Weekend Junior Rugby Roundup

Galbally win promotion from the Third Division of the Munster Junior League for the first time with a 6-3 away win over Castleisland.

This semi final game doubled up as a Munster Junior Plate quarter final tie, so Galbally must now face Thurles in the semi final of that competition.

With home advantage Castleisland got off to a great start when Shane O’Flynn kicked them into an early lead with a penalty. Liam Casey brought the sides level with a penalty before half time and than with the game entering the final minutes Casey struck again with his second penalty.

Thurles booked their place in the last four of the Munster Junior Plate with a 19-12 win over St. Mary’s at Corbally. Brett Evans, Richard O’Gorman scored tries for the Tipperary side who were also awarded a penalty try. Aidan Dwyer converted two of the tries. Barry Gibbons kicked four penalties fro the Third Division side.

St. Senan’s reached the final of the Munster Junior Bowl competition with a 38-10 win over Scariff.

Old Christians completed their Junior League program with a 31-16 victory over Kilfeacle at Rathcooney. John O’Flynn, Paul McGrath, Dave Heaphy and Alan O’Connell scored tries for the winners and Aidan Tobin kicked two conversions and two penalties. John Keenan replied with a try for Kilfeacle and Shane Luby kicked a conversion and three penalties.

Killarney’s good run continued when they reached the quarter finals of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup with a 22-6 home win over Kilrush. Brian O’Leary, Pat Keating and Sean Hickey scored tries for the winners with Hickey kicking a conversion and penalty and Mike Nash also adding a conversion.

Six Cup finals were decided across the province at the weekend. Cashel received a boost ahead of their vital AIL game next week against Navan, when they defeated Clonmel 22-19 to lift the Mansergh Cup.

To prove the strength of depth in the club, Cashel also won the Gleeson League when they defeated Garryowen 15-9 in the final at Bruff. Brian Silke and Robert Tierney scored tries for the Tipperary side and Ollie McGlinchey kicked a conversion and penalty. Robert Sheehan replied with two penalties and a drop goal for the Light Blues.

Mallow lifted the Junior 4 League South title when they defeated Listowel 17-10 in their play off at the North Cork venue. Dave Walsh, Richard Dorgan and Eoin Glynn scored tries for the winners and Dorgan also kicked a conversion.

Ballincollig won the McCarthy Cup final at Musgrave Park with a 16-0 win over Bandon. Colman Farrell scored a try for Ballincollig and Kevin Ryan kicked a conversion and three penalties with all the scores coming in the opening half.

U.C.C. retained their dominance of the Under 20 South Cup with a 34-8 win over Sunday’s Well. Gavin Nugent and Odhran Mulrooney scored two tries each for the students and Willy Walsh got one. Conor Sweeny converted three of the tries and also kicked a penalty. Colin Healy replied with a try for the ‘Well and Cormac Horgan kicked a penalty.

In a thrilling Division Two Final Waterpark defeated Dolphin 36-23 at Youghal. Waterpark raced into an early 22-3 lead, but the Musgrave Park side hit back to lead 23-22 before a late finish saw Waterpark score two converted tries. Joe McSweeney scored two tries for Waterpark and Colm Walsh and Kevin Phelan got one each. Nicholas Clifford kicked four conversions and two penalties for the winners. Liam O’Donovan scored two tries for Dolphin and Sean McCarthy got one. Cormac O’Flynn kicked two penalties and a conversion for the Musgrave Park outfit.

Kanturk booked their place in the semi final of the Cork County Cup with a 31-25 away win over Kinsale. Simon Mulholland and Peter Earley scored two tries each for the winners and John O’Callaghan converted all four and also added a penalty. Pat O’Regan, Peter Murphy and Barry McQuaid replied with tries for the home side and Frazer Hodgson kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Tries from Eddie Tobin and Ger Sweeney and two conversions and two penalties by Sean Hennessy helped Midleton to a 20-8 win over Muskerry in their opening round.

Dolphin reached the semi final of the Junior Two Cup with a 31-20 win over Corca Dhuibhne at Musgrave Park. Dave Griffin, Dan Daly and Bruce Harper scored tries for the winners and Pat Ahern kicked four conversions and two penalties. Neill Flaherty replied with a try for the Kerry Gaeltacht side and John Curran kicked five penalties.

Clonakilty defeated holders Ballincollig 20-5 with tries from Finbarr O’Mahony, Cian Clancy and Brian Blackwell and O’Mahony added a conversion and penalty. Tom Downes replied with a try for Ballincollig.

A try from Stephen Kelly and a conversion and two penalties by Jason Wycherly helped Bantry Bay to a 13-8 win over Muskerry in the opening round of the Dave Dineen Cup. Jerry Cronin replied with a try for Muskerry and Timmy Keating kicked a penalty.