Griffin and Dillane suffer Ireland defeats

IT was a tough weekend for Kerry’s two representatives on the Irish men’s and women’s teams as England had too much firepower for both sides.

Ballymacelligott’s Ciara Griffin captained the Irish ladies at Doncaster but the powerful full-time professional English outfit were much too good for the mostly amateur Irish, and ran out 27-0 winners. Whist the defeat was comprehensive, Ireland can take consolation from the fact that it was a major improvement from last years 51-7 defeat to the same opposition. Next up for the Irish ladies are the Italians on March 8.

The Irish men’s team was a major disappointment when they went down by 24-12 to a marauding English side at Twickenham. England struck for 2 tries in the first half from George Ford and Elliot Daly but they were helped in no uncertain manner by some comical defending from Johnny Sexton and Jacob Stockdale.

This, allied to some terrible goal kicking from Sexton, laid the foundations for a display that Ireland will want to forget. The introduction of three substitutes in the 60th minute, including Tralee’s Ultan Dillane, helped give Ireland some badly needed forward momentum and a try from Robbie Henshaw in the 62nd minute and Andrew Porter in the 83rd helped put a better gloss on the scoreline. Ireland take on Italy on March 7.

It was a better weekend for JJ Hanrahan and Munster as the Currow man gave a man of the match display in their bonus point 28-0 victory over Zebre last Friday. Hanrahan chipped in with a try in the 52nd minute and also kicked 4 conversions. Amazingly Hanrahan has now kicked 20 successive goal kicks in the Pro 14 competition. Munster are back in action at Thomond Park against Conference B rivals Scarlets on Saturday at 5pm.

RESULTS Munster Junior League Division 3

Dunmanway 7 Killorglin 29

Munster Women Division 1

Tralee 43 Ballincollig 0

Munster Club U-18 Bowl

Killorglin 13 Ennis 12

Munster Club U-16 Development Cup

Castleisland 10 Waterpark 10

Munster Club U-16 Plate

Corca Dhuibhne 10 Clanwilliam 7 Sunday’s Well 32, Killarney 0

Munster Club U-18 Development Cup

Midleton 10 Listowel-Tralee 6