Provincial Rugby Round-Up

UCC and Garryowen book their places in the semi-final of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup, as Richmond snatched a late winner in Skibbereen.

UCC got the better of Highfield 29-22 to book their place in the last four. Tom McCarthy, Aaron Quirke, Ignasi Rodriguez, and Ollie Young scored tries for College, and Johnny Murphy kicked three conversions and a penalty. Shane Buckley, Cal Óg Healy, and Noah Patterson were Highfield’s try scorers, and Buckley converted two of the tries and also added a penalty.

Garryowen won the Limerick derby with a 9-5 win against Shannon at Dooradoyle. Colm Quilligan kicked two penalties to give Garryowen a 6-0 interval lead. Early in the second half Quilligan made it 9-0 with his third penalty. Darren Gavin got a try for Shannon late in the game.

Richmond will now face Kilfeacle in the quarter-finals after they came from 21-8 down at halftime to beat Skibbereen 25-21 at the West Cork venue. Keith McCarthy, Craig Carew, and Shane Halpin scored tries for Richmond. Tadgh Bennett kicked a penalty and they were awarded a penalty try in the final few minutes to give them victory. David Shannon, Gavin Foley, and Mitchell Connolly replied with tries for Skibbereen and Shannon converted all three.

Galbally-Mitchelstown will face holders Young Munster in the other quarter-final tie, after they saw off the challenge of Tralee 18-15. Padraig Finnan and Kevin Cooke scored tries for Galbally-Mitchelstown, and John Kearns converted one of the tries and also added two penalties. Mikey Lyne and Alaister Hoban replied with tries for Tralee, and Seamus Lyne kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Cashel and St. Senan’s will contest this year’s Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate decider after semi-final wins over Youghal and Ennis respectively.

Cashel ran in nine tries in their 58-14 home win against Youghal. Brendan Crosse scored three tries, and Michael Hickey, Michael McCormack, Jack O’Rourke, Lee McCarthy, and Aidan O’cconor also scored tries. They were also awarded a penalty try. Dan O’Neill kicked four conversions a nd a penalty. Oran Finn and Alan Frahill O’Connor scored Youghal’s tries, and Jonathan Ormond converted both.

St. Senan’s edged out Ennis 17-10 in a thrilling Clare derby. A Declan Rowe penalty, try, and conversion put Senan’s 10-0 ahead but a Cian Guilfoyle try and a conversion, and a penalty by Oisin Mangan had the sides level 10-10 at halftime, a Fearghal Lawlor try converted by Rowe edged Senan’s back in front. Mangan and Rowe exchanged late penalties.

Kinsale defeated Fethard 16-13 in the Junior League Division 1 playoff at the Tipperary venue and will now face Kanturk to decide who will be playing in Division 1 next season. Paul Graham scored Kinsale’s try, and Dylan Lacey converted and added three penalties. Conor Kavanagh was Fethard’s try scorer and Josef O’Conor converted. Peter Wall kicked two penalties.

Waterford City will face Youghal in the final of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup after the Suirsiders defeated Castleisland 32-15 in the semi-final. Tommy Doyle scored two of Waterford’s six tries. Aaron Foskin, NJ Carlson, Naoise McNeill, and Niall Geraghty were the other try scorers. Mikey O’Connor kicked one conversion. Castleisland replied with tries from Adam Jensen, Eric Sweeney, and James Culhane.

Kerry women’s side booked their place in the Women’s Division 1 Cup Final after their 55-7 away win against Dolphin. Joanne Deay scored six of the Kerry side’s nine tries, with Emily O’regan, Vanessa Dineen, and Ashlea Sheehy being their other try scorers. Laoise O’Driscoll kicked five conversions.

Thurles defeated UL Bohemian 26-24 in the other semi-final. Holly O’Dwyer scored two tries for Thurles, and Kaitlyn Callanan and Emer Ryan got one each. Megan Callanan kicked three conversions.