Final heartbreak for Corca Dhuibhne after season of real promise

J2 LEAGUE FINAL

Highfield 25 Corca Dhuibhne 17 AFTER a few tough years in Munster junior rugby things are beginning to look up for a lot of clubs all over the province with Kerry’s Corca Dhuibhne leading the charge.

Growing numbers to pick from, plenty loyal supporters to cheer for them and life back in division 3 of Munster J1 rugby to look forward to next season – it’s all good for the Gaeltacht club.

While next season will see Corca play the likes of Killarney and Killorglin in what are sure to be some mouth-watering league fixtures, last Sunday was a more pressing engagement for the Kerry boys as they made the trip to Muskerry to take on Highfield in the J2 League Final.

Corca have played very well this season and have been building a winning side since last September so it was no surprise that they went into this game full of confidence.

Corca brought their largest support of the year to cheer them on and despite losing out by eight points, both the players and supporters left the mid-Cork venue with a justifiable sense of pride instilled.

Led by the performances of prop and Captain Adam Bailey, hooker Cathal Begley, Ciaran Slattery and Michael Breathnach in the pack as well as impressive displays from centres Ciaran Collins and Billy O’Connor, Corca Dhuibhne threw everything they had at the Cork side and were well in this tie all the way to the finish.

This game was very well contested from the first whistle with the sides separated by just five points at the break (15 to 10) in favour of the victors. Shane Griffin opened the scoring for the Kerry men with an early successful penalty however the Cork men hit back relatively quickly with a well worked try.

Highfield added to this score with another penalty before Corca rocked the pre-game favourites with an intercept try from Billy O’Connor, which was converted by the talented Griffin.

Highfield were never likely to back down from the challenge and managed to go over for their second try on the stroke of the break. The Cork side’s try, which was solidly converted meant the half time score was a little harsh on the Kingdom side.

Highfield added to the Corca Dhuibhne pain shortly after the restart with their third try from which was again converted. Corca could well have folded at this point but battled their way back into the game with a Ciaran Collins’ try under the posts which set up an easy conversion for Griffin who again made no mistake close in.

With the title on the line and both teams seemingly honing in on the spoils it was clear that the next score would be crucial and unfortunately for Corca Dhuibhne it went the way of Highfield.

The late penalty meant that this one was more than a one score game which again was a little harsh on the vanquished side. Corca may not have taken the title on this occasion but they can go up to the J3 division with their heads held high – a division where they will trouble many of the sides already plying their trade.

CORCA DHUIBHNE: Kevin Moriarty, Luke Collins, Ciaran Collins, Billy O’Connor, Gearoid Kavanagh, Shane Griffin, Alan Devane, Adam Bailey, Cathal Begley, Eoghan Firtear, Nicky Moriarty, Brian Murphy, Liam Flannery, Ciaran Slattery, Michael Breathnach Subs: Colm O’Shea, Conaill O’Ciobhain, Conchubhair Begley, David Heaton, Seamus Moriarty