Castleisland start off with bonus point win

MUNSTER JUNIOR 2 LEAGUE

Castleisland 34 Ballincollig 19

CASTLEISLAND got their Munster league campaign off to the best possible start when they secured a bonus point victory over Ballincollig at the Crageens last Sunday.

A Castleisland victory looked far from promising when Ballincollig streaked 19-7 ahead a minute into the second half, but the home side rose to the challenge to completely dominate the remainder of the game.

Castleisland took the game to their opponents from the tip off, but in spite of some good thrusts at the Ballincollig defence they failed to breach their line. Indeed, it was Ballincollig who were first to touch down when Ian O’Malley scored a good unconverted try in the corner after 10 minutes, following a drive from a lineout.

Although they had the majority of possession, a series of poor handling and turnovers from their own line outs was continuing to haunt the home side. Castleisland continued to press though, and a brilliant tackle and spill in the middle of the field from Con Reynolds saw Mike Cronin combine with Kieran Downey to score under the posts. Brian Leonard landed the conversion to push his side 7-5 ahead.

Ballincollig stormed right back into the game and on the stroke of half time forced 5 penalties in a row as Castleisland were camped on their own line. A try from Fionnan McDermott eventually followed, as did the conversion, and Ballincollig took a 12-7 lead in at the break.

Ballincollig pushed 19-7 ahead when Michael Ward scored a converted try in the very first minute of the second half. Leonard replied with a penalty for Castleisland straight afterwards to reduce the deficit.

Ballincollig still looked very much in control, and despite the promptings of Pat Fitzgerald, Cronin and Downey in the pack, the game appeared to be slipping away from them. They needed a lifeline and it came when a Ballincollig forward was sin binned following a good Castleisland maul in the 65th minute. Leonard slotted the penalty, and straight afterwards the same player went under the posts for a converted try after Con Reynolds’ neat pass put him through.

A minute later a great break involving Mike Cronin, Sean Nolan and Kieran Downey saw Leonard score his second touch down of the game. Reynolds landed the conversion this time, and suddenly Castleisland were 24-19 ahead with 10 minutes left to play.

There was still time for more drama, and after the excellent Leonard added a drop goal to his collection, Flor McCarthy availed of Shane Flynn’s superb turnover to score Castleisland’s bonus point fourth try to secure victory.