Big result for battling Ballincollig

of amateur rugby sympathy is in short supply and Muskerry will need to fight hard to salvage their J1 status.

Sitting second from bottom with just one win in nine is never likely to be enough to instil confidence however as Muskerry have shown over the last few years they are not a side to be counted out. Late runs seem to be the way for the boys from Ballyanly and while things look bleak right now it would be unwise to write them off just yet.

Last weekend was a game that Muskerry just couldn’t afford to lose and credit to the battling boys in blue they managed to take away the spoils for a hard fought, but well deserved draw.

Fellow strugglers Clonakilty provided the opposition this time and with both sides desperate for points there was never likely to be an inch between them – and so it was as tries from Stephen Hallissey and Lorcan Collins added to a conversion and a penalty from Shane Burke cancelled out tries from Shane Scannell and Mark Purcell with Eoin Deasy slotting over the same as Burke. Fifteen apiece at the full time whistle.

Cork Constitution provide the challenge next weekend as Muskerry look to progress to the next round of the Munster Junior Cup.

In the J2 Mallow managed to find themselves in a little hot water of late as they slipped closer and closer to the danger zone. A difficult year it must be said for the boys from St Joseph’s Road got a little less painful last Sunday as they brushed aside struggling Ennis to move a step closer to mid table security.

29-7 was the final score-line and the winning margin was nothing more than the men in green deserved. Tries from Michael Flynn, Peter Cosgrove, Sean Hannon and Jimmy Glynn did the business for Mallow as Ennis remain bottom and look like a side heading for the J3.

Glynn was cool with the boot as he kicked three conversions and a penalty which added to the Clare side’s torment. Sunday’s Well welcome the north Cork side this weekend in the Munster Junior Plate. A difficult challenge that will need a quality performance.

There was less joy near the foot of the table as Tralee inflicted a heavy defeat on Charleville (3512), which leaves the men from north Cork in serious danger of going down. Tralee have showed a resurgence in recent weeks after a terrible first half to this campaign however when the men from the Kingdom get their tails up there was never a doubt that they had most of the attributes to get themselves clear of the basement dogfight.

A brace of tries from Jack Quilter as well as two from Ben O’Neill and one from Jamie Lynch hammered home the superiority of the Kerry boys on a day when Charleville just failed to fire on all cylinders. O’Neill showed plenty with the boot as he spanked over five from five conversions.

Charleville have work to do if they are to survive the drop while for Tralee this has been a terrific recovery from what at one stage looked like an inevitable relegation.

A local derby game took centre stage in the J3 as Fermoy and Mitchelstown went head to head and while both sides would have confident going into this one it was the new boys that took the spoils as Mitchelstown continue their march to what would be a hugely impressive first season promotion. Mitchelstown took all five points on offer thanks to their 31-5 win over a Fermoy side that may have finally seen their promotion challenge fade away.

Killorglin have been the side to beat in this division however Mitchelstown are now just three points back and in perfect position to take advantage if the favourites slip up. Two tries from Fionn Herlihy as well as touchdowns from Sean Coughlan, Pa Molly and Pa Norris and three conversions from Pa McGee meant that this was always going to be the town’s day.

Fermoy had one moment to cheer with Peter Murphy going over for them however that was never going to be enough to stop this particular Mitchelstown promotion push.

The work is far from over for both sides with cup action next up for Mitchelstown. The Munster Junior Cup tie against Waterpark this weekend is another great opportunity for this side to show exactly how much they have improved in recent months.

A huge week in senior rugby for Kanturk saw them extricate themselves from the relegation zone of division 2C with a brilliant away win over fellow strugglers Boyne (19-7). Ben Martin did most of the damage here with four pens and a conversion of Ben Martin’s try. This was always likely to be a huge day for the Duhallow men and credit to them they pulled through in great style.

The work is far from done for Kanturk who need to continue to pick up points in their remaining games. Kanturk make the trip to fellow Cork side Cobh Pirates this weekend as they look to progress in the Munster Junior Cup.