Weekend Junior Rugby Round Up

Cork Constitution and Skibbereen will contest this season’s Munster Junior Cup Final as St. Mary’s and Newcastle West won promotion form Division Two of the Munster Junior League and Carrick-on-Suir and Dungarvan are promoted from the Third Division.

Both Munster Junior Cup semi finals were thrillers with only a score between the sides at the finish.

Skibbereen playing in their third semi final eventually managed to reach the final with a hard earned 9-6 home victory over Clonmel and so made amends for their heavy league defeat earlier in the season. A David Shannon penalty after thirty five minute gave Skibbereen a 3-0 interval lead. Ben Martin levelled two minutes into the second half. Shannon and Martin exchanged further penalties and Shannon kicked the match winning score fifteen minutes from time.

At Dooradoyle Cork Constitution booked their place in the final with a 22-18 victory over Garryowen. Sean Og Murphy opened the scoring with a penalty for Constitution but a try from Derry O’Connor and a Jamie Gavin penalty put the home side in front. Eoin O’Donnell levelled with a try for Con’ and a second Gavin penalty left it 11-8 to Garryowen at half time. Two penalties from Murphy edged Con’ in front but a try by Cian O’Shea and a third Gavin penalty made it 18-14 with twenty minutes remaining. Murphy closed the gap to a point with a penalty and a try by Alex Ryan ten minutes from time booked Con’s place in the decider.

It was a disappointing start to the All Ireland Provincial League Championship for Richmond who lost their opening game away to Monivea 29-20. Indeed the Limerick side they should have at least picked up a bonus point only to concede a try in injury time with the Connacht side ahead 22-20. Monivea led 17-14 at the break, Pat Humphries and Darragh Clancy scored tries for the visitors and Clancy converted both. Clancy kept Richmond in contention with two second half penalties.

In the other tie Skerries collected maximum points with a 41-0 home win over Ulster champions Clogher Valley.

There was plenty of drama in the final series of games in Division Two of the Munster Junior League. St. Mary ‘s travelled to Scariff and defeated the Clare side 29-10 with tries from Brian Neilan, Matthew Ryan, Dara Fitzgerald and John Barry and three conversions and a penalty by Sean Lyons was enough to send the Parish side top of the table. Scariff replied with tries from Robbie Madden and Paul O’Sullivan but it was not enough to avoid relegation.

Mallow started the day three points clear of Newcastle West and St. Mary’s but it is the west Limerick side who will be playing First Division rugby next season after their 17-12 win over Mallow at the north Cork venue before the largest crowd to attend a game at this ground. A drop goal by Sean Neville for the visitors and a penalty by Michael O’Flynn left it 3-3 at half time. O’Flynn put Mallow ahead with a second penalty but a penalty try converted by Alan Roche restored the visitors lead. Declan Moloney scored a second try for Newcastle West and Roche converted. O’Flynn replied with two further penalties for Mallow and despite being camped inside the visitors Twenty Two for the final ten minutes, they were unable to breach the visitors defence.

At the other end of the table Muskerry’s 15-11 away win over Youghal was enough to move them out of the relegation zone. A Tyrone O’Regan try and a conversion and penalty by Eoin Keohane had the visitors 10-0 ahead at the interval. Dave Hennessey added a second try and Youghal replied with a try from Niall Clohessy, a penalty by Aaron Daly and a Keith McCarthy drop goal.

Newport collected maximum points with a 29-10 away win over Presentation to secure their Second Division status. Shane Ryan scored a try, penalty and three conversions for the Tipperary side and Ray Ryan, Darragh Ryan and Kevin O’Brien each scored a try. John Kiely replied with a try for Pres’ and Shane O’Brien kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Bandon finished their campaign with a 26-13 home win over Castleisland. Richard Crowley and JP Lucey scored tries for Bandon and Kevin South converted both and added four penalties. Billy O’Sullivan replied with a try for Castleisland and JJ Casey kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Bottom side Ballincollig already relegated hit top form with a 33-23 home win over Ennis. Paudie O’Flynn, David Lucey, Shane Kavanagh, Shane Murphy and Denis Daly all scored tries for the winners and Kevin Ryan converted four of the tries.

In the other tie Kinsale finished fourth in the table with a 27-22 home win over Killarney. Frazer Hodgson scored two tries for the winners and Jeremy Coughlan and Renaud Sergeree got one each and Paul Perez kicked three penalties and two conversions. Killarney were awarded a penalty try as well as tries by Paul O’Sullivan and Gene McCarthy. Paudie Sheehan kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Carrick-on-Suir received a walk over from Kilrush and that was enough to see them being crowned Division Three champions.

Killorglin defeated Charleville 59-0 to finish level with Dungarvan but it is the Waterford side who gain promotion. Killorglin scored nine tries with Liam Griffin and Kieran Crowley getting two each and Barry Sheehan, Mark Healy, Noel O’Reilly, Darren Sherlock, Darren Curtayne getting one each and Luke O’Shea converted seven of the tries.

