Kanturk make move to mid-table

SOMETIMES Munster Junior Rugby just has to take a back seat for a short while and on this occasion that seems more than fair.

The heroics in Twickenham last Saturday had the game of rugby and indeed the country as a whole on a high – something that will undoubtedly be carried down through the grades and the age groups to inspire more generations of Gland Slam champions.

Irish rugby are no longer the nearly boys of the northern hemisphere game after some astonishing professionalism and no shortage of skill, to see off the tough, uncompromising English on their own patch.

Last Sunday and Monday it was clear for all to see the surge in interest in rugby among kids in the county as rugby balls far exceeded the amount of sliotars and footballs out on the greens of most housing estates.

All these positive vibes will need to be harnessed, encouraged and nurtured by the local clubs in order to start the youngsters on their own individual paths to rugby glory. Of course all can’t make it, in fact very few will make it but there may well be another Tadgh Furlong, Conor Murray or Johnny Sexton about to step onto the pitch for the first time in the coming weeks and these stars of the future need to be shown the way.

Away from the glamour side of things the weather again caused havoc in the Munster Junior rugby causing the postponements to what was a near full schedule of games. Some fixtures did go to post with just two games with a local interest making it to the starting gate.

Kanturk’s mid table clash with Skibbereen in the J1 did make it to the first whistle while the title chasing St Mary’s in the J2 faced off against a Mitchelstown side that really could do with some good news about now.

Kanturk had a tough season after coming down from senior rugby however there was a realisation among many at Knocknacolon that the first half of the season would be the more difficult with all the leading sides up before Christmas.

Recent weeks have seen all that borne out as Kanturk have began to put a serious good spread of form together as they move steadily away from the danger zone and into mid table safety.

Last weekend, Skibbereen were the visitors to Duhallow and the north Cork side showed their guests a clean pair of heels, winning this one by 10 points 32-22.

Conor O’Sullivan, Tadgh McSweeney, Raymond Alesana, Conor Cremin and Gary Piggott bagged the bonus point win for the home side with a try apiece Cremin slotted over a brace of conversions as well as one penalty.

The West Cork side did show plenty on the road with a hat-trick of tries from their star of the day Dave Jennings. Ger Hurley added the extras on two of his three attempts while also slotting home a penalty. It wasn’t to be for Skibb however as Kanturk deservedly took the spoils to increase their stock in the top tier.

The win sees Kanturk up to eighth with a game in hand over Abbeyfeale, who sit just one place and point ahead of them in the table.

Kanturk will entertain Youghal in their penultimate league game of the season next weekend with the sea-siders sure to bring their A Game as they look to escape their precarious position one off bottom in the table. A home win likely but take nothing for granted at this level.

The other game with a local interest that went to post was the J2 game between Mitchelstown and St Marys. Marys came into this one needing the points to keep their promotion challenge alive while the Cork side were in desperate need of points as they attempt to avoid a return to the J3, 12 months after winning promotion at the first attempt.

Being on the road was always going to make this one more difficult for Mitchelstown which was made even more challenging when the home side were awarded a penalty try. St Mary’s captain Robin Gallagher added to the visitors’ pain with another try which was converted by Paul Loughran.

Mitchelstown still have time to avoid the drop with three games still to play however they will need to get at least two wins from those three if they are to have any chance of staying the course.

Fellow north Cork side Mallow will welcome Mitchelstown this weekend with the home side unlikely to cut their visitors and neighbours any slack come game time.

Mitchelstown really could do with getting something from this game as if results in other fixtures go against them they could be down come the conclusion of the weekend’s action.

Muskerry will look to consolidate a recent upturn in results when they take on Killarney this weekend. Muskerry have been improving all season and are just a point or two short of guaranteed safety. Killarney have struggled all season, but will see this one as perhaps their final parting shot out of the J2 for another year.

There was one other game last weekend with significance for north Cork clubs and that was the final J3 game between Tralee and Douglas-Carrigaline. The Kerry men won this one by 48-3 which sets them up against Fermoy in the J3 promotion quarter-finals.

As the higher ranked team, Fermoy will be at home this weekend with the winners taking one step closer to what will be a dramatic end of season shoot-out for promotion glory.

FIXTURES

SUNDAY MARCH 25

2.30 pm

Kanturk v Youghal Knocknacolon J1 Fermoy v Tralee Fermoy J3 Quarter Final Playoff Killarney v Muskerry Killarney J2 League Mallow v Mitchelstown St Joseph’s Road J2 League