Weekend Rugby Roundup

Galbally reach the final of the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield as Thurles moved off the foot of the table in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League with a home win over Clonmel.

Galbally’s great run this season continued when they booked their place in the final of the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield Final on the 3rd January against Kanturk following their 16-9 home win over Old Christians.

Favourites Old Christians were surprisingly defeated at the County Limerick venue 16-9. The sides were level 6-6 at half time. Karl Bourke kicked two penalties for the home side and Aidan Tobin replied with two penalties for Old Christians. A try by James Taylor converted by Bourke and a third penalty by Bourke made sure that Galbally advanced to the decider. Stuart Lee kicked a drop goal for Old Christians.

Thurles moved off the bottom of the table in Division One of the Munster Junior League after their 19-12 home win over Clonmel. Kieran Lyons opened the scoring with a try for Clonmel but Thurles were level by half time with a try by Richard O’Gorman. The home side raced into a 19-5 lead with tries from Barry O’Dwyer and Paddy Phelan both of which Aidan O’Dwyer converted. David Joyce scored a second try for Clonmel minutes from time and Lyons conversion ensured a losing bonus point for Clonmel.

There were four games in the Third Division. In Section A; Castleisland extended their lead at the top following their 22-3 away win over Abbeyfeale. The Kerry side led 17-0 at half time with Mark Connolly scoring two tries and a conversion, Dave McMahon also scored a try. Joe Lyons added a fourth try in the second half and Abbeyfeale’s only reply was a penalty from David Prendiville.

Killarney moved into joint second place with Presentation after their 12-0 away win over Kilrush. Sean Hickey kicked four penalties for the visitors in the opening half.

It was an historic day for Scariff as they recorded their first ever league win in the Junior League, when they defeated Killorglin 16-15. James Kelly and Shane Gibbons scored tries for the winners and Michael Madden kicked two penalties. David O’Sullivan and John Ahern replied with tries for Killorglin and Brian Gannon kicked a conversion and penalty.

In Section B; Carrick-on-Suir got their challenge back on track with a 23-12 away win over Shandon at Whitechurch. Peader Downey and John Phelan scored tries for the visitors and Michael Cronin converted both tries and also added three penalties. Ian Curtin and Mick Reilly were try scorers for Shandon and Barry Leahy kicked a conversion.

Only one game went ahead in the North Munster Seconds League and that resulted in a victory for Thomond, who defeated Garryowen 32-8.

The Bruff Young Munster tie will go ahead on Monday night, while both Shannon and U.L. Bohemian received walk overs from Nenagh Ormond and Old Crescent.

In a thrilling game at Musgrave Park, Highfield edged out Sunday’s Well 26-24 with an injury time drop goal from Tommy Upton. The lead changed hands on nine occasions. Highfield’s other scorers were tries from John Sheehan, Rory Langford and Ricky Galvin. Sheehan kicked a conversion and two penalties. Danny O’Shea replied with two tries for the ‘Well. Eamon Murphy and Martin O’Sullivan also scored tries and Ed Tubridy and John Moynihan each kicked a conversion.

U.C.C. moved to the top of the table as a result of their 55-5 away win over Clonakilty.

Cork Constitution and U.C.C. collected maximum points from their games in the South West Conference. Cork Constitution defeated Galwegians 54-24. Simon Zebo, Conor Desmond and Simon Barry scored two tries each for the winners. Con’ were also awarded a penalty try and Eoin O’Donnell got one. Darragh Dunne converted seven of the tries.

U.C.C. traveled to Galway and defeated N.U.I.G 22-3. In the only other game played in this league Shannon defeated U.L. Bohemian 16-15.

In the Junior Two League South Dolphin maintained their unbeaten run with a 25-6 win over Carrigaline. Tim Cotter scored two of Dolphin’s four tries with Garry Ross and Gearoid Magner being the other try scorers. Pat Ahern kicked a conversion and penalty.

Cobh Pirates kept up their challenge with a 44-0 home win over Crossahven. Ian Dunne scored two tries and James Murphy, Stephen O’Neill, Tadgh Hawe, David Mulcahy and Joe Hoyne got one each. Hoyne kicked a penalty and three conversions.

Muskerry had a surprise 19-17 win over U.C.C. at Curaheen Road. Shane Murphy scored a try for the winners; Tyrone O’Regan added a conversion and three penalties and Barry Jones kicked a drop goal. Gavin Ryan and Joe Holland replied with tries for the students and Holland kicked two conversions and a penalty.

A try by Kieran Ware and a conversion and penalty from Conor Mangan gave Old Christians a 10-0 lead against Sunday’s Well. The ‘Well hit back with a penalty from Mark Hayes and a try by Kenny Barry but it was not enough as the rathconney side held on for a 10-8 victory.
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A try by Danny Cahalane and four penalties by Ger Hurley helped Skibbereen to a 17-15 victory over Dunmanway.

Bandon defeated Bantry Bay 31-0 with Eanna Kelleher scoring three tries and Dave Hegarty two. Eoin O’Callaghan converted three of the tries.

RESULTS:
Women’s Interprovincial:Connacht 0,Munster 25;

AIB League Division 1A:Blackrock College 15,Shannon 21;
Cork Constitution 21,Clontarf 18;
Garryowen v Dolphin Off;
U.L. Bohemian 25,St. Mary’s College 20;

Division 1B:Ballynahinch 6,U.C.C. 15;
Dungannon 27,Buccaneers 3;
Galwegians 13,Old Belvedere 12;
Young Munster 16,Ballymena 3;

Division 2:Belfast Harlequins 10,Bruff 14;
Dublin University 24,Greystones 12;
Highfield 12,D.L.S.P. 22;
Lansdowne 30,Bective Rangers 21;
Malone 10,Thomond 5;
Old Crescent 17,Terenure College 16;
Old Wesley 31,Corinthians 5;
U.C.D. 13,Clonakilty 6;

Division 3:Ards 16,Portadown 9;
Instonians 7,Midleton 21;
Naas 17,Co. Carlow 6;
Nenagh Ormond 28,Banbridge 22;
Queens University 38,Navan 7;
Rainey Old Boys 38,Connemara 6;
Sunday’s Well 23,Suttonians 6;
Wanderers 3,Barnhall 14;

Munster Junior League Division 1:Thurles 19,Clonmel 12;

Division 3:Abbeyfeale 3,Castleisland 22;
Kilrush 0,Killarney 12;
Scariff 16,Killorglin 15;
Shandon 12,Carrick-on-Suir 23;

Munster Junior Clubs Shield Semi Final:Galbally 16,Old Christians 9;

Munster Seconds League North:Thomond 32,Garryowen 8;

Munster Seconds League South:Sunday’s Well 24,Highfield 26;
U.C.C. 55,Clonakilty 5;

Gleeson League:Cashel 10,Shannon 11;
UL Bohemian 11,Garryowen 6;

Junior 2 League South Section B:Bantry Bay 0,Bandon 31;
Skibbereen 17,Dunmanway 15;

Section C:Old Christians 10,Sunday’s Well 8;
U.C.C. 17,Muskerry 19;

Section D:Cobh Pirates 44,Crosshaven 0;
Dolphin 25,Carrigaline 6;

Under 21 South Western Conference Division 1:Cork Constitution 54,Galwegians 24;
N.U.I.G. 3,U.C.C. 22;
U.L. Bohemian 15,Shannon 16;

North Under 19 League:Ennis 14,Shannon 7;

South Under 15 League:Sunday’s Well 28,Midleton 10;