Provincial Rugby Roundup

Thomond have retained their Munster Junior League title with their twelfth bonus point win of the campaign, as Crosshaven are relegated to Division 2 and Carrick-on-Suir and Youghal win promotion from Division 3.

On what was one of the saddest weeks in the history of the Thomond club, there were great scenes of excitement when the final whistle was sounded in Kilfeacle, where the defending champions defeated second placed Kilfeacle 32-14 to claim their fourth league title and will now face the Ulster Junior League champions in the semi-finals of the All Ireland League qualifiers in April.

Thomond opened the scoring with a try by Riann Burke which Jason Kiely converted. The home side drew level with a try by Kevin Kinnane and Luke Heuston added the extras.  But a try and a conversion by Kiely gave Thomond a 14-7 interval lead.

Two Kiely penalties extended Thomond’s advantage and a try by Jamie McGarry made it 25-7. Kilfeacle were awarded a penalty try but in the final minute Jake Connolly scored Thomond’s fourth try and Kiely converted to start the celebrations.

The big game at the other end of the table between the two bottom sides saw Newcastle West come away from Crosshaven with the spoils on a 33-19 scoreline. James Kelly scored two tries for Newcastle West and Aaron Rice and Liam Treacy get one each. Shane Airey kicked two conversions and three penalties. Crosshaven replied with tries from Kealan Daly, Harry O’Connell and Niall Deane with Daly adding two conversions.

Mallow have slipped into the relegation zone after their 27-15 defeat away to Muskerry. Frankie Horgan scored two tries for Muskerry and Damian Kozic and Liam Ryan got one each. Rob Cahill kicked two conversions and a penalty. Stephen Finn and Owen Glynn replied with tries for Mallow and Hunter Cowan kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Thurles defeated Clonakilty 34-31 at the West Cork venue. Ciaran Ryan, Sam Quinlan, Luke Fogarty and James O’Mara scored tries for Thurles and James Maher converted all four tries and added two penalties. Olan Deane replied with two tries for Clonakilty and Henry Miles and Finian Neville got one each as well as being awarded a penalty try. Mark Purcell kicked two penalties.

Bandon ensured their place in the All Ireland Junior Cup next season after their 35-19 home win against Kanturk. Two tries from Tom Fergusson and one each by Scott Kingston and Gearoid O’Leary ensured a bonus point win for Bandon. Hugh O’Mahony kicked two conversions and a penalty and Dylan Barr added two penalties and a conversion.

Trailing 15-6 at half time St. Mary’s staged a dramatic come back to beat Richmond 23-15 at Grove Island. Adam Guerin and Rio Tier scored tries for the Saints and Guerin converted both and also kicked three penalties. Keith McCarthy and Osama Farag replied with tries for Richmond. Brian Mullins kicked a conversion and a penalty.

A late come back by Skibbereen saw them defeat Sunday’s Well 19-18. Daniel Kingston, Xavier McEldowney and Tom Beare scored tries for Skibb’ and Dave Shannon converted two of the tries. Evan O’Connell and Alex Guerin were try scorers for the ‘Well and Ciaran Maguire added a conversion and two penalties.

Old Christians have taken over leadership in Division 2 after their 68-9 home win against Abbeyfeale. Sean Crowe, Dave Ahern, Harry Martin, Laszio Rabatin, Conor Dolan, Niall McCarthy, Jack Lonergan, Cian Walsh, Cian Smith and Conor Smiddy scored tries for the Rathcooney side. Martin kicked seven conversions and Dolan two. Caomhin Barron replied with three penalties for Abbeyfeale.

Kinsale defeated Fethard 41-29 to hold on to third place. Mattie O’Donovan and Brian O’Donnell each scored two tries for Kinsale, and David Looney, James O’Donovan and David Ogden got one each. Dylan Lacey kicked three conversions. Will Ruttle, Andrew Wall, Issac McCarthy and Robert Wall replied with tries for Fethard. Paddy Gaynor kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Ballincollig were 38-21 home winners against Castleisland. Liam McGarry scored five of Ballincollig’s six tries with Darragh O’Shea getting the other. Aaron Hurley and Diarmuid Phelan each kicked two conversions. Mike Cronin, Dean Bradley Cronin and Connie Reynolds replied with tries for the Kerry side and Joe Sheehy converted all three tries.

Cobh Pirates defeated Fermoy 21-15 with tries from Killian O’Connell, Ben Kennedy and Alex Hurley. Rory Pierce kicked two penalties. Jack Duggan replied with two tries for Fermoy and Eoin Healy added a conversion and a penalty.

Waterpark recorded a 59-10 away win at Ennis, with Ben Daly scoring four tries and Willie Walsh, Darragh Hartley and Ben Wallis getting one each. They were also awarded a penalty try and Walsh kicked seven conversions and a penalty.

St. Senan’s and Charleville played out a 24-24 draw at Jim Slattery Park. Roberto Kelly, Jamie O’Shea, Darragh McNamara and Declan Rowe were the Senan try scorers, with Rowe kicking two conversions. Cathal Canning scored two tries for Charleville and Luiz Freitas Almeida and Jake Madigan also got tries. Jessie Smith and DJ Collins each kicked a conversion.

Carrick-on-Suir lead Youghal by three points entering next week’s last round of games in Division 3, after both recorded bonus point wins.

Carrick’ went to Galbally and defeated Galbally-Mitchelstown 31-27. Shane Fitzgibbon, Cian Walsh, Matthew O’Toole and Ronan O’Connell scored tries for the Tipperary side and Fionn Barry converted all four tries and also added a penalty.  Pa Shanahan, Peter O’Dwyer and Pa Clery replied with tries for the home side and Shanahan converted all three tries and kicked two penalties.

Youghal were 54-21 away winners at Waterford City. Alan Frahill scored three tries for Youghal, Kevin Yellop, Oran Finn, Sean O’Riordan, Jordan Yellop and Rory Fitzgerald were the other try scorers. Nathan O’Halloran converted seven of the tries.

Killarney defeated Scariff 25-14 with tries from Alan Mulligan, Ronan Buckley, Alex O’Leary and two from Finn Kennelly. Henry Purcell and Mattie Daly replied with tries for Scariff and Shane Kavanagh converted both.

A last minute penalty from Luke O’Shea gave Killorglin a 25-23 away win at Dungarvan. Cian Corcoran (2), Rob Lynch and Shane O’Neill were the winner’s try scorers. Luke O’Shea converted one of the tries. Dungarvan replied  with tries from Alan McMahon, Steve McMahon and Brendan Cullinane. David Hickey kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Corca Dhuibhne defeated Ardscoil Old Boys 22-20 with two tries from Adam Daly and one each by Gearoid Breathnach and Davidos Vosis. Tip Delaney kicked one conversion. Barry Sheehan, Paul Bogan and Robin Healy replied with tries for Ardscoil and Jamie Moore kicked a conversion and a penalty.