Provincial Rugby Roundup

Covid disrupted the Munster Junior League program with six games being called off and as per the rules, a result of 0-0 is entered and both sides receive two points each.

On the field there was plenty of drama with Newcastle West edging the big game of the day with a 24-19 away win over Kilfeacle before a very large attendance in Conference A, to ensure their place in the top section in Phase 2 of the league. Only one try was scored and that was a Darren Ryan try for Kilfeacle which Willie Staunton converted and he also added four penalties. Charlie O’Doherty kicked seven penalties for Newcastle West and Sean Herlihy added a drop goal.

Richmond are the new leaders in this Conference after their 40-14 home win against Galbally. Keelan Stephenson scored two tries for the winners and Sean Considine, Sean O’Connell, James Reeves and Graham Kirwin got one each. Tadgh Bennett kicked four conversions and Brian Bennett one.  TJ Coffey and Jack Donovan replied with tries for Galbally and John Kerins and Liam Casey added a conversion each.

Richmond and Thomond are also assured of their place in the top section. Thomond ensured their place with a 59-7 home win over Abbeyfeale. In a closely fought opening half Thomond led 21-7 at the interval with tries from Callum Walters, Darragh O’Neill and Aaron Rice with Adam Guerin converting all three. Abbeyfeale’s score came from a penalty try. Rice, O’Neill and Max Zerdel added further tries as did Cian Hinchy who scored three. Guerin converted four of those tries.

Clanwilliam defeated St. Senan’s at Jim Slattery Park 22-6, but the failure to secure a bonus winning point could prove costly at the end of this stage of the competition. Jack Ryan scored two tries for Clanwilliam and Jack Quinlan got one. Niall Leahy kicked a penalty and two conversions. Senan’s replied with two penalties from Declan Rowe.

Bandon ensured their place in the top section in Phase 2 after their 29-7 home win over Crosshaven. Sean Galvin and Gearoid O’Leary scored tries for Bandon and Will Canavan converted both and also kicked five penalties. Sean Bush replied with a try for Crosshaven and Ian Smith converted.

Joining them in Phase 2 will be Waterpark, Old Christians and Muskerry. Muskerry booked their place in the top four when a last minute try from Evan Kelly earned them a bonus point 30-12 home win over Skibbereen. Kelly scored two of their four tries with Rob Cahill and Mark Jones also crossing the white wash. Cahill kicked two conversions and two penalties. Lorcan Casey replied with two tries for the visitors and John O’Brien added one conversion.

The games between Clonakilty v Old Christians and Waterpark v Mallow were not played because of Covid.

In Conference C leaders Thurles’s game away to St. Mary’s was also called off because of Covid but the Tipperary sides’ place in the top section between Conference C and D is assured, but the other three places may go down to the wire.

Fethard took a big step towards joining Thurles with a 35-13 away win at Mitchelstown. Dale Murphy, Darren Prout, Josef O’Connor. Peter Wall and Conor Kavanagh all scored tries for Fethard. O’Connor kicked two penalties and Wall two conversions.

Dungarvan gave their top four finish a boost with a 34-12 away win over Waterford City. Michael Hayes, Shane Norris, David Hickey and Peter Finnigan scored tries for the west Waterford side and Hickey converted all four tries and two penalties. Cian Foskin replied with two tries for Waterford.

Ennis kept their top four finish alive with a 32-12 win over Scariff in the Clare derby. Callum Barrett scored two tries for the winners and Mark Cabey and Ross O’Flaherty got one each. Colm Kearney kicked three conversions and two penalties. Martin Glynn and Darragh Tracey replied with tries for Scariff and Luke Abbott kicked one conversion.

Kanturk ensured they will finish top of Conference D after their 43-5 home win over bottom side Killorglin. Olan Daly scored three tries for the winners, Ronan O’Brien and Brian O’Sullivan got two tries each and Shane McAuliffe kicked four conversions. Andrew O’Reilly was Killorglin’s try scorer.

The Ballincollig v Kinsale game was also a victim of Covid.

Fermoy moved up to third place with a 25-18 home win over Tralee. Ben Foley, Dylan Foley and Gavin England scored tries for Fermoy and Twomey kicked two conversions and two penalties. Mike Lyne replied with two tries for Tralee and Seamus Lyne kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Charleville kept their hopes of a top finish alive with a 21-12 away win over an undisciplined Cobh Pirates side. Cathal Finn and Mark O’Connell scored tries for Charleville and Ollie Young kicked three penalties and a conversion. Kevin Murphy and Owen McSweeney replied with tries for the Pirates and Rory Pierce added a conversion.

Bantry Bay moved up to second place in Conference E after their 40-5 away win over Chorca Dhuibhne. Philip O’Shea and Niall O’Brien each scored two tries for Bantry. Shane Keevers and George O’Connor got one each. Sean McCarthy kicked five conversions.

Youghal defeated Douglas 24-18. Scott O’Sullivan, Sean O’Riordan, Jack Monaghan and James Glennon scored tries for Youghal and Jonathan Ormond kicked two conversions. Dan Cafferty and Eoin Philpott replied with tries for Douglas and Philpott added a conversion and two penalties.

In Division 2 of the Women’s League, Ballincollig defeated Bantry Bay 27-5.