In the other game played in this Division Fermoy defeated Bantry Bay 44-36 in a game that produced eleven tries. Stephen Dunne scored two tries for Fermoy and James O’Driscoll, Eddie O’Connell, Tom Dillon and Peter O’Loughlin got one each. Shane O’Riordan kicked four conversions and two penalties. Bantry had tries from Sean O’Donoghue, Pat Murnane, Karel Bubnik, Andre Polivka and Pat O’Driscoll. Polivka kicked four conversions and a penalty.

Cobh Pirates defeated holders Old Christians 16-11 after extra time in the quarter final of the Cork County Cup. The sides were tied 3-3 at half time and 11-11 at full time. A Mark Chandler try in first half extra time secured victory for the Pirates. Chandler scored all of his side’s points with two tries and two penalties. Conor Quaid replied with a try for the Rathcooney side and Conor Mangan kicked two penalties.

In the Junior Two Cup South Mallow defeated Shandon 12-10 to reach the last four. Ivan Cutting scored a try for Shandon, Barry Leahy converted and Conor Buckley added a drop goal.

Old Christians defeated Ballincollig 8-6, Tralee were 22-10 away winners over Waterford City and Waterpark defeated Cork Constitution 25-0.

Newcastle West advanced in the O’Carroll Plate with a 37-31 home win over Young Munster.

Fethard defeated Richmond 22-17. Pierce McCarthy and Mike Hannon scored tries for Richmond and Brian O’Neill converted both. Niall Benson also kicked a drop goal for the Limerick side.

Four penalties by Mark Bevan helped Cork Transport to a 12-9 win over league champions Mitchelstown to book their place in the Junior Three Cup South Final where they will face Sunday’s Well.

There was no joy for the four Munster sides in the Frazer McMullan All Ireland Under 21 Cup as all four were defeated. Garryowen lost at home to St. Mary’s College 43-7; Lansdowne defeated Old Crescent 32-0 at Rosbrien. U.C.D. were 69-0 home winners over Dolphin and U.L. Bohemian lost to Old Belvedere 12-6.

RESULTS:

All Ireland Provincial League Championship:Monivea 29, Richmond 20;
Skerries 41, Clogher Valley 0;

Munster Junior Cup Semi Finals: Garryowen 18, Cork Constitution 22;
Skibbereen 6, Clonmel 9;

Munster Junior League Division 2: Ballincollig 33, Ennis 23;
Bandon 26, Castleisland 13;
Kinsale 27, Killarney 22;
Mallow 12, Newcastle West 10;
Presentation 10, Newport 29;
Scariff 10, St. Mary's 29;
Youghal 11, Muskerry 15;

Division 3: Bantry Bay 36, Fermoy 44;
Killorglin 59, Charleville 0;

Cork County Cup: Old Christians 11, Cobh Pirates 16 (aet);

O'Carroll Plate: Fethard 22, Richmond 17 (aet);
Newcastle West 37, Young Munster 31;

Junior 2 Cup South Quarter Finals: Mallow 12, Shandon 10;
Old Christians 8, Ballincollig 6;
Waterford City 10, Tralee 22;
Waterpark 25, Cork Constitution 0;

Dave Dineen Cup: Bandon 15, Dolphin 30;
Muskerry 22, Iveragh 51;

Junior 3 Cup South: Cork Transport 12, Mitchelstown 9;

Tait Cup: Crosshaven 7, Douglas 5;

Evans Cup: Clonmel 19, Cashel 8;

Frazer McMullen All Ireland Under 21 Cup Quarter Finals: Garryowen 7, St. Mary's College 43;
Old Crescent 0, Lansdowne 32;
Old Belvedere 12, U.L. Bohemian 6;
U.C.D. 69, Dolphin 0;

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 19 League Final: Bandon 6, Shannon-St. Mary's 8;

South Munster Under 19 Cup: Highfield 41, Fermoy 24;

South Munster Under 19 Development Cup: Ballincollig 27, Cork Constitution 40;
Kinsale 12, Old Christians 11;
Dolphin 13, Muskerry 10;
Sunday's Well 22, Mallow 16;

South Munster Under 17 Cup: Muskerry 8, Highfield 34;
Old Christians 7, Clonakilty 52;

South Munster Under 17 Development Cup: Bandon 38, Bantry Bay 12;
Midleton 8, Ballincollig 0;
Carrigaline 35, Mitchelstown 0;

South Munster Under 15 Cup: Highfield 3, Cork Constitution 17;
Kinsale 15, Bantry Bay 41;
Muskerry 13, Clonakilty 17;
Old Christians 5, Skibbereen 36;

South Munster Under 15 Development Cup: Fermoy 0, Bandon 44;
Kanturk 27, Youghal 29;

West Munster Under 17 Cup Quarter Final: Killorglin 0, Tralee 20;

North Munster Under 19 Cup: Garryowen 24, Young Munster 0;

North Munster Under 14 Cup: Shannon 20, Ennis 5;

Women's All Ireland Cup Semi Finals: Blackrock 0, Highfield 27;
Tralee 7, Galwegians 13;

Women’s All Ireland Plate Semi Finals; City of Derry 0, U.L. Bohemian 83;

Galbally 10, Port Laoise 0;