Richmond Are Munster Junior League Champions

Richmond retained their Munster Junior League title with a 44-13 win over Tralee as Crosshaven are relegated to Division Two.

It was only in the final thirty minutes that Richmond pulled away to secure their fourth league title with four tries from John Deegan, Stephen Clancy, Niall Benson and James Hayes and Brian Mullins kicked two conversions. Tralee got off to a great start with Dan Clarke scoring a try and conversion inside the opening minute. Brian Mullins responded with a penalty for Richmond after ten minutes. A push over try credited to David Sheahan minutes later saw Richmond hit the front 8-7. Mullins and Clarke exchanged penalties just before half time to leave it 13-10 at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half Gearoid Phelan scored a try for Richmond and Mullins converted. Clarke kicked a penalty for Tralee on fifty minutes to leave seven points between the sides, but after that there was no stopping the Limerick side as they added four further tries without reply.

Skibbereen booked their place in next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup with a dramatic last minute score to beat St. Mary’s 16-15. Three penalties from David Shannon gave Skibbereen a 9-5 interval lead. Tries from David Hogan and Brian Downey and a conversion and penalty by Kevin South gave the Saints a 15-9 lead with eight minutes remaining. Skibbereen rallied and Kieran Shannon got in for a try in the final minute and David Shannon converted to secure the points.

The other four ties all involved sides battling to avoid the drop into Division Two next season. Waterpark eased their relegation worries with a 53-10 home win over Crosshaven, a result that sees Crosshaven relegated. The winners scored eight tries. Donal Kavanagh got two and Jamie Walsh, Eoin Duffy, Paddy Kiersey, Joe McSweeney, Darragh Joyce and David O’Sullivan one each. Geoff Deegan kicked three conversions and a penalty and John Flynn added two conversions. Darren O’Keeffe and Eamon Ring replied with tries for Crosshaven.

Kilfeacle kept their hopes of a top four finish alive with a narrow 18-17 home win over Cobh Pirates. The Tipperary side led 12-5 at half time with two tries from Shane Morrissey and a conversion by Jonathan Bourke to a try by Tom Rice. A try by David Chandler which Eoin Geary converted tied up the scores but Bourke kicked two penalties for the winners and Cobh’s only reply was a try by Alan Langford. Cobh have now completed their league program and they must now await next week’s final series of games to see if they will be drawn into the relegation zone.

A last minute try by Chris O’Donnell earned Old Christians a dramatic 29-26 away win over Galbally. Darragh Daly and Aidan Ware were the visitors other try scorers and Stuart Lee kicked a conversion and four penalties. Sean Bourke and Gordon Peters replied with tries for Galbally and Craig Airey converted both and also added four penalties.

St. Senan’s are still in relegation trouble after they lost 21-15 away to Clanwilliam. Vivion Grisewood and Gavin Ryan scored tries for the winners; Richard Childs kicked a conversion and two penalties and Brian Kissane a penalty. Niall McDonogh and Philip Noone replied with tries for Senan’s, Brian Collins kicked a conversion and Declan Collins a penalty.

Ballincollig kept their promotion hopes from the Third Division alive with a 25-10 home win over Douglas. Dave Power, Bryce Whibley, Denis Galvin and Brian Mahony scored tries for Ballincollig and Galvin added a penalty and a conversion. Eoin Philpott replied with a try, conversion and penalty for Douglas.

Castleisland defeated Nenagh Ormond 13-5 to book their place in the quarter finals of the Munster Junior Plate. JJ Casey scored two tries for the winners and Connie Reynolds kicked a penalty. Rory Whelan replied with a try for Nenagh.

Charleville still without a win in the league caused a major shock with a 19-3 home win over holders Fermoy in the Munster Junior Bowl. Shane O’Sullivan scored a try for the winners and Ryan Brennan kicked a conversion and four penalties. Fermoy’s only response was a penalty from Eddie O’Connell.

Carrigaline will face Cork Constitution in the final of the Junior Two League South next weekend. Carrigaline took on Kinsale for the third time this season and it was another tough game with little enough between the sides as Carrigaline won 20-10. Sean Lucey landed a penalty after 20 minutes to open the scoring for Carrigaline. On the half hour mark Ray Donoghue went over and Lucey added the conversion to make it 10-0. Kinsale fought back and Mark Scanlon scored a try on 35 minutes as their pack made good use of possession. Carrig took a 10-5 lead into the second half and great play from Jason Corkery saw him kick the ball through for Dave Donoghue to touch the ball down. More pressure from Carrigaline saw them dominate possession and the territorial advantage paid off after 60 minutes when John Tait scored a try in the corner. Scanlon scored the final try of the game in injury time for Kinsale.

In the other semi final Cork Constitution booked their place in the decider with an 18-8 away win over Highfield. Simon Barry kicked six penalties for the Temple Hill side.

Muskerry defeated Cork Transport 36-15 in the Junior Three League South. Pat Barry scored two tries for the winners and Ian O’Sullivan, George O’Mahony, Jeff Murphy and Jason Fallon also scored tries and O’Sullivan kicked three conversions.

Bandon defeated Dunmanway- Bantry Bay 11-8. Rob Wilmot scored a try for Bandon and Ivor Helen kicked two penalties.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior Plate: Nenagh Ormond 5, Castleisland 13;

Munster Junior Bowl: Charleville 19, Fermoy 3;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Clanwilliam 21, St. Senan's 15;
Galbally 26, Old Christians 29;
Kilfeacle 18, Cobh Pirates 17;
Richmond 44, Tralee 13;
Skibbereen 16, St. Mary's 15;
Waterpark 53, Crosshaven 10;

Division 3: Ballincollig 25, Douglas 10;

Munster Seconds League North: U.L. Bohemian 16, Garryowen 15;

South Munster Junior 2 League Semi Finals: Carrigaline 20, Kinsale 10;
Highfield 8, Cork Constitution 18;

Mick Barry Cup Group B: Cobh Pirates 5, Cashel 35;
Waterford City 22, Dolphin 27;

George O'Connell Cup Semi Final: Clonakilty 38, Shandon 27;

Junior 3 League South Group A: Dolphin 31, Midleton 25;

Group B: Bandon 11, Dunmanway-Bantry Bay 8;
Muskerry 36, Cork Transport 15;

Under 21 South Western Conference: Cork Constitution 27, U.C.C. 18;
Galwegians 8, Shannon 13;
Highfield 32, Corinthians-NUIG 0;
Thomond 14, Garryowen 38;
U.L. Bohemian 39, Buccaneers 13;

Munster Under 19 League Quarter Finals: Abbeyfeale 11, Clonmel 16;
Bandon 37, Bruff 18;
Highfield 33, Garryowen 7;
Sunday's Well 12, Cork Constitution 7;

Munster Under 17 League Quarter Finals: Tralee 16, Clonakilty 25;
Waterpark 20, Ennis 12;

Munster Under 17 League Play Off: Old Crescent 20, Midleton 10;

East Under 15 League Final: Dungarvan 0, Waterpark 3;

North Under 15 Conference Final: Newcastle West 12, Kilrush 15;

South Under 19 League Phase 2 Section 1: Clonakilty 23, Dolphin 12;
Muskerry-Ballincollig 38, Skibbereen 14;

South Under 17 League Phase 2 Section 1: Kinsale 15, Muskerry 5;
Bandon 13, Bantry Bay 5;

Section 3: Ballincollig 17, Youghal 0;

South Under 15 Semi Finals: Clonakilty 32, Charleville 12;
Dolphin 7, Skibbereen 20;

West Under 17 Plate: Killarney 32, Killorglin 10;

West Under 15 Plate: Listowel 35, Iveragh 14;