Griffin try not enough to keep Killarney from defeat

Mallow 20 Killarney 10

THERE was no joy for the Killarney lads again as Mallow had a little too much fire-power for a side that is struggling badly to get a confidence boosting win.

Mallow took an early 3-0 lead with a penalty after just three minutes, but Killarney fought back well and Mark Griffin scorched over for the first of his two tries with 20 minutes gone to push his side into a 5-3 lead.

The Kerry senior footballer’s try was a thing of real beauty as he collected the ball just inside his own half and left the Mallow defence floundering in his wake before touching down.

The lead was short lived, however, as Mallow went over for a converted try of their own just eight minutes later to regain the lead and go into the half time break 10-5 ahead.

Killarney were determined to get a good start to the second half but unfortunately it was Mallow that went into a 17-5 lead after just five minutes with a converted try. With the Killarney line-out struggling and their tactical kicking very loose, Mallow capitalised once again with a penalty after 58 minutes to push them 20-5 ahead.

Killarney didn’t give up however, and as the heavy underfoot conditions and wintry conditions began to take their toll on both teams, Mark Griffin went over for his second try of the game with just four minutes left in the contest.

It was too little too late though as Mallow finished as 10 point winners. Damien Carroll was excellent in defence for Killarney all through, while Paul O’Sullivan and Damien Allman also performed well.

Waterford City 26 Castleisland 13

CASTLEISLAND travelled to Waterford as underdogs, but took the game to their opponents from the start.

Their inability to convert some good possession would cost them in the finish however,and the concession of two soft tries at crucial stages of the game would ultimately prove to be their downfall.

Castleisland led by a Dan O’Shea penalty after 20 minutes, but then they suffered their first body-blow of the game when they were turned over at a ruck inside the Waterford 22.

The city side broke at pace and scored their first try of the game. Waterford added two penalties before the break and led by 11-3 at half-time.

Castleisland came out with all guns blazing for the second half and Kieran Downey scored a pushover try after a great scrum from the pack. Dan O’Shea added the conversion to make it 14-13.

Castleisland were then hit for a second try when, with 20 minutes left, they didn’t defend a Waterford line out well enough, they were mauled back 15 metres, and Waterford scored in the corner when they spread the ball out wide.

Castleisland did their utmost to get back in the game, but Waterford had done enough to secure victory.