Junior Rugby Roundup

Only three of the scheduled Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup ties went ahead, as Richmond moved back to the top of the Munster Junior League and Ballincollig and Clonakilty will contest the Junior Clubs Shield Final.

In the opening round Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup tie Ennis won a thrilling tie at home to Bruff 15-13.

The Clare side led 10-6 at half time with a penalty try and a penalty from Ronan O’Halloran to two penalties by Richard McAuliffe for Bruff.

Mark Taylor extended the home side’s lead with a try but Bruff hit back with a try from Cian Clifford and McAuliffe converted and Ennis had to withstand a late onslaught from the visitors before progressing to Round Two next Sunday where they will entertain Highfield.

Tralee defeated Thomond 47-23 at the Kerry venue.

Dermot Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a penalty for Thomond. Mike Lyne put Tralee ahead with a try which Jack Quilter converted. Stuart Ryan restored Thomond’s advantage with a try which Fitzgerald converted.

Two penalties from Quilter and one by Fitzgerald saw the sides’ level 13-13 at half time.

Tries from Fearghal Ó’Nuallain, Lyne, Danny Cournane and Nessan Crean, the latter converted by Quilter saw Tralee race into a 35-13 lead.

Richard Ryan scored a try for Thomond which Fitzgerald converted but Eoin O’Carroll and Jeaic O’Suilleabhain added further tries for Tralee and Quilter converted one.

Fitzgerald completed the scoring with a penalty.

Tralee will now travel to Clonakilty next week.

Chorca Dhuibhne defeated Douglas-Carrigaline 28-10 at the West Kerry Gaeltacht venue. Caoilte Curneen, Adam Daly, Gearoid Breathnach and Micheal Breathnach scored tries for Chorca Dhuibhne and Seamus Moriarty converted all four tries. Dave McCarthy and Ben Costigan replied with tries for the visitors.

Chorca Dhuibhne are now away to Kinsale next Sunday.

The Bantry Bay v Killorglin tie was postponed because of the weather.

Both Charleville and Fermoy received walk overs from Dungarvan and Midleton respectively.

Richmond have reclaimed top spot in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League after their 31-13 bonus point home win against Abbeyfeale.

Because of fixture congestion later in the month the league game between Richmond and Abbeyfeale was brought forward.

Derry O’Connor gave Abbeyfeale an early lead with a penalty but, Richmond’s man of the match Jeff McNamara hit back with a try for Richmond who led 5-3 at the interval.

A try and a conversion by Tadgh Bennett extended Richmond’s lead to 12-3 early in the second half.

McNamara added two further tries with Bennett converting one to make it 24-3.

Abbeyfeale rallied with tries from Stephen Cahill and O’Connor to make it 24-13 but a Keelan Stephenson try converted by Bennett sees Richmond with a four point lead at the top of the table.

In Division 2 Killarney recorded their first win with an 8-3 home win over Kinsale. Alan Mulligan scored a try for Killarney and Paudie Sheahan added a penalty. Barry McGrory replied with a penalty for Kinsale.

A last minute penalty from Mark Purcell earned Clonakilty a 10-8 away win over Old Christians in the semi-final of the Junior Clubs Shield. Olan Deane scored a try for Clonakilty and Eoin Deasy converted. Alan O’Connell replied with a try for Old Christians and Ryan O’Connell kicked a penalty.

Ballincollig booked their place in the final with a last minute try from Robbie McSweeney to give them a 25-20 victory away to Muskerry. Tries from Ian O’Malley and John Sheehan both converted by Sheehan and two Sheehan penalties had Ballincollig 20-7 ahead at half time.

Mark Jones scored Muskerry’s try and Jonathan Buckley converted.

A try from Daniel Horgan and a conversion and two penalties by Buckley had the sides’ level. With extra time looming McSweeney struck with his late winner.