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Munster Junior Cup Semi Finals

28th March 2005 By Munster Rugby

Munster Junior Cup Semi Finals

Cork Constitution and UCC will meet in the Heineken Munster Junior Cup Final after semi final wins over Crosshaven and Nenagh Ormond

Monday 28th March 2005

HEINEKEN MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP SEMI FINALS

Crosshaven 9 Cork Constitution 15 Musgrave Park, 2.30pm

Nenagh Ormond 21 UCC 28 Thomond Park, 2.30pm

CORK CON HOLD ON FOR PLACE IN MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP FINAL

Crosshaven 9 Cork Constitution 15

With a place in the Munster Junior Cup Final at stake, both sides had early chances to test the other s defences. Cork Constitution found themselves attacking inside the Crosshaven 22 minutes into the game, but Crosshaven coped well with the early attack and cleared their lines. From the outset, Cork Constitution sought to dominate, causing untold problems for Crosshaven in the line out. Crosshaven had a good chance to score after 10 minutes with a race between winger Bobby Rogers and Constitution s flanker Emmett Cassidy after a chip ahead, which eventually went into touch close to the try line. Crosshaven s centre Ross O Connell was dangerous throughout, but Constitution s back line defence was superb, refusing to allow Crosshaven much space out the line. The deadlock was broken after 17 minutes, when Cork Constitution s Ronan O Donovan touched down in the corner, with out half Daragh Lyons unlucky with the conversion when it hit the upright. Lyons spearheaded the Cork Constitution attack, with his kicking from the hand giving Cork Con a great attacking platform. He was on target after 24 minutes with a drop goal, giving Cork Constitution an 8-0 lead. Despite Cork Constitution having a larger pack, Crosshaven did well to contest for ball and turned over numerous times at the breakdown. Just before half time, Crosshaven held possession on a lineout inside the Cork Constitution 22, and set up a driving maul towards the line. Daragh Lyons was again on hand to kick a drop goal which gave Crosshaven a great boost going into half time, despite Constitution s domination of the first half.

After the restart, Cork Constitution had an early opportunity for a try but it was deemed not to have been touched down. Crosshaven defended well, and stopped Cork Constitution s No. 8 Frank Cogan from reaching the line after a break from the back of a 5 metre scrum. Crosshaven s Richie Daly was central to Crosshaven s game plan, and his clearance kicks gave Crosshaven respite at points in the game. In the second half, Crosshaven came back into the game, with some excellent work by centre Sean Conway and prop Moss Barry. Twelve minutes into the second half, Richie Daly narrowed the gap to 8-6 after kicking another penalty. Cork Con responded with a try from replacement hooker Denis Fogarty, which was converted by Lyons. Lyons had three more opportunities to put them out of sight before the end of the game, but converted only one of the penalties awarded. For the last 20 minutes of the game Crosshaven were fired up and continued to scrap for possession. Daly kicked another penalty to bring them 6 points from Cork Constitution with 6 minutes to go. However, despite a tremendous effort, with great encouragement from supporters, Crosshaven were unable to get the converted try to win the game.

Cork Constitution will now play UCC in an all Cork decider in the Munster Junior Cup after the college had a 28-21 win over Nenagh Ormond.

Crosshaven Team: 15. Dave Walsh, 14. Danny Buckley, 13. Sean Conway, 12. Ross O Connell, 11. Bobby Rogers, 10. Ritchie Daly, 9. Philip Spillane, 1. Tony Barry, 2. Rory Hoffler, 3. Moss Barry, 4. Eamon Ring, 5. Michael Buckley, 6. Andrew Harrington, 7. Peter Morrissy, 8. Robert Barry Substitutions: Simon Coveney for Michael Buckley, Paul Memory for Andrew Harrington, Pierce O Brien for Bobby Rogers

Cork Constitution Team: 15. Dave O Brien, 11. Niall Kenneally, 13. Joe Cullen, 12. Ronan O Donovan, 14. Rory Collins, 10. Daragh Lyons, 9. John Stringer, 1. Jody Danagher, 2. Landy Hill, 3. Mark Daunt, 4. JJ Cahill, 5. Ian Doyle, 6. Emmett Cassidy, 7. Frank Quinlan, 8. Frank Cogan. Substitutions: Denis Fogarty for Frank Quinlan, Alistair Ross for Ronan O Donovan, David Foley for Mark Daunt, Harry Casey for JJ Cahill.

UCC END NENAGH ORMOND S WINNING STREAK

Nenagh Ormond 21 UCC 28

UCC put an end to the winning streak of defending champions Nenagh Ormond by holding on for a 21-28 win in Thomond Park. Fresh from winning the Munster Junior League Division One final, Nenagh Ormond were unable to go on and defend their Cup title after being unseated by a determined UCC.

Talented full back Liam Delaney put Nenagh Ormond three points ahead after 5 minutes. UCC were quick to come back however and take control, with winger Daire Fitzgerald scoring a hat trick of tries for the college in the first half. Nenagh Ormond s scrum half Michael Fogarty scored a try which wasn t converted late in the first half, before Fitzgerald s third try put the college 21-8 ahead at half time. With Gareth Williams at out half converting all the tries, UCC had a comfortable cushion going into the restart.

A mistake in the drop off at the restart by Nenagh Ormond left UCC s captain Colin Murphy in for another try at the start of the second half, which was converted by Williams. For some teams, it would be difficult to come back from such a blow, however, Nenagh showed great heart by putting in a determined second half performance. Fullback Liam Delaney scored a try for Nenagh, which he converted himself, and he added two more penalties before the end of the game.

One of the key areas in the game was the line out, which UCC dominated, and used to full advantage. Their half back partnership of Dave O Leary and Gareth Williams worked extremely well, and made it difficult for Nenagh Ormond to exert control. Despite a terrific effort from captain Robbie Powell, out half John Keehan and openside flanker Alan Seymour, Nenagh Ormond were unable to make up the deficit in time, with UCC holding on for a deserved victory.

UCC Team: 15. Ed Mills, 14. Colin Murphy, 13. Tom Gleeson, 12. Peter Murphy, 11. Daire Fitzgerald, 10. Gareth Williams, 9. Dave O Leary, 1. Fergus Gately, 2. Ciaran Murray, 3. Jim Mackessey, 4. Ben Nagle, 5. Chris Kenneally, 6. Michael Essex, 7. Ciaran Horgan, 8. Billy Holland Subs: Darragh Hurley for Jim Mackessey,

Nenagh Ormond Team: 15. Liam Delaney, 14. Fergus Austin, 13. Trevor Connolly, 12. Trevor Pole, 11. Denis Slattery, 10. John Keehan, 9. Michael Fogarty, 1. Donnacha Ryan, 2. Ian Ryan, 3. Michael Slattery, 4. Denis O Meara, 5. John Moylan, 6. Damien Gavin, 7. Alan Seymour, 8. Robbie Powell. Subs: Paudie Breen for Fergus Austin, Denis Farrell for Michael Slattery

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