Mallow suffer set-back in Newcastlewest
IT was a return to league action in Munster junior rugby last weekend as the provinces rugby sides came back in search of league advancement after a rest weekend as well as a break for cup action.
Coming into last weekend’s action the local north and midCork sides had been in the main doing very well with both Mallow and Kanturk right up at the top of Division 1 and 2 respectively, but both had top of the table clashes to prepare for last weekend and unfortunately both met their match on the day.
MUNSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 1
Newcastlewest 11 Mallow 7
MALLOW were first up in their clash with a Newcastle West side that have been as good as perfect since the season began. Mallow were in pretty good shape themselves and came into this one with a league record showing an almost perfect return in the J1 this campaign to add to a 100% win record in the 2018/19 season
– well over a year since the boys from the banks of the Blackwater tasted league defeat.
No question that last weekend was going to be a step up in opposition for the Mallow boys and despite putting in a very credible shift the boys in green ultimately went down to their hosts.
A try from Sean Ivess set the Limerick men on their way to victory with the boot of Sean Herlihy adding two, vital penalties.
Mallow may have come out on the losing side this weekend however they did see Gonzalo Pérez touching down for the game’s other try with Mike Breen converting to secure what may well prove to be a very significant losing bonus point.
Newcastle West stay at the top of the table with Kilfeacle joining them at the summit while Mallow take a backward step for the first time in over 12 months as they drop back to third however the North Cork side are far from done yet and get the opportunity to get straight back on the horse when they face a Crosshaven side that currently sit sixth in the J1 table.
This will be far from an easy day at the office for Mallow, but home advantage may well be a deciding factor and that is something that Mallow do have on their side.
Dungarvan 22 Kanturk 16
IN J2 there was a major top of the table clash on last Sunday wand again there was North Cork interest in the game – with Kanturk heading to Waterford to take on a Dungarvan side impressing many this season. Kanturk have started really well this year with a host of really positive results but last Sunday that all came to a shuddering halt as the Deise side took the spoils by 22-16. Tries from Lar Houlihan, Maurice Daly and Darragh O’Keeffe did the major damage for the victors with scored Dave Hickey adding a pair of conversions as well as a single penalty.
Kanturk were in this one all the way to the end are were rewarded for their persistence with a losing bonus point – mainly down to the try scored by Ciaran Barry and the conversion and three penalties from their star man on the day Paul O’Keeffe.
The loss sees Kanturk slip to fourth in the table but they will look to bounce right back this coming Sunday when they play a Kinsale side currently two spots behind in sixth.
Kanturk will be looking for a serious response from their players to last weekend’s loss and this game with the sea-siders, held at Knocknacolan, will give all a chance to right the wrongs of last weekend. Kanturk are still well in the hunt for a promotion place but they will need to start winning again.
Cobh Pirates 10 Muskerry 49
THERE was much better news in mid-Cork last Sunday as Muskerry got themselves right into the middle of the promotion race with a huge win over struggling Cobh Pirates. The 49-10 away win was all down to a serious team performance however the stand out man on the day had to be Robert Cahill who chipped in a try, four conversions and a trio of penalties. Shane O’Riordan, Ciaran O’Connor, Mark Jones, Conor Smith and Frank Horgan also got their names on the score sheet with majors.
The win sees Muskerry move level on points with Kanturk but holding the advantage (just) on bonus points won. Next up for Muskerry is a home game with Charleville at Ballyanly this Sunday afternoon. Both sides will be keen to impress and solidify what have been pretty positive starts so a heavy defeat will be unacceptable in either camp.
Charleville 17 Thurles 10
CHARLEVILLE did really well to grab their third win from four last time out with a seven-point win over Thurles. The home win was down to tries from Eoin McMahon and James Flynn with a 100% success rate in conversions from Jess Smith who also added a penalty. Paddy McGrath and Jack Flanagan ensured it wouldn’t be all plain sailing for Charleville, but on the day the better side won.
Fethard & District 12 Fermoy 18
FERMOY kept up their serious challenge for a place in the top flight of junior rugby as they saw off the challenge of Fethard & District. Fermoy were six point winners on the day 18-12 with tries from Dylan Purvis, and Ian Ahern doing the major damage with Eddie O’Connell slotting two penalties and a conversion. Josef O’Connor bagged all the points for the home side with four penalties but on this day the spoils went to the away side. Fermoy will have home advantage next Sunday but they will need to put their best feet forward if they are to get anything from a Dungarvan side that are on the top of their game right now.
MUNSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 3
Mitchelstown 17 Douglas-Carrigaline 8
MITCHELSTOWN’S win over Douglas-Carrigaline in the J3. Tries by McCarthy and Chris Noonan helped secure the 17-8 win which sees Mitchelstown happy in the right end of the early season table. The Cork side will entertain Killarney on Sunday with the winners likely to finish the day in the top four which is no more than a very competitive Mitchelstown deserve to be.
FIXTURES
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10
Munster Junior League 1 Mallow v Crosshaven, 1pm
Munster Junior League 2 (games at 2.30pm) Fermoy v Dungarvan Kanturk v Kinsale Muskerry v Charleville
Munster Junior League 3 Killarney v Mitchelstown