Richmond Dominate Junior Two Rugby

Following their victory over Thomond in the Webb Cup Final last Monday night, Richmond travelled to Musgrave Park and defeated Carrigaline to win the Munster Junior Two Cup Final.

Carrigaline 11, Richmond 18.
Before an enthusiastic following at Musgrave Park Richmond did the treble at Junior Two by winning both the North Munster Gleeson League, Webb Cup and Tony O’Flynn Memorial Cup (Munster Junior Two Cup) and will be quietly confident when this side moves up to Seconds League rugby next season following the clubs return to the All Ireland League.

Carrigaline who had won the South Munster Junior Two League and Cup just failed to add this piece of silverware for what has been a very successful season for them.

Richmond played with wind advantagein the opening half and man of the match Darragh Clancy controlled the game from the out half berth with a delightful display of kicking as he pinned back Carrigaline at every opportunity.

He opened the scoring on seven minutes with a penalty having missed one minutes previously. Within a minute Carrigaline were level with Sean Lucey replying for the South Cork side.

Clancy restored Richmond’s advantage with a penalty on eleven minutes and was again off target minutes later with a long range effort, before slotting over his third effort on twenty minutes.

From the restart Carrigaline were awarded a penalty which Lucey converted to leave 9-6.

Again Richmond were punished from the restart. Darren Twomey gathered the ball inside his own Twenty Two and made progress towards the half way line. Following a ruck, scrum half John Tait found a gap and raced into the Richmond 22 before off loading to skipper Kieran Kelleher who went over in the corner for a try. Lucey’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright.

A drop goal by full back Niall Benson on thirty minutes restored Richmond’s advantage to a single point. Both sides missed penalties in the closing stages of the opening as Richmond led 12-11 at half time.

Despite playing into the strong wind it was the Limerick side who dominated the opening exchanges of the second half with Clancy converting penalties on 43 and 52 minutes for an 18-11 advantage.

Carrigaline rallied in the final quarter but an excellent display by the Richmond pack who were well led by skipper Thomas Aherne, Barry Woods and Thomas Galvin never allowed their line to be breeched for a second time.

Darren Twomey, Ray Donoghue and Killian O’Mahony all came close to scoring for Carrigaline and center Brian Fleming also made a few bursts but was stopped short of the line.

Scorers Carrigaline: K Kelleher try, S Lucey 2 pens.
Richmond: D Clancy 5 pens, N Benson drop goal.

Carrigaline: Sean Lucey; Tony O’Keeffe,, Brian Fleming, Donnacha Kiely, Shane McCarthy; Steve Caul, John Tait; Gerry Murphy, Kieran Kelleher (capt), Marcus Gates; Andy Bolger, Niall Sheehan; Killian O’Mahony, Ray Donoghue, Darren Twomey.
Replacements: Kevin Foley, Ken Wilkins, Roy Murphy, Pat O’Donovan, Jason Corkery.
Richmond: Niall Benson; Mike Geary, Brian Begley, Alan Nealon, Keith McCarthy; Darragh Clancy, Maurice O’Connor; Thomas Aherne, Stefano Coppola, Keith Reynolds; Eoin Hanly, Barry Woods; Richard Healy, Gearoid Greenwood, Thomas Galvin.
Replacements: Ger Barry, Ger McCarthy, Jonathon Tully, Brian O’Neill, Cian Naughton.
Referee: T Cronin (M.A.R.)