West Cork Double In Youths Finals

It was a great weekend for both Bandon and Clonakilty Under Age sections as both the Munster Under 19 League and Munster Under 17 League trophies headed to West Cork after victories in the finals at the Mardyke.

Bandon 40, Highfield 8.
Bandon made up for the disappointment of losing last year's Munster Under 19 League title to Shannon-St. Mary’s when a late try denied them victory, with a comprehensive victory over six times winners Highfield.
This was the West Cork side’s first title and great credit must go to all their coaches that brought this team through all the grades in the last few years.
Highfield went into this tie unbeaten including a win over Bandon earlier in the season full of confidence but they were totally outclassed on the day.
Bandon raced into an early lead with a try from Christian Mulcahy that Richard Walsh converted. A penalty from Mark Dorgan and a try by Eoghan Greene saw Highfield hit the front after eleven minutes 8-7.
Once Richard Walsh restored Bandon’s advantage with a penalty after twenty seven minutes, it was all Bandon from there to the finish. A try by Kerry Desmond and a conversion and a penalty by Walsh left it 20-8 at half time.
Second half tries by Mighty Okafor and Gearoid O’Leary and two penalties and two conversions by Walsh completed the scoring.
Scorers Bandon: Richard Walsh 4 conversions & 4 penalties; Christian Mulcahy, Kerry Desmond, Mighty Okafor & Gearoid O’Leary 1 try each.
Highfield: Eoghan Greene 1 try; Mark Dorgan 1 penalty.
Bandon: Gearoid Healy; Mighty Okafor, Kerry Desmond, Gearoid O’Leary, Christian Mulcahy; Jack Murphy, Richard Walsh; Colin Jackson, Kevin Hurley, Ieuan Walters; Enda Phelan, Gerry Robinson; Darragh Coffey, Conor Barry, Michael Beecher.
Replacements: Ben Hunter, Luke Holland, Kieran O’Driscoll, Sam Dwyer, Oisin Healy, Robert O'Sullivan, Brian Crowley.
Highfield; Colin Lougheed; Michael Morris, Kieran Duggan, Mark Dorgan, Mark Cahill; David Kilcoyne, Aidan Johnson; Cian Tuohy, Eoghan Greene, Patrick Lee; Michael O’Donnell-Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Lane; Robert Steele, Jamie O’Donnell-Fitzgerald, Marc O’Connor.
Replacements: Conor Philpott, Michael Lane, Ciaran Haughney, Rudy Schneeweiss, Stephen Delaney, Cillian O'Connor, Ciaran Walsh, Daniel O'Donoghue. Referee: Robert O’Sullivan (MAR)

Clonakilty 13, Waterpark 11;
This was a classic Munster Under 17 League Final that was in the melting pot right up to the final whistle.
Waterpark went into this contest on the back of a 20-14 win over Clonakilty in the group stages, but the West Cork side made amends with this win.
Clon’ raced into an early 10-0 lead after twenty four minutes with a try by Aaron Hayes and a penalty and conversion by Eoghan Deasy.
David Kavanagh opened Waterpark’s account with a penalty to leave it 10-3 at the interval. Kavanagh kicked a second penalty midway through the second half and then came the dramatic finish.
Diarmuid Gallagher put Waterpark ahead with a try but with time almost up Deasy restored Clonakilty’s lead with a penalty. Waterpark tried desperately to save the game in the little time left but Clon’ held out for an exciting finish to a great contest that was a credit to both sides.
Scorers Clonakilty: Aaron Hayes try, Eoghan Deasy con, 2 pens.
Waterpark: Diarmuid Gallagher try, David Kavanagh 2 pens.
Clonakilty: Bobby Smith, Aaron Hayes, Andrew Cullinane, Joe White, Thomas “Ogie” Scannell; Eoghan Deasy, Robert Finglas; David Jennings, Robert Kingston, Ross O’Connor; Conor Madden, Paul O’Regan; Mark Lynch, Olan Deane, Philip Poillot.
Replacements: David Walsh, Tadhg Duignan, Fraser Pock, Shane Scannell, Denis O’Driscoll.
Waterpark: Diarmuid Gallagher; Ciaran Joyce, Matthew Jones, Rory Corbett, Darragh Foley, David Kavanagh, Isaac Mansfield Daly; Dylan Power, Nick Kervick, Luke Cantwell; Noel Roche, Jamie Flynn; Robbie Walsh, Daniel O’Driscoll, David Pierce.
Replacements: Cormac Stanley, Bobby Shanahan, Tom Swift, Simon Molloy, Ruarai O’Dwyer, Jordan O’Regan, James Kiersey, Jeff Frampton.
Referee: John McCarthy (M.A.R.)

Footnote: Clonakilty won the South Munster Under 15 League Final with a 15-10 win over Skibbereen to make it double celebrations for Clonakilty.