Castleisland and Tralee share spoils

LAST weekend’s Munster Junior league action saw most of the local Kerry sides head into action with promotions, relegations and mid table positions still to be resolved.

Many Kerry clubs came into this weekend with plenty to play for and credit to all the Kingdom and West Limerick sides as they had all risen to the challenges in recent weeks to make sure no one’s fate had been secured prior to this weekend’s action.

In the J2, Castleisland and Tralee were both at the wrong end of the table but both stepped up to the plate recently and turned their fortunes around. Tralee, in particular, should take great heart from how they have responded to what must be described as a really poor season.

The sides met last Sunday and both got just what they needed from the day.

The sides played out a 1212 draw at O’Dowd Park with Darragh O’Neill scoring two tries for Tralee with Gary Downey responding with a brace for the Islanders. J2 participation is the future for both next season however improvement will be required.

Castleisland entertain Ballincollig in the Munster Junior Plate on Saturday night next with more than one eye on this prestigious title. Castleisland are well capable of getting a result here but they will need to be at their best if they are not to be over run and knocked out next weekend.

In the J1, Abbeyfeale let a 16-0 lead slip against Bandon. The West Limerick side have impressed all season but of late have become a little more inconsistent than had been the case.

A try from Philip Daly and a conversion and three penalties from Derry O’Connor looked to be sending the spoils the way of the treaty men but tries from Gearoid Crowley and Dan Swittenbank along with a penalty from Kerry Desmond and a conversion and penalty from Luke Fleming meant the home side would take this one.

Abbeyfeale will make their way to Cork again next weekend as they face up to a Highfield side that will be in no mood to show the Limerick men mercy. This Munster Junior Cup fixture will be a tough one to progress from for the Treaty men however they have shown enough this season to suggest they are more than capable of making it through to the latter stages of this grades top cup competition.

In the J3 Killorglin took on Killarney knowing that a win would see them promoted however for the first time this year the champions elect suffered a league defeat. 24-15.

Alan Mulligan, Brendan Fuller and Paul O’Sullivan went over for Killarney – with the fourth five pointer coming thanks to a penalty try. Killorglin hit back with tries from Fionn O’Shea and Brian Hayes however this was to be Killarney’s day.

Both sides now find themselves in the knockout promotion competition which will decide who goes up with Mitchelstown.

Next week sees Killarney head to Waterford to take on Dungarvan in the Munster Junior Bowl. Killarney have been really impressive of late after a really poor start to this season’s league. Killarney have been one of the most improved teams in Munster junior rugby in the last month and will see this cup fixture as another chance to show the club’s around them that they are a side to be taken seriously.

After the disappointment of last weekend’s loss to Killarney, Killorglin will take on Fethard & District this Sunday looking to get back on that winning road and secure a place in the next round. Killorglin really were the team to beat in the J3 this season so the loss to Killarney last Sunday and the resulting concession of a title that looked to be theirs all season will really have hurt all at the Kerry club. Killorglin will need to bounce back really quickly if this season that promised so much since last October isn’t to slip away into a season to forget.