Weekend Rugby Roundup

The weather caused the postponement of several games, including five Junior cup ties, as a dramatic last minute penalty earns Thomond a losing bonus point, which was enough for them to be crowned as champions of the Munster Junior League.

There were no major shocks in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup except for Third Division Castleisland knocking out Kinsale 19-15 at the Kerry venue. Kieran Downey, Donnacha McSweeney, and Mike Cronin were Castleisland try scorers. Joe Sheehy kicked two conversions. Castleisland will be away to either Crosshaven or St. Mary’s in the next round.

The game of the day between Kilfeacle and Garryowen was a victim of the weather, so Thurles will have to wait to know their fourth round opponents, after their 15-3 win at home to Midleton. Luke Fogarty and Ciaran Ryan scored tries for the Tipperary side, and James Maher added a conversion and a penalty. Stuart O’Connor replied with a penalty for Midleton.

Cork Constitution defeated Muskerry 22-7 at Ballyanly with tries from Gordon Good, Peter Humphries, John Murphy, and Josh Daly, and Te Mason kicked a conversion. Dave Kelly scored a try for the home side and Daniel Morrissey converted.

A blistering opening half that saw Shannon lead Sunday’s Well 28-5 at half time proved decisive at Coonagh as the hosts advanced on a 35-19 scoreline. David Smith, Scott Gleeson, Mark Maloney, Alan Flannery, and Matt Burke all scored tries for Shannon and all were converted by Cillian O’Connor. The ‘Well did try to come back into it early in the second half with tries from Damian Kozik, Gary Downey, and Bobby Smith. Logan Henry kicked two conversions.

Young Munster overcame the challenge of Charleville with a 34-10 home victory. A penalty from Kian Smith and a penalty try gave Charleville an early 10-5 lead but the experience of the home side proved crucial as tries from Oran O’Reilly, Conor Bartley, Aaron Roulston, Mark O’Mara, Marcus Lyons, and Cian O’Byrne swung the game in the home side’s favour, Cian Casey kicked two conversions.

Young Munster will now host Skibbereen in Round Four, after the West Cork side defeated Nenagh Ormond 37-15. It was 23-15 to Skibb’ at half time. David Shannon scored two tries for the winners and Daniel Kitson, and Tadgh Cullinane also crossed the whitewash. Kitson converted all four tries as well as adding two penalties and Shannon also kicked a penalty. Nenagh had a try from Evan Fitzpatrick and a penalty try. Conor O’Brien kicked one penalty.

UCC proved too strong for Cashel , winning 31-17 at the Tipperary venue.  Peter Hyland scored two tries for the Students, and Tom McCarthy, Liam Ormond, and David Kiely were the other try scorers. David Cogan added three conversions. Michael Crosse and Adam Shirley replied with tries for Cashel. Dan O’Neill kicked a penalty and a conversion, and James O’Sullivan also added a penalty.

College will host Old Crescent in the next Round after the Limerick side’s 43-21 home win over Bruff. Darragh Casserly scored two of Crescent’s seven tries. Brendan McSweeney, Tevita Toia, David O’Grady, and Jamie Duggan were amongst their other try scorers. Duggan kicked four conversions. Adam O’Dwyer replied with two tries for Bruff and Johnny Cleary got one. Mark O’Connell converted all three tries.

Fethard recorded a 19-13 away win at Abbeyfeale in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate. Thomas Murphy, Jack Kealy, and Conor Pearson scored tries for Fethard and Peter Wall kicked two conversions. Jack O’Sullivan and Diarmuid Buckley replied with tries for Abbeyfeale and Jamie O’Sullivan kicked a penalty.

Ennis booked their quarter final place with a 57-38 win over Dolphin at Virgin Media Park. Cian Guilfoyle and Callum Barrett each scored three tries for the Clare side, and Brendan Keane, Colm Kearney and Oscar O’Gorman got one each. Barrett kicked six conversions.

Clonmel defeated Douglas 37-24 in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl Semi-Final. Gearoid O’Donovan scored two tries for Douglas and Luke Johnson and Ben Costigan added one each. Anton Brennan kicked two conversions.

Richmond defeated Thomond 18-13 in a game that doubled up as a league and Junior Clubs Challenge Clubs Cup quarter final. A late penalty by Adam Guerin along with tries from Luke Costelloe and Colin Slater were enough to earn Thomond a losing bonus point, and that was enough to confirm them as Munster Junior League Champions. Sean Considine and Shane Halpin scored tries for Richmond with Considine kicking two penalties and a conversion.

Waterpark defeated Ballincollig 14-12 in the only Second Division game that was played. Greg Staff and Gary Walsh scored tries for Waterpark and Willie Walsh converted both.

In Division 3, Killarney defeated Waterford City 41-3 with tries from Brendan Fuller, Eoin Gleeson, Ciaran O’Brien, Donnachda Grealy, Alan Lynch and Padraic Talbot being the Kerry side’s try scorers. Liam Randles kicked two conversions and a penalty, O’Brien and Grealy also added a conversion each.