Weekend Rugby Roundup

Following their defeat by Clonmel in the Gleeson Cup and Evans Cup final last Thursday evening, Cashel Second XV bounced back to win the Munster Junior Two Cup for the second time with a 35-5 victory over Ballincollig at Fermoy.

Cashel led 13-0 at half time with a try and drop goal from Ger O’Sullivan and a try by Kevin Leamy. Jack Maher extended their lead with a try on sixty six minutes. Ballincollig responded with a try by Fergal Considine but Cashel finished the stronger and tries by Michael O’Connor and Ger O’Sullivan both converted by Dermot O’Brien who also added a penalty saw the Tipperary side add this trophy to the Gleeson League and Webb Cup.

This was Ballincollig’s second final this week as last Thursday evening they lost the Kelly Cup Final to Carrigaline 24-17 at Rathcooney. This was Carrigaline’s first piece of silverware since going up as a Junior Two side.
Ballincollig led 12-7 at half time with tries from Dave Baston and Gary Hanlon and a Kevin Ryan conversion. Conor Reece replied with a try for Carrigaline and John Tait converted. Darren Twomey and Ray Donoghue added tries in the second half and Tait converted both and also added a penalty. Substitute Willie Schubert replied with a try for Ballincollig.

There was some consolation for the mid Cork side as their Third XV defeated Fermoy 29-26 after extra time to lift the McCarthy Cup in a game that preceded the Munster Junior Two Cup Final.
This was the third time that Ballincollig had denied Fermoy a trophy as they defeated them twice in the last four weeks to win both the Junior Three League and Cup titles.
Ballincollig led 6-5 at half time with two penalties from Paul Dinneen. Andy O’Regan scored a try for the home side. Tries from Peter Stapleton and Tom Dillon both converted by John Duggan had Fermoy leading 19-16 as the game went into injury time. Shane Murphy scored a try for Ballincollig which Dinneen converted. Dinneen sent the game into extra time with a penalty a minute into injury time.
John Roche restored Fermoy’s lead with a try which Duggan converted six minutes into the first period of extra time. Dinneen kicked a penalty at the end of the first period of extra time.
Two minutes from time Danny Farrell scored a try for Ballincollig and Dinneen converted to ensure victory for Ballincollig.

Midleton won the O’Neill Cup at Musgrave Park with a 21-16 victory over Mallow after extra time. This was an evenly contested game with the lead changing hands on several occasions. Mallow’s player coach Bryan Morris facing his former team mates for the first time gave his side an early 6-0 lead with two penalties.
Paul Daly had Midleton on level terms with two penalties mid way through the half and a try by Sean White converted by Daly left it 13-6 in favour of the east Cork side at half time. Mallow raised their game in the second half and drew level with a try by Dave Walsh converted by Morris ten minutes after the break. Morris put Mallow back in front with a penalty eleven minutes from time but in a dramatic finish Daly levelled in the final minute to send the game into extra time. Two minutes into extra time Daly got in for Midleton’s second try in the corner and they held on for victory.

There was some consolation for Mallow as their second XV defeated holder’s Highfield 14-10 in the final of the Dave Dineen Cup at Woodleigh Park on Sunday. Cian Mahony gave Highfield the lead with a try but a try by Conor Nyhan converted by Martin O’Connor had Mallow in front 7-5 at half time. Dave O’Leary extended the north Cork side’s advantage with a second try which O’Connor converted. Highfield rallied in the final ten minutes but their only reward was a try by Peter Cotter.

Clanwilliam defeated Kilfeacle 22-8 to win the Tipperary Under 21 Cup.

Results:

Ulster Bank League Division 1 Final: Cork Constitution 17, Old Belvedere 20;

Ulster Bank League Division 1B Play Off: Bruff 25, Bective Rangers 12;

Ulster Bank League Division 2A Play Off: Old Crescent 15, Banbridge 16;

Junior Inter Provincial: Munster 24, Leinster 30;

O'Neill Cup Final: Mallow 16, Midleton 21 (aet);

Munster Junior 2 Cup Final: Ballincollig 5, Cashel 35;

Dave Dineen Cup Final: Highfield 10, Mallow 14;

Kelly Cup Final: Carrigaline 24, Ballincollig 17;

Gleeson & Evans Cup Finals: Cashel 8, Clonmel 15;

McCarthy Cup Final : Fermoy 26, Ballincollig 29 (aet);

O'Connor Cup Final: Clanwilliam 22, Kilfeacle 8;