Kanturk edge Cup win over Abbeyfeale
WE may be just into the new rugby season but already there is a gap for Cup action with the Munster Junior teams taking time out from their respective league competitions to test their wares against some of their rivals in the all or nothing world of Cup rugby.
Game of the weekend from a local standpoint was the clash of J1 sides Kanturk and Abbeyfeale in the Munster Junior Challenge Cup. A game with plenty on the line for the north Cork side in particular after the men from Knocknacolan failed to start the season in the way many thought they might.
Kanturk have been solid without being anything close to exceptional with a mid-table start to what is a difficult and challenging J1. Cup action was always likely to provide a nice distraction for the men in green and a face off with West Limerick side Abbeyfeale was sure to bring the best out in both sides.
Abbeyfeale have shown plenty so far this season to suggest this was not going to be easy for the Duhallow men and credit to both sides they played positive, attacking rugby with the spoils of war going to the side from the banks of the Allow.
Tries from Bernie Daly and David Fitzpatrick helped Kanturk to the win with Conor Cremin adding a conversion and two penalties. Philip Daly hit back with a try for Abbeyfeale with both Stephen Daly and Tom Hassett each landing a pair of penalties. This game was end to end with the victors leading for the majority, but when Abbeyfeale took the lead in the second half it would have been fair to assume that this one was going the way of the Limerick aside. If the last few years have thought us anything about Kanturk rugby it is that they are not done until they are done, and last weekend Kanturk were only done when they fought back to lead win by 18-17.
The win will settle many nerves around the Kanturk panel as they try to get into a rhythm that will see them shoot up the J1 table.
November 19 will see Kanturk back in Cup action when they face up to a Kilfeacle side that will be high enough on success. Next up Kanturk will face up to a Clonmel side that have shown plenty class this and many of the more recent campaigns. A tough day for Kanturk that will test their metal and resolve.
Mallow were never likely to get an easy ride from the holders of the Munster Junior Challenge Cup last weekend after Thurles set down a marker last year winning this competition in 2016.
Thurles had home advantage for the game and made the most of that benefit with a crushing 47-17 defeat of a Mallow side with plenty of promise. Eoghan O’Dwyer, Mark Cummins, Conor O’Hagan, Shane Moloney, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Ryan and Paddy Phelan all felt the euphoria of touching down for their side with John Lillis converting six of the tries.
Mallow never let the result get the better of them with tries from Dan McCarthy and Dan O’Callaghan showing that the Avondhu men do indeed have aa attack to be feared. Jimmy Glynn again showed his ability with the placed ball as he converted both tries and added one penalty.
Mallow will take on Ballincollig at St Joseph’s Road this Sunday with the winners setting down a good early season marker for a title challenge.
Also in the J2, Mitchelstown will entertain Clonakilty looking to keep good recent form on track. This will be tough but nothing Mitchelstown can’t handle.
Up the road Muskerry’s game against Castleisland failed to start due to respect for a fallen comrade in the Muskerry club. This game will now go to post in late October with the winners facing up to Crosshaven.
Next Sunday Muskerry will look to plough on with a home match against Balyanly – a game that Muskerry should be well up for.
In the Martin O’Sullivan Cup there wasn’t much action to report but from a local viewpoint it wasn’t a successful day with Charleville losing out to Ennis by 19-17. It looked good for a while for Charleville after being awarded a penalty try as well as Cathal O’Carroll touchdown showing the way to victory - and with Odhran Hennessy converting two and slotting over a penalty one would have been forgiven for believing that this one would go the way of the cork side but credit to Ennis they would not let this one go earning a last eight draw with Chorca Dhuibhne.
Charleville also play this Sunday as they take on Fethard and District while Fermoy have to make the trip to Kerry to play Killorglin in a tough J3 clash.
Fermoy weren’t in action last weekend but they too will play in the quarter finals as they prepare to take on Fethard for a place in the last four of this prestigious competition.
FIXTURES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 at 2.30pm
J1 League
Clonmel v Kanturk
J2 League
Mallow v Ballincollig Mitchelstow v Clonakilty Muskerr v Old Christians
J3 League
Charlevill v Fethard Killorglin v Fermoy