Weekend Junior Rugby Round-Up

With the next round of games in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League scheduled for early January, both Clonmel and Newcastle West share top spot and with both to meet on January 4th, this could be the game that decides the League.

Newcastle West, who lost away to Cobh Pirates a few weeks ago in the Challenge Clubs Cup, were expected to win this league tie with ease but got a big shock. They trailed 7-5 at half time with Tom Rice scoring a try for Cobh which Eoin Geary converted. Sean Herlihy scored two tries and a penalty for the home side.

Clonmel drew level with Newcastle West after a hard earned 34-25 away win against Waterpark. Tries from John Gallagher and Dylan Cadogan both converted by Conor Cooney gave Clonmel a 14-12 half time lead.

Greg Carroll and Luke Hogan added further tries for Clonmel and Cooney converted both and also added two penalties. Waterpark were awarded a penalty try and John O’Brien converted and also added six penalties.

The game between third and fourth finished all square, when Muskerry and Clonakilty played out a 22-22 draw. Clonakilty raced into an early 15-0 lead with tries from Courtney Canning and Rob Howick. Dave Lombard added a conversion and a penalty. Jonathan Buckley opened Muskerry’s account with a penalty to leave it 15-3 at half-time.

Canning scored his second try for Clonakilty which Lombard converted. Muskerry had tries from Darren Collins, Dave Hennessy and Joe Treacy with Buckley converting two, but he missed the third in injury time that would have given the home side victory.

St. Mary’s and Old Christians also finished all square 11-11 at Grove Island. Darragh Kerley scored a try for Mary’s and Paul O’Loughlin kicked two penalties. Fionn O’Leary scored a try for the Rathcooney side and Sean Meaney and Paul Whelan each kicked a penalty.

At the other end of the table, bottom side Kinsale lost away 27-12 to Skibbereen. David Shannon scored three tries for the West Cork side and Alan Jennings and Michael Limerick got one each. Ger Hurley kicked one conversion. Pat O’Regan and Peter Murphy scored tries for Kinsale and Frazer Hodgson added a conversion.

Tralee still remain second last after their 32-7 away defeat by St. Senan’s. Declan Rowe and Warren Kelly each scored two tries for the Clare side and Fernando Gallant got one. Rowe kicked two conversions and a penalty. TJ O’Sullivan replied with a try for Tralee and Gareth Walsh kicked a conversion.

Bandon have extended their lead at the top of the Second Division to seven points after their 45-5 away win over Youghal. Gearoid Crowley and Jack Murphy scored two tries each. Scott Kingston, Mike Murphy and Tom Ferguson got one each. Richard Walsh added five conversions. Scott O’Sullivan replied with a try for the home side.

Clanwilliam remain in second place after their 20-7 away win over Abbeyfeale. Niall Leahy, Brian Kissane and Chris Doyle scored tries for the Tipperary side and Kissane added a penalty and a conversion. Daniel Ward replied with a try for Abbeyfeale and Tom Hassett converted, but it could have been closer if Hassett had been on target with several penalty attempts.

Thurles maintained their promotion challenge with a 29-10 home win over Newport. Joe Kelly scored two tries for the winners and John Coman, Peter Coman and Adrian Burke got one each. Adrian Dwyer kicked two conversions. Newport were awarded a penalty try and Philip O’Brien converted and also kicked a penalty.

Castleisland won the Kerry local derby with an 18-8 home win over Killarney. Kieran Downey and Eugene Cronin were try scorers for Castleisland and Connie Reynolds added a conversion and two penalties. Hilary McCarthy replied with a try for Killarney and Chris Myers kicked a penalty.

Mallow were leading Crosshaven 40-0 when the game was abandoned. Conor Donovan scored three tries for Mallow, Brian Lane two and Andy Cashman one. Cashman converted five of the tries.

Presentation defeated Waterford City 18-16. Eoin Daly and Shane Mullally scored tries for the Limerick side and Craig Airey added a conversion and two penalties. Conor Power replied with a try for Waterford and Michael Hayes converted and kicked three penalties.

Tries from Dave O’Callaghan and Damian Forde earned Ennis an 18-5 home win over Ballincollig. Sean Hayes converted one of the tries and kicked two penalties. Glen Murphy was Ballincollig’s try scorer.

Charleville defeated Carrigaline 59-7 to keep their chances of promotion from the Third Division alive. Willie O’Sullivan scored two tries and Tony Moffatt, Shane Corkery, Eoin Carroll, Eoghan McMahon and Dean Roche got one apiece, Corkery added four conversions and Peadar Cronin three. Brendan Kelly was Carrigaline’s try scorer and John Tait converted.

RESULTS:
Munster Junior League Division 1: Muskerry 22, Clonakilty 22;
Newcastle West 13, Cobh Pirates 7;
Skibbereen 27, Kinsale 12;
St. Mary's 11, Old Christians 11;
St. Senan's 32, Tralee 7;
Waterpark 24, Clonmel 35;

Division 2: Abbeyfeale 7, Clanwilliam 20;
Castleisland 18, Killarney 8;
Ennis 18, Ballincollig 5;
Mallow 40, Crosshaven 0 abandoned;
Thurles 29, Newport 10;
Waterford City 16, Presentation 18;
Youghal 5, Bandon 45;

Division 3: Carrigaline 7, Charleville 59;
Gleeson League: Newcastle West 32, Clanwilliam 0;
St. Senan's 6, Garryowen 20;
Junior 2 League South: Corca Dhuibhne 39, Cork Constitution 5;
Under 20 Donal Walsh Trophy Section A: Highfield 0, Cork Constitution 29;
Kanturk-Charleville 22, Clonakilty-Kinsale 24;
East Under 18 League Play Offs: Dungarvan 14, Cashel 10;
Waterpark 35, Clonmel 21;

East Under 16 League Play Offs: Waterpark 28, Thurles 13;
North Under 16 League: Bruff 10, Young Munster 8;

South Under 18 League Group A: Cork Constitution 13, Ballincollig 10;
North Kerry 56, Kanturk 0;
Sunday's Well 0, Highfield 27;
Tralee 13, Cobh Pirates 12;

Group B: Midleton 20, Skibbereen 10;

South Under 16 Development League: Douglas-Carrigaline 20, Cobh Pirates 17;
Dunmanway 25, Crosshaven 8;
Fermoy 25, Mitchelstown 15;
Old Christians 7, Bantry Bay 36;

South Under 14 League Section A: Muskerry 5, Kinsale 20;

Section B: Mallow 17, Midleton 21;
Old Christians 30, Charleville 0;

West Under 16 League: Tralee 27, Listowel 0;

West Under 14 League: Tralee 64, Castleisland 0;