded a penalty try. Humphrey O’Mahony and Cathal Owens replied with tries for Ballincollig and Charlie Boland kicked a conversion.

Thurles moved out of the relegation zone with a 21-0 away win over Waterford City. Eoghan O’Dwyer, Tommy Connolly and Darragh Sweeney scored tries for Thurles and John Lillis added two penalties.

Charleville defeated Muskerry 14-3. Dan O’Dwyer and PJ O’Connor scored tries for the winners and Jessie Smith converted both. Jonathan Buckley replied with a penalty for Muskerry.

In Division Three, Tralee have gone top after their 46-0 win over a game Dunmanway side. Ritchie Liston scored two tries for Tralee and Michael Maher, Jeff Foley, Gavin Peevers, Dan Cournane and Ben O’Neill also scored tries. Jack Quilter kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Mitchelstown moved into second with a 19-18 home win against Ennis. Sean Myers, Euan Dunne and Owen Burke scored Mitchelstown’s tries and Pat McGee kicked two conversions. Enda Galvin, Eoin O’Ceallaigh and Mark Taylor replied with tries for Ennis and Ronan O’Halloran kicked a penalty.

Killarney’s hopes of automatic promotion received a set-back when they lost away to Dungarvan 41-5. Alan McMahon (2), Dave Hickey, Dan Slevin and Martin Houlihan were try scorers for Dungarvan and Hickey converted all five tries and added two penalties. Brian Foley was Killarney’s try scorer.

Killorglin kept their play-off hopes alive with a 29-12 home win against Douglas-Carrigaline. Mike Breen, Darragh O’Shea, Luke O’Shea, Dave Hayden and Rob Lynch scored tries for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea kicked two conversions. Eoin Harris and Luke Johnston replied with tries for the visitors and Padraig McSweeney added a conversion.

Scariff defeated Chorca Dhuibhne 34-19. Bill Molloy scored two tries for the winners. Chris O’Meara, Barry Kiely, Eoin O’Feartha and Sean Glynn got one each. Paul O’Sullivan kicked two conversions. Alan Devane, Adam Daly and Michael Breathnach replied with tries for Chorca Dhuibhne and Seamus Moriarty kicked two conversions.