Kanturk still fighting to preserve their Division One status

A BIG weekend for north and midcork sides in the Munster Junior Leagues saw Mallow promoted to the J1, Kanturk keep their hopes of survival in the top flight with their third win of the season while Mitchelstown continue to impress in the J3.

In the middle tier Fermoy saw off Old Christians, Charleville beat off stiff opposition from Fethard & District but Muskerry went down away to Waterford City – overall a very good weekend for the local rugby sides.

For the first time in quite a while there is some light at the end of the tunnel for Kanturk as they put an end to a serious losing run that has seen them lose every league game since late November but now that they are within one point of a St Senan’s side that will face the Duhallow side on the last day of the season Kanturk may be able to see a way out of their current predicament.

Clanwilliam provided the opposition last weekend with Kanturk holding home court advantage at Knocknacolon and while the away side came in as favourites it was the home team that scraped past by the minimum, 13-12.

Matt Daly was the hero of the hour for the victors with a try in the last minute to seal the deal.

Michael Gorman set Kanturk on their way with their first try with Conor Cremin kicking a penalty. The vanquished side’s Michael Sharpe and Darragh Crowe scored tries with Darragh Burke adding a single conversion but on the day that wasn’t to be enough and Kanturk move up to 14 points, one behind St Senan’s and safety.

Next weekend Kanturk make the trip to county Limerick to take on an Abbeyfeale side safe in mid-table but out of the competition for one of the top four places.

Abbeyfeale will be favourites for this one but if Kanturk are to stay up they have to do better than the other sides in the relegation battle this weekend and that means they need to do no worse that St Senan’s on Sunday. Big weekend for the boys from the banks of the Allow ahead.

IN the J2, Fermoy’s win over Old Christians (33-10) sees them move up to fifth in the table, level on points with Charleville, who do have a game in hand on their north Cork neighbours.

Regardless of what happens to Fermoy in their last two fixtures there is little doubting that 2018/19 has been a really impressive season for this side who many would have thought might struggle in the J2 this year.

Away at Rathcooney, tries from Peter Skuse, Sean Leahy, Dylan Foley, Eoin Lacey and Aidan Baragry set Fermoy on their way to maximum points with Dylan Lacey adding a quartet of conversions to round off what was a bad day for the home team.

Brendan Gallagher and Laszio Rabatin did manage to raise some cheer for Old Christians with a try a piece but on this day, it was Fermoy that would deservedly win.

At home to Cobh Pirates is next up for Fermoy this weekend with both sides looking to finish with a flourish ahead of the final round of league games in early March.

Charleville’s campaign has gone from strength to strength in recent months with the boys in red currently sitting fourth in the J2 table, with a game in hand on most teams around them. Charleville are unlikely to do better than fourth come the final weekend’s fixtures in a few weeks’ time but as of now, one of the most impressive performers in the division can be proud of what they have achieved.

Last weekend, an away win at Fethard 21-17 was Charleville’s reward for another impressive display. Ger Sheehan secured the win late on with Charleville’s final score. Sean O’Connor also touched down for the victors, who muscled a penalty try for their third major. Jesse Smith showed composure with the boot bagging a brace of tries. Gary Kavanagh was the talisman for the home side with a brace of tries, two conversions and one penalty to his name however on the day his efforts failed to reap the reward they really did deserve.

Charleville have the small matter of a home tie with title favourites Mallow next weekend and while home advantage will go the way of the men from the Limerick border town there is little doubting that this will be a huge ask for the welcoming side.

MUSKERRY were the only local side to lose out last weekend as they went down to Waterford City by 18-13. Aidan Power scored two tries for Waterford with Darren Walsh adding one conversion, a penalty and a single drop goal. Cathal Dennehy hit back for Muskerry with a try which was converted by Jonathan Buckley who also added two penalties.

Muskerry are safe in the middle third of the table but will still want to get something from their last two games to finish the league on a high – however, that will be a difficult proposition in Round 12 as they face up to a Clonakilty side currently second in the table and favourites to follow Mallow to the top tier.

IN the J3, Mitchelstown will be looking to good playoff form as they fell just short of top spot in the bottom league. The Cork side saw off Killarney by 14-13 in their final league game of the season. A try from Pat Magee as well as three penalties from Josh Evans did the damage against a Killarney side that failed to deliver this season.

FIXTURES

Sunday February 17 at 2.30 pm Munster J-League Division 1

Abbeyfeale v Kanturk

Munster J-League Division 2

Charleville v Mallow Fermoy v Cobh Muskerry v Clonakilty