The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Big win for South Kerry U18s
MUNSTER U-18 CONFERENCE 2 South Kerry 31 Listowel 0
SOUTH Kerry were in magnificent form as they firmly put Listowel to the sword last Saturday. South Kerry played some superb rugby throughout the contest with Munster U-18 Darragh Fitzgerald in unstoppable form scoring two tries, while Eoin O Suilleabhain, Daragh Poff and Patrick Scannell touched down with one apiece. Jack Evans was in good form with the boot and slotted over three conversions.
Castleisland/A'feale 17 Kanturk 17
CASTLEISLAND/ABBEYFEALE didn’t get off to the best of starts in Kanturk last Saturday and found themselves 7 nil down after just 5 minutes when Kanturk scored a converted try to rock the visitors. Castleisland/Abbeyfeale responded well and were held up on the Kanturk line a number of times before Sean Bates eventually went over for a try in the 20th minute. Kanturk finished the first half stronger however and slotted over a penalty on the stroke of half time to give Kanturk a 10-5 lead at the break. Castleisland/Abbeyfeale made a great start to the second half and excellent team play saw Shane O’Donovan go under the posts for a try which he also converted. Castleisland continued to pile on the pressure and with Jonathon Healy, Tommy Curtin and Moss O’Callaghan to the fore, substitute David Shanahan scored in the corner to push the home side 17-10 ahead. Kanturk were made of stern stuff and converted a good try soon afterwards to level the contest at 17 apiece. Despite the best efforts of Sean Bates and Mark McCarthy there were no further scores and both sides shared the spoils after an epic contest.
MUNSTER U-16 CONFERENCE 2 Killarney 7 Killorglin 3
WHEN two local rivals meet there is no quarter given and such was the case last Saturday when Killarney welcomed Killarney for what turned out to be a full blooded and committed encounter between two very evenly matched teams. The tackling on both side was ferocious to say the least, and with local bragging rights on offer, neither team wanted to give an inch to their opponents. In the finish it was Killarney who came away with the spoils, but either side could have won a game that was a great advertisement for under age rugby in Kerry. There was no score in the first half of the game for either side as they fought tooth and nail to gain an upper-hand on their opponents. Chances were few and far between as both defences had the measure of their opponents attacking options. Things did start to open up a bit in the second period and Padraig Talbot scored a good try for Killarney with Donnacha Greally converting. Sensing that the game was slipping away from them, Killorglin attacked the Killarney rearguard and with Stephen O’Sullivan driving them forward, they scored a good penalty from Shogie O’Sullivan to bring them to within a try of their rivals. Killarney held out though and both sides are to be commended on an excellent game.
Listowel 19 Kanturk 17
LISTOWEL U-16s maintained their 100% start to the Munster U16s league with a hard fought victory over Kanturk. Cormac O’Sullivan dominated in the lineouts while the younger forwards Kelvin Rohan-Kenny and Igor Kwas did some great work at the breakdown. Listowel’s Murtie Moriarty scored his fifth try in five games and Ethan O’Connor converted to put them 7-0 up after 10 minutes. Denis Dowling added to their lead when he crashed over from a pre-planned penalty move.put Listowel 12-0 ahead. A huge offensive tackle from Emil Beauseigneur caused Kanturk to spill the ball. Ethan O’Connor pounced on the loose ball and popped it to Cale Sweeney who evaded two tacklers to score under the posts. O’Connor converted and Listowel lead 19-0. Kanturk exerted a lot of pressure in the last five minutes of the first half and scored a crucial try They converted to leave the half time score 19-7. Kanturk scored early on the second half to pull it back to 19-12. Despite an outstanding last ditch tackle by Shane Healy, Kanturk scored a third try and barely missed the conversion to make it 19-17 with 10 minutes to go. Listowel were able to hold out however and claimed a sweet victory. Listowel’s best players on the day were centres Emil Beauseigneur and Cale Sweeney.
MUNSTER U-18 GIRLS CONFERENCE C Shannon 10 Listowel 50
LISTOWEL U-18 girls showed why they are the reigning Munster league champions with a polished and clinical performance against Shannon. Played in perfect conditions, Listowel put 8 tries past the Limerick side with the first from Claire Beasley after an excellent break from Munster U-18 Muirne Wall. Listowel played some excellent attacking rugby and kept the ball moving throughout the game as their lighter players had too much speed for their Shannon counterparts. Further tries followed from Muirne Wall herself, Elise Harris, Rebecca Reilly, Maeve Carmody, Meabh McElligott, Molly Cluney and Emma Reidy.