Weekend Rugby Roundup

Munster defeated by Connacht in the final game of the Junior Interprovincial series, as Kilfeacle claim the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup.

Connacht defeated Munster 22-17 at Castleisland, to finish runners up in this year’s Junior Interprovincial series.

A defeat for Ulster in their final game would have meant that the winners of this tie would have finished as winners, but that was never going to be, as Ulster dominated from the start to retain their title with a deserving 63-21 win at home to Leinster.

Munster took the lead with a penalty from Shane Airey after 21 minutes despite playing with fourteen players following a yellow card for Sean Murphy.

Munster led 3-0 at the interval, but three minutes into the second half Johannes Terblanche scored a try for Connacht, following sloppy play by Munster and Dylan Keane converted for a 7-3 lead.

Munster hit back quickly with a try by Brian Mullins and Fionn Fogarty converted, but it was Connacht who dominated to the finish. Tadgh Johnston and Luke Sweeney scored tries for the Westerners and Keane added a penalty and a conversion.

Frankie Horgan earned Munster a losing bonus point in the final minute and Fogarty converted.

Munster: Ben Daly (Waterpark); Sam Glynn (Mallow), Jack Boylan (Carrick-on-Suir), Brian Mullins (Richmond), Sean Murphy (Newcastle West); Shane Airey (Newcastle West), Sean Crowe (Old Christians); Cathal Dennehy (Muskerry), Ewan Kennedy (Sunday’s Well), Cian Walsh (Old Christians); Jack Lonergan (Old Christinas), Jake Kennedy (Sunday’s Well); Killian O’Connell (Cobh Pirates), Sam Quinlan (Thurles); Scott Nolan (Waterpark).

Replacements: Phillip O’Callaghan (Muskerry), Matthew McCarthy (Clonakilty), Dave Jennings (Clonakilty), Conor O’Sullivan (Kanturk), Adam McEvoy (St Senan’s), Fionn Fogarty (Thurles), Jack O’Connell (Crosshaven), Frankie Horgan (Muskerry).

Connacht: Rory King (Galway Corinthians); Jack Wise (Galway Corinthians),  Harry Sheridan (Westport), Eoghan Coyle (Creggs), Josh Rowland (Dunmore); Dylan Keane (Ballinrobe), Tadhg Johnston (Galway Corinthians); Aidan Healy (Ballyhaunis), Max Holmes (Galway Corinthains), Sean O’Connell (Ballina); Xavier Tavai (Creggs), Bryan Walsh (Galway Corinthains); Malachy Joe Gavin (Dunmore), Johannes Terblanche (Tuam), Fintan Crawley (Ballyhaunis).

Replacements: Shane O’Hehir (Sligo), Ronan Mullin (Dunmore), Brendan McLoughlin (Westport), Stephen Grenham (Ballinasloe), Luke Sweeney (Ballina), Cormac Lyons (Westport), Daniel O’Connor (University of Galway), Paul Brennan (Ballina).

Referee: Kenny Goldrick (ARLB).

Kilfeacle won the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup for the fifth time with a 17-8 win over Bandon in an exciting final that was played at Lansdowne (CBC Grounds).

Luke Heuston put Kilfeacle ahead with a penalty and a try by Ricky Whitney, converted by Heuston gave the Tipperary side a 10-0 half time lead. A try by Bryan McLoughlin converted by Heuston early in the second half extended Kilfeacle’s lead to 17-0.

To Bandon’s credit they battled to the finish and a penalty by Daniel Coughlan opened their account. Kain Donnellan reduced the deficit to nine points, with a try but despite further pressure, they were unable to deny Kilfeacle the honours.