Castleisland U18s and Killarney U16s reach Munster finals

MUNSTER U-18 DEVELOPMENT CUP SEMI-FINAL Castleisland 11 Ballincollig 5

CASTLEISLAND qualified for the Munster U-18 Development Cup final after an excellent win over Ballincollig at the Crageens last Sunday. Playing with the aid of the wind in the first half, Castleisland were the first to strike when Joe Sheehy slotted over an early penalty.

The home side forced a penalty inside the Ballincollig 22 soon afterwards but the visitors intecepted a pass and ran the length of the field for an opportunistic try. Castleisland responded well though, and Sheehy struck his second penalty to see them take a 6-5 lead in at half time.

The win was sealed for Castleisland 10 minutes into the second half when Joe Sheehy scored an unconverted try, and Ballincollig couldn’t find a way past a teak touch Castleisland defence thereafter. Castleisland play Old Christians in the final .

MUNSTER U-16 DEVELOPMENT CUP SEMI-FINAL Killarney 23 Nenagh Ormond 15

KILLARNEY are through to the Munster Development Cup final after a brilliant victory over Nenagh in Newcastlewest. In a game of two halves, Killarney came closest to scoring in the opening quarter following a clean line break from outhalf Donnchadh Grealy and shortly afterwards when winger Tomas Clifford nearly scored in the right corner.

Nenagh however registered the first points when their centre slotted over a penalty. Nenagh struck once more soon afterwards with a converted try to rock the home side. Worse was to follow as the visitors scored their third try on the stroke of half time but in fairness Killarney responded well with Brendy O’Donoghue going over in the right corner to leave the half time score at 15-5 in Nenagh’s favour.

Killarney emerged re-energised and focused for the second half. They secured the restart and launched the best move of the game. A superb looping handling setplay from backs Liam Randles, Donnchadh Grealy, Ozdenis Koyun, and a cutting line from Padraig Talbot, gave a determined Tomas Clifford the chance to sprint away and this time finish superbly. Then, after 45 minutes, Donnchadh Grealy kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to two points.

With 11 minutes remaining a penalty set play finally broke the Nenagh defence when Padraig Talbot powered through a series of tackles to touchdown and give Killarney the lead. The conversion was added and a final insurance penalty with five minutes to go sealed the victory.

Killarney play Cashel/Kilfeacle in the final.

WEST MUNSTER U-16 QUARTER-FINAL Abbeyfeale 12 Castleisland 22

CASTLEISLAND carried several injuries into this game but didn’t let it deter them as they produced an excellent display to defeat Abbeyfeale in their own patch. Sean Cronin started the ball rolling for the away side with a superb individual try which was converted by Donal Daly.

Abbeyfeale fought back to score an unconverted try but Castleisland’s Pat Fitzgerald struck back almost immediately when he split the Abbeyfeale defence with some fancy footwork to score under the posts. Alan Kerins got in on the act just before half time with Castleisland’s third try to leave the half time score at 19-5 in the visitors favour.

The second half was a much tamer affair with all of the scoring left to the last few minutes. Abbeyfeale struck first for a try late on, but Castleisland scored a penalty at the death to seal the win. Castleisland will take on Listowel/Tralee in the semi-final.