Fatigue costly for Ballyclare and Grosvenor

WEDNESDAY’S hard-fought Junior Cup quarter-final between Ballyclare and Grosvenor must have taken its toll as neither side played to their full potential in weekend All-Ireland Junior Cup defeats to Crosshaven (21-10) and Dromore (47-7) respectively.

Ballyclare had the edge in the first half and were deservedly 10-8 ahead at the interval but indiscipline and fatigue set in.

It was an O’Keefe family success at Doagh Road where brothers Damien and Darren scored the Cross tries, while Killian kicked three penalties and a conversion. Joel McBride had a penalty to reduce the visitors’ early lead before Killian O’Keefe added the first of his penalties.

Then came the try of the tie as Cross failed to deal with an accurate Matthew McDowell chip through and centre McBride showed his skills to touch down and then add the points.

The second half was a disappointment for the home side as Cross were allowed to regain their confidence with those two penalties before making sure of victory with a late converted try.

Dromore were always f avourites to win at home against Grosvenor, where they had tries from Ben Russell, Andrew Rutledge, Graham McCandless, Andrew Black, Josh Pentland, Adam McDonald and Ben Heath for Lee Steenson to goal six. Timmy Emerson had a try and conversion for Grosvenor.

Munster have two teams in the semi-finals with Ulster and Leinster one each.

Enniskillen beat Instonians 30-15 in the Millar McCall Wylie Cup quarter-final and are now away to Ballyclare, while Armagh II host Carrickfergus.

Results: Ballyclare 10 Crosshaven 21, Kilfeacle and District 26 Kilkenny 18, Dromore 37 Grosvenor 7, Gorey 15 Ashbourne 22.

Bath: F Burns; S Rokoduguni, J Joseph, J Roberts, R McConnochie; R Priestland, W Chudley; B Obano, T Dunn, W Stuart; J McNally, C Ewels (c), M Williams, S Underhill, Z Mercer

Replacements: J Walker (for Dunn, 76), L Boyce (for Obano, 48), C Judge (for Stuart, 58), E Stooke (for McNally, 58), J Bayliss (for Williams, 38), C Cook (for Burns, 62), M Wright (for Roberts, 76), G Hamer-Webb (for McConnochie, 58)

Ulster: W Addison; R Lyttle, L Marshall, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney; J McGrath, R Herring, M Moore; Iain Henderson (c), S Carter; M Rea, J Murphy, M Coetzee

Replacements: A McBurney (not used), E O’Sullivan (for McGrath, 7), T O’Toole (for Moore, 63), A O’Connor (for Carter, 25), S Reidy (for Rea, 51), D Shanahan (not used), A Curtis (for Burns, 59), L Ludik (for Lyttle, 63)

Referee: M Mitrea