A difficult away day in Muskerry for Castleisland

MUNSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Muskerry 43 Castleisland 5

CASTLEISLAND are going through a tough time at the moment as injury and player unavailability continues to take its toll on the team. They travelled to Muskerry to play the locals last Sunday, and the home side showed little mercy as they sent the visitors packing in ruthless fashion.

Castleisland played with the strong wind to their backs in the first half but really didn’t take advantage of the elements. It wasn’t as if they struggled early on or anything, in fact they dominated the first 25 minutes of the first half but poor decision making and errors cost them dearly when they were inside the oppositions 22.

Soon afterwards though the wheels began to come off the Castleisland wagon. Muskerry converted a good penalty into the breeze in the 30th minute and right on the stroke of half time went in for a converted try to see them tale a 10-0 lead in at the break.

Muskerry added a second try early in the second half and the Castleisland heads began to drop. Smelling blood, Muskerry powered on once more and added two further tries. Castleisland’s fruitless task was made even more difficult when they lost Mikey Bawn O’Sullivan and Moss O’Callaghan to injury.

In fairness to them they made a revival of sorts when Kieran Downey powered over for a try after good carries from John McCarthy, Flor McCarthy and James Cullinane. It really was just a consolation prize though as Muskerry deservedly took the spoils.

Although well beaten, the Castleisland coaching team will be well pleased with the vast improvement in their scrums and line-outs in comparison to their previous games.

The result sees Castleisland