Mallow and Muskerry advance to Round 3 of Munster Junior Cup
BECAUSE most of the rugby we see these days is played on beautiful pitches in wonderful modern stadiums it is hard for some people to image that rugby is a game born from playing in rural fields, at the wrong time of the year, by people who don’t really care if mud permeates into every crevice of their being.
If one looks back to the eighties achieves at many of those springtime battles between teams like Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road one could often be forgiven for being unable to pick one player out from another, or to even know who is green and who is white. Mud and rain and brilliant white eyeballs peering out through mudcaked faces is what many fans remember of those faithful days when Ireland would be happy to record one win a decade over the mighty Saxon armies.
Nowadays things have become much more sanitised – it is hard to pick out second half substitutes from those that started the game as often the players’ hair is held firmly in place by a host of products while the jerseys seem unblemished by the environment that surrounds them.
Things are very different away from the professional game and last weekend was the perfect example of that.
Munster Junior Rugby sides kicked into cup mode with a host of Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup ties completed this weekend - with no outstanding shocks to report, but from a local standpoint there were plenty games down for decision with Mallow, Muskerry, Charleville and Fermoy all doing their bit to bring some cheer to the north and mid Cork rugby strongholds.
Last weekend saw players putting it all on the line but it was the off field shower facilities that probably got the biggest workout as conditions were as one would expect at this time of the year, really cold, blustery, wet at times and soft, really soft under foot – rugby conditions for the purists I say.
MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP
Mallow 6 Old Crescent 5
MALLOW threw themselves into the fray when they welcomed Old Crescent to St Joseph’s Road. The boys in green have been hugely impressive this season winning all of their league matches with the majority coming with four try bonus points. Mallow may be on the cusp of a return to the J1 however the small matter of Crescent coming to town for a cup tie is always likely to raise the blood pressure around the club.
This one was always going to be a big test for both sides with little likely to separate them at the finish however few could have predicted just what an arm wrestle this one would turn out to be as both sides battled the elements and each other for superiority.
As it happened, it was the home side that would eventually take the spoils on this day in one of the lowest scoring games of the season - however one could not be but impressed by the effort put in by both sides.
Mallow were first out of the traps with a successful penalty from Dave Breen, who has shown plenty ability with the boot this season already. Soon after Mallow got a shot across the bows when the visitors Nahuel Devola touched down for what would turn out to be the game’s only try.
Mallow were able to keep things tight till the break trailing by just two as the sides took time out from what was a bruising encounter.
Mallow heaped on the pressure in the second half and while the reward for that pressure didn’t come in the form of a try, the J2 leaders had to be content with a penalty – a penalty Breen would again convert to this time take the win. Mallow were worth the win and deserve their place in the next round and while the performance may not have been as fluent as in recent months the manner of the win shows that the north Cork side are prepared to get down and dirty when the need arises.
Mallow will head into the next round of the cup against familiar opposition with Muskerry next in line to try and put a halt to this particular bandwagon.
Muskerry 35 Killarney 0
THE mid-Cork men secured their spot in Round 3 with a hugely impressive 35-0 win in Killarney. A brace of tries from Cormac Dennehy set the tone for the boys in blue with Jonathan Buckley, Mark Jones and Joe Treacy each adding salt into the Kerry side’s wounds. Buckley hit 10 points from the ground (two conversions and a pair of penalties) in what was Muskerry’s most impressive win of the season so far.
Mallow will be a major step up for Muskerry but the Ballyanly boys will fancy their chances of causing an upset, particularly with home advantage on their side.
Highfield 33 Charleville 20
CHARLEVILLE had ultra difficult test away to Highfield, which was always going to be a big ask for the Avondhu men but despite losing out by 33-20 the men in red won plenty of admirers in what was a brilliant afternoon’s entertainment.
A match winning tally of two tries and four conversions from Highfield’s Paul Downes did most of the damage with Kieran Duggan, George French and Derek Houlihan all touching down for majors.
Big pressure saw Charleville awarded a penalty try with their second five pointer coming when Ger Sheehan went over. Jesse Smith split the posts three times (one conversion and two penalties) however on the day the spoils went the city side’s way.
Old Christians 18 Fermoy 16
FERMOY bowed out of the cup last weekend going down to Old Christians by 18-16. The north Cork side were magnificent for long periods, more than holding their own against a side that went into this one as clear favourites but Christians pulled clear during extra time.
Cian Smith bagged the first try for the victors with Ryan O’Connell kicking two penalties and a conversion for their 13 points in normal time. Fermoy’s James O’Driscoll hit back with a try for Fermoy which was converted by Dylan Lacey. Lacey also added a hat trick of penalties sending this one into extra-time.
Christians pushed hard for the winner and were rewarded when Sean Lynch touched down securing victory and a date with Shannon in Round 4.
FIXTURES
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 (games at 2pm)
Munster Junior Cup
Muskerry v Mallow Newcastle West v Kanturk Munster Junior Plate
Fermoy v Killarney Tralee v Charleville