Provincial Rugby Roundup

Kilfeacle are only one win away from claiming their third Junior League title, as Mallow one of their main rivals suffered a surprise home defeat.

Kilfeacle made the short trip to local rivals Clanwilliam, and a 31-16 bonus point win puts them with in touching distance of regaining the title since their last success in 2020.

Darren Lowry, Jamie Heuston, Ricky Whitney, Brian McLouglan and James Ryan scored tries for Kilfeacle and Luke Heuston kicked three conversions. Niall Leahy got all of Clanwilliam’s points, a try, conversion and three penalties.

A last minute converted try earned Clonakilty a 20-18 home win against local rivals Skibbereen to remain in second place. Ben Lovell, Niall Barrett and Jim Twomey scored tries for Clon’ and Eoin Downey kicked a conversion and a penalty. Conan Farrell and Tom Beare replied with tries for Skibb’ and David Shannon kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Mallow lost at home to Old Christians 28-19. Laz Rabatin, Mark Deane and Sam Loftus scored tries for Old Christians and Sam Haberlin kicked two conversions and three penalties. Mallow replied with tries from Riley Harrison, Santi Bravo and Jimmy Glynn and two conversions by Harrison.

Richmond moved up to third place after their 34-31 home win against Kanturk. Kanturk raced into an early 19-0 lead but the home side had the bonus point wrapped up by half time as they led 26-19. Darragh Joyce scored two tries for the winners and Jason Murray, Tom McMahon Osama Farag got the other tries. Shane Purcell kicked three conversions and a penalty. Andrew Vaughan replied with two tries for Kanturk, and skipper Conor O’Sullivan, Eamon Guiney and Sean O’Briend got one each. Pauk O’Keeffe kicked three conversions.

Newcastle West came from 13-0 down, midway through the first half to defeat Sunday’s Well 25-19. Gary Bateman, Keelan Stephenson, and Shane Airey scored tries for Newcastle West and James Guina kicked two conversions and two penalties. Fabien Loughrey scored the ‘Well’s try and Jazz Pendejito kicked a conversion and four penalties.

Bandon kept their top four hopes alive with a 26-10 away win against bottom side Muskerry. Kain Donnellan scored two tries for Bandon and Zach Allen and Gearoid O’Leary got one each. Dylan Barr kicked two conversions and Olan Crowley one. Dan Horgan scored the home side’s try and Rob Cahill kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Thurles also remain in relegation trouble, following their 12-10 home defeat by St. Mary’s. Stephen Hayes and Jake Madigan scored tries for the Saints and Adam Guerin kicked a conversion. Seamus Houlihan and Fionn Fogarty replied with tries for Thurles.

Both Kinsale and Crosshaven recorded bonus point away wins as they move closer to promotion from Division 2, with St. Senan’s being their only main challengers.

Leader’s Kinsale travelled to Fermoy and won 36-19 with three tries from David Looney and one each by Paul Graham, David Evans and Robin O’Flynn. Dylan Lacy kicked three conversions. Bobby Ryan, Darragh O’Sullivan and Alan Ross were the Fermoy try scorers. Peter Finn and Padraig O’Toole each kicked a conversion.

Crosshaven kept up their challenge with an impressive 64-14 away win at Cobh. Fergal Conway (2), Killian Twomey, Harry O’Connell (2), Pa Cotter, Niall Deane, Fergal Conway, Liam Cotter, Mikey Collins and Eoin Dalton were the Crosshaven try scorers. Jack O’Connell kicked five conversions and Collins two. Josh Crone and Killian O’Connell replied with tries for the Pirates and both were converted by Rory Pierce.

St. Senan’s kept their hopes alive with a 32-22 home win against struggling Fethard. Rian Sloan scored two tries for the winners, James Kennedy, Shane Kelly and Conor Ferris also scored tries. Declan Rowe kicked two conversions and a penalty. Luke Kerwick, Paddy Gaynor, and Rob Wall were the Fethard try scorers. Peter Wall kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Waterpark defeated Carrick-on-Suir 22-16 to still have a mathematical chance of promotion. Gary Walsh scored two tries for Waterpark, and Scott Nolan and Cian Wakefield got one each. Nick O’Donohghue added one conversion. Darragh Anthony and Sam Garbutt replied with tries for Carrick and Fionn Barry kicked two penalties.

Enis defeated Youghal 37-19. Luke Fitzgerald scored two tries for the Clare side, and Conor Morrissey, Brendan Keane and Sean McDonogh got one each. Dylan Kenny kicked three conversions and two penalties. Alan Frahill, Jordan Yellop and Scott O’Sullivan replied with tries for Youghal and Nathan O’Halloran kicked two conversions.

Ballincollig travelled to Charleville and emerged with a 24-15 victory. Aaron Hurley, Ryan Watson and Sean McLoughlin scored tries for the winners and Adam Dodd converted all three and also added a penalty. Jessie Smith replied with two tries for Charleville, and Kian Smith kicked a conversion and a penalty.

The meeting of the bottom two sides saw Castleisland defeat Abbeyfeale 33-0. Eric McSweeney, Matthew Horgan, Jason Brosnan, Nikodem Niewiadomski, and Fergal Leahy were the Castleisland try scorers. Joe Sheehy kicked four conversions.

Division Three leaders Killarney lost their unbeaten record, when local neighbours Killorglin kept their hopes alive of promotion with a 26-22 home win. Jamie O’Leary scored two tries for Killorglin and Luke O’Shea converted both and also kicked four penalties. John McCarthy, Chris Doody, and Aaron Jones replied with tries for Killarney. Harry Kelly kicked a conversion and a penalty, Charlie O’Brien added a conversion.

Bantry Bay won their first game of the campaign with a last-minute penalty from Stephen O’Donoghue to beat Scariff 16-14. Darragh O’Brien scored Bantry’s try which Shane O’Sullivan converted. O’Donoghue kicked three penalties. Tomas Minogue and Sean Tracey replied with tries for Scariff and Alex Boblea converted both.

Corca Dhuibhne were back playing on their home pitch in An Baile Loiscthe, but it ended in a 24-21 defeat by Galbally-Mitchelstown. Jack O’Donovan scored three tries for the winners and Dan Gleson one. Graham Bourke added two conversions. Sean Hanafin replied with two tries for the West Kerry Gaeltacht side and Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh added a try and three conversions.