Weekend Junior Rugby Round Up

Crosshaven booked their place in All Ireland Junior Cup as Ballincollig are relegated for the second successive season as a result of a quite weekend of rugby action.

The final game in Division One of the Munster Junior League saw Crosshaven travelling to Rathcooney to play Old Christians on Friday night and the visitors knew that they had to win this game to book their place in next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup. Crosshaven dominated the opening half with their pack in total control with Eamon Ring and Paul Memery dominating. They led 14-0 at half time with Daryl Foley kicking three penalties and Rory Hofler scoring a try on the stroke of half time.

Foley extended their advantage with his fourth penalty five minutes into the second half and the game went to uncontested scrums shortly after when a second Old Christians front row was injured. The home side came more into the game after this and after camping inside the Crosshaven Twenty Two, they were rewarded with a try from Tom Maher and Conor Mangan converted to leave it 17-7. Nine minutes from time Jake Grey touched down for a second Crosshaven try and Memery converted. In the final play of the game Mangan scored in the corner for the home side.

The Appeals Committee ruled during the week that Clanwilliam should be awarded the points from their recent tie with Kilfeacle and this means that Kilfeacle will be playing in Division two next season.

Newport travelled to Ennis in their outstanding Division Two tie and came away with a 17-11 victory to move them out of the relegation zone. The Tipperary side led 17-6 at half time with tries from Philip O’Brien, Vincent Molloy and David Hickey and a conversion by O’Brien to two penalties by David Murphy. Eanna Talty scored a try for Ennis after the break.

Scariff eased their relegation worries with an 8-8 home draw with Kinsale. A Robbie Madden try gave Scariff a 5-3 interval lead and Paul Perez replied with a penalty for Kinsale. Thomas Cronin extended the home side’s advantage with a penalty but a try by Dave Kingston meant the spoils were shared.

These results mean the Ballincollig will be relegated for the second season running and will be playing in Division Three next season.

Clonmel scored six tries in their 42-3 home win over Clanwilliam in the Mansergh Cup and will travel to Skibbereen next week in a confident mood for their Junior Cup semi final tie. Tries by Brian Lonergan, Brian Condon and Robbie Carroll all converted by Conor Cooney had the home side 21-3 ahead at half time. Nick Barry, Carroll and Gareth Mulcahy added further tries in the second half and Cooney converted all three.

Bandon will meet Ballincollig in the semi final of the O’Neill Cup after their narrow 11-9 home win over Muskerry. A try from Eoin Sugrue and a Kevin South penalty had the west Cork side 8-3 ahead at the interval. Tyrone O’Regan kicked a penalty for Muskerry. South added a second penalty for the home side and O’Regan and Eoin Keohane kicked penalties for the visitors.

Cork Constitution booked their place in the quarter finals of the Junior Two Cup South where they will face an away trip to Waterpark next week, when a late rally which produced twelve points in the final five minutes saw them defeat Kanturk 24-14 at Temple Hill.

Sean Piggott gave the visitors an early lead with a try but two tries from Cormac Fouhy and a conversion by James O’Sullivan put the home side in front. A drop goal by Stephen McAuliffe for Kanturk left it 12-8 at half time.
John Cronin put Kanturk in front with two penalties but O’Sullivan was Con’s saviour with two excellent tries in the final five minutes and he also converted one.

Holders Carrigaline booked their place in the semi final of the Kelly Cup with a 31-15 away win over Bandon. Ciaran Cronin, Kieran Kelleher, Roy Murphy, Gary Crockett and Donnacha Kiely scored tries for the winners and John Tait added three conversions.

Cork Transport booked their place in the semi final of the McCarthy Cup with a 24-3 home win over Douglas. Ivan Stillwell scored two tries for the winners and Mark Bevan kicked four penalties and a conversion.

Garryowen won the South Western Under 21 Conference final with a 30-8 victory over Old Crescent at Rosbrien. Old Crescent led 8-7 at half time with a try from Cormac O’Connor and a Kevin Meade penalty. Derry O’Connor replied with a try for Garryowen which Shane O’Brien converted. It was all Garryowen in the second half and Cian O’Shea scored a try and O’Brien converted and also added a penalty. The winners were also awarded a penalty try and Jamie Galvin converted and also kicked a penalty and a drop goal.

U.L. Bohemian defeated Shannon 27-9 at Annacotty to book their place in next week’s Frazer McMullan All Ireland Under 20 Cup.

Dolphin had a narrow 18-17 victory over Cork Constitution at Musgrave Park to book their place in the same competition. Brian O’Rahilly and Stephen Randles scored tries for Dolphin and Eamon Mills kicked two penalties and a conversion. Graham Murray and Simon Hanbidge replied with tries for Constitution and Sean Og Murphy converted both and also kicked a penalty.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior League Division 1: Old Christians 12, Crosshaven 24;

Division 2: Ennis 11, Newport 17;
Scariff 8, Kinsale 8;

Mansergh Cup: Clonmel 42, Clanwilliam 3;

O'Neill Cup: Bandon 11, Muskerry 9;

Junior 2 Cup South: Cork Constitution 24, Kanturk 14;

Kelly Cup: Bandon 15, Carrigaline 31;

McCarthy Cup: Cork Transport 24, Douglas 3;

South West Under 21 League Final: Garryowen 30, Old Crescent 8;

South West Under 21 Play Offs: Dolphin 18, Cork Constitution 17;
U.L. Bohemian 27, Shannon 9;

Avonmore SuperMilk Munster Under 17 League Final: Kanturk 8, Bruff 36;

South Munster Under 19 Development Cup: Midleton 5, Dolphin 7;