Junior Rugby Roundup & Results

19th March 2017 By The Editor

The Waterpark side that finished their season undefeated with a win over Crosshaven - Waterpark RFC

The final series of games in Division One and Two of the Munster Junior League produce plenty of drama as the automatic promotion and relegation places were decided.

However with two games outstanding in Division One the destination of the top four places and qualification for next year’s All Ireland Junior Cup will not be resolved until next week and both Clonakilty and Tralee who finished third last in their respective Divisions will be hoping that Kanturk hold on to their Senior status or else they will also be relegated.

Champions Clonmel failed to finish their campaign in Division 1 undefeated as they lost away to Clanwilliam 27-19. The home side who led 17-0 at half time had three tries from Brendan Quinlan and Brian Kissane also scored a try. Niall Leahy kicked two conversions and a drop goal.

Dave O’Gorman, Paul Denn and Luke Hogan replied with tries for Clonmel and Darren Cass kicked two conversions.

Bandon finished their campaign with a 75-14 away win over already relegated Old Christians at Rathcooney and moved into second place. Christian Mulcahy scored four tries for Bandon, Philip Murphy, Gearoid Crowley, Olan Crowley, Garth Burton, Scott Mogford, JP Lucey and Mike Murphy also scored tries. Olan Crowley added ten conversions.

Brian Sisk and Brian O’Connell replied with tries for Old Christians and Ryan O’Connell converted both.

Newcastle West are in third place a point behind Bandon but with a game in hand after their narrow 14-13 home win against Clonakilty.

Mike O’Leary and Sean Murphy scored tries for Newcastle West and Sean Herlihy converted both.

Robert Howick was Clonakilty’s try scorer and Mark Purcell converted and added two penalties.

Kilfeacle defeated St. Senan’s 12-10 at Jim Slattery Park.

Jack McLoughlin and Dan Lowry were Kilfeacle’s try scorers and Gavin Heuston kicked a conversion.

Gary Leahy replied with a try for Senan’s and Dale O’Loughlin kicked a conversion and a penalty.

This result leaves Kilfeacle in fifth place a point behind Clanwilliam but with a game in hand against Newcastle West next Sunday.

At the bottom of Division One four Cork sides started the day with relegation worries and it was Muskerry who will be automatically relegated along with Old Christians after their 15-5 defeat away to Cobh Pirates.

Cobh who also needed a win to preserve their status led 3-0 at half time with a penalty from Ian Jones. A try from Jonathan Buckley five minutes into the second half put Muskerry 5-3 ahead but a strong finish from Cobh in the final quarter which yielded tries by Tom Keaveney and Jack Hickey and a Jones conversion saw Cobh take the spoils.

Skibbereen who were third last defeated Galbally 9-0 with three penalties from Denis McCarthy.

Skibbereen finished level on points with Clonakilty but it is Skibbereen that finished higher as a result of winning more games.

Richmond defeated Abbeyfeale 29-21 with Dara Oxley and Corey Wells each scoring two tries for the winners and Gearoid Phelan also added a try. Brian Mullins converted two of the tries.

John Murphy, Kieran McCarthy and Brian Collins replied with tries for Abbeyfeale and Derry O’Connor converted all three.

Waterpark finished their Second Division campaign undefeated as they completed their program with a hard earned 27-0 home win against Crosshaven.

Tries from James Kiersey and David O’Donoghue and a conversion and penalty by John O’Brien had the home side 15-0 ahead at the interval. Scot Hornibrook and Rory Hannon added further tries and O’Brien converted both.

The battle for the second promotion place was between Youghal and St. Mary’s.

Youghal started the day a point ahead of the Limerick side and their 52-7 bonus point away win at Waterford City ensured they will be playing in the top flight next season following their promotion from the Third Division last season.

Damien Kiely scored two tries for Youghal, Dean Malone, Keith McCarthy, Scott O’Sullivan, Aaron Daly and Adam Malone got one each. McCarthy kicked five conversions and a penalty with Jonathon Ormonde adding two conversions.

Eamon O’Keeffe replied with a try for Waterford which Michael Hayes converted.

Marys recorded a 36-19 bonus point away win over Tralee and that result means that Tralee will finish in third last place. Adam Guerin, Tommy Galvin, Owen O’Brien, Stephen Frawley and Brian Purcell were Mary’s try scorers and Guerin kicked a penalty and four conversions.

Thurles defeated Mallow 34-12 in a game that doubled up as a Junior Plate semi final.

Kieran Ryan scored two tries for Thurles and Luke Kelly, Adrian Burke and Shane Moloney scored one each. John Lillis kicked a penalty and three conversions.

Kinsale defeated Castleisland 35-0 with tries from Ben Gur, Ian Connelly, Timmy Lynch, Josh Barrett and Sean Kingston. Kingston kicked two penalties and two conversions.

Presentation defeated already relegated Charleville 13-11 at Rathuard with a late Craig Airey penalty deciding the game.

Ger Clancy scored a try for Pres’ and Airey kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Sean O’Connell scored Charleville’s try and Oran Hennessy kicked two penalties.

Killarney defeated Douglas-Carrigaline in their Division Three Promotion playoff game at Moneygourney.

Brian Lynch scored a try for Killarney who were also awarded a penalty try. Paudie Sheahan kicked three penalties and a conversion.

Sean Lehane scored a try for the home side and Padraig McSweeney converted.

Charleville defeated U.C.C. 11-5 to win the Junior Three League South title. Mick O’Toole scored a try for the winners and Jack Buckley added two penalties.

RESULTS:

Munster Junior League Division 1: Abbeyfeale 21, Richmond 29;

Clanwilliam 27, Clonmel 19;

Cobh Pirates 15, Muskerry 5;

Newcastle West 14, Clonakilty 13;

Old Christians 14, Bandon 75;

Skibbereen 9, Galbally 0;

St. Senan’s 10, Kilfeacle 12;

Division 2: Kinsale 35, Castleisland 0;

Mallow 12, Thurles 34;

Presentation 13, Charleville 11;

Tralee 19, St. Mary’s 36;