Provincial Rugby Roundup
19th January 2025 By Leonard Allen

Photo Credit Kilfeacle RFC
The Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup got underway with seven games decided as the race for the Munster Junior 1 and 2 League titles now are down to a two horse race with just four games remaining.
In the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup Carrick-on-Suir caused an upset with a 38-14 win away to CastleIsland. Jack Boylan scored three tries for the Tipperary side and Fionn Barry and Jack O’Connell got one each. Barry converted five of the tries and also added a penalty. Castleisland replied with tries from Mike Cronin and Calvin Swords. Joe Sheehy converted both tries. Carrick’s reward is a home tie against Ennis in Round 2 next week.
Bruff raced into a 31-0 lead at home to Killorglin with two tries each from Niall Byrnes and Adam O’Dwyer. O’Dwyer converted all four tries as well as adding a penalty. Killorglin rallied with tries from Stephen Cotter, Luke O’Shea, Conall Whelan and Fionn O’Shea. Luke O’Shea converted three of the tries. Bruff were relieved to hear the final whistle and will now host Midleton next week in Round 2.
Midleton were 34-24 away winners at Dungarvan. Billy Lynch scored two tries and Darragh Daly, Lachlan McCrea got one each for the visitors. Stuart O’Connor kicked three conversions and two penalties. Dungarvan replied with tries from Donnacha Dunphy, Brendan Cullinane and Shane Norris. David Hickey converted all three tries and also added a penalty.
Fermoy had a narrow 19-18 away win at Youghal. Dylan Foley, Alan Ross and Peter Finn scored tries for Fermoy and Eoin Lacey converted two of the tries. Nathan O’Halloran and Oran Finn relied with tries for Youghal and O’Halloran kicked a conversion and two penalties. Fermoy will travel to Ballincollig next week in Round 2.
Killarney advanced to Round 2 with a 33-19 home win against Waterford City and will host Cobh Pirates next Sunday. Tomas Clifford, Diarmuid Carr, Matt McAuliffe, Padraic Talbot and Sam Buckley scored tries for Killarney. Ciaran O’Brien converted four of the tries. Danny Collins, Tyler Benett and Peter Walsh replied with tries for Waterford City and Micky O’Connor kicked two conversions.
Clonmel defeated Douglas 54-24 in a game that produced twelve tries. Luke Hogan scored two tries for the Tipperary side and Aidan Hickey, Ben O’Dwyer, Michael Connellan, Liam Maher, Darren Slattery and Zac Cahalane got one each. Hickey kicked three conversions and Connellan two. Douglas replied with tries from Ben Costigan, Ben O’Flynn, Charlie Devine and Shane McGuinness. Eoin Philpott added two conversions. Clonmel will host St. Senan’s in Round 2.
Waterpark will host Old Crescent next week in Round 2 after their 41-5 away win at Scariff. Dermot Lannen (2), Eddie Wall (2), Darragh Hartley and Brandon Volos were the Waterpark try scorers. Lannon kicked four conversions and a penalty. Cian Foley replied with a try for Scariff.
The draw has been announced for the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl with three first round games scheduled for next Sunday 26th January. The draw is Dungarvan v Scariff, Killorglin v Youghal and Castleisland v Waterford City. Douglas received a bye into the semi-finals.
Junior League leaders Thomond recorded their ninth successive bonus point win with a 26-5 home win against Crosshaven. Kian McGrath scored two tries for the winners and Jamie McGarry and Evan Maher got one each. Jason Kiely kicked three conversions. Niall Deane replied with a try for Crosshaven.
Kilfeacle are five points behind the leaders after their 28-14 away win in Skibbereen. Kilfeacle raced into a 28-0 lead with tries from Bob Purcell, Brian Barron, Gavin Heuston and Kevin Kinnane. Luke Heuston converted all four tries. Skibbereen replied with tries from David Shannon and Kevin Coombes with Shannon converting both.
Bandon lost for the second successive week losing away to St. Mary’s 16-11. The Saints were awarded a penalty try and Adam Guerin kicked three penalties. Adam Hutchinson replied with a try for Bandon and Hugh O’Mahony kicked two penalties.
Muskerry have moved into fourth place after their 20-17 win over Sunday’s Well at Virgin Media Park. Tom Griffin scored two tries for the visitors and Shane O’Riordan and Frankie Horgan got one each. Rob Cahill kicked one conversion and two penalties. Cormac Kelleher replied with two tries for the ‘Well and Ciaran Maguire converted both and also added a penalty.
Kanturk kept up their challenge for a top four finish with a 32-19 home win against Clonakilty. Brian O’Sullivan scored three tries for the winners and Daniel O’Connell got one. Paul O’Keeffe kicked three conversions and two penalties. Clonakilty had tries from Rob Howick, Dave Jennings and Ben Lovell, with Howick adding two conversions.
A late penalty gave Richmond a 19-17 home win against struggling Newcastle West. The hosts were awarded a penalty try and Brian Mullins kicked four penalties. The visitors had tries from Daniel Normoyle and Sean Murphy with Shane Airey converting both and also adding a penalty.
Mallow moved off the foot of the table after their 19-3 home win against Thurles. David Breen scored two tries for Mallow and Hunter Cowan got one and also added two conversions. Jack Flanagan kicked a penalty for Thurles.
In Division Two the two joint leaders recorded bonus point victories.
At Tanner Park, Old Christians defeated Ballincollig 61-12, with tries from Dan Kelleher, Mark Gleeson, Cian Walsh, Dave Ahern, Oscar Clarke, Laszio Rabatin, Jack Lonergan, James Clifford Mike O’Sullivan and Sean Crowe. Kelleher kicked two conversions, and a penalty and Harry Martin added two conversions.
Trailing 7-6 at half time to a try by Cian McNamara and a conversion by Adam Devine, Clanwilliam rallied to defeat Cobh Pirates 37-7. Sean Collins scored two tries for Clan’ and Mark Costigan, Jack Ryan and Gavin Downey got one each. Niall Leahy kicked two penalties and three conversions.
Kinsale ended Ennis’ recent good run with a 27-25 home win. Matthew O’Donovan, Tim Lynch and Robin O’Flynn scored tries for Kinsale, who were also awarded a penalty try. O’Flynn kicked a penalty and a conversion. Brendan Keane and Dylan Kenny replied with tries for Ennis and they were also awarded a penalty try. Kenny kicked two penalties and a conversion.
Abbeyfeale lost at home to St. Senan’s 31-22. Craig Riordan, Craig Carey, Declan Rowe, James Kennedy and Brian Collins were the Senan’s try scorers. Rowe kicked three conversions. Abbeyfeale replied with tries from Jamie O’Sullivan, Colm O’Sullivan, Liam Collins and Philip Daly. Philip Collins kicked one conversion.
Fethard defeated bottom side Tralee 32-17 with tries from Peter Wall, Dale Murphy, Issac McCarthy, Cathal Meagher and Andrew Wall. Peter Wall added two conversions and a penalty. Tralee had tries from Liam Gannon and Ben Quilter, with Gavin Peevers kicking two conversions and a penalty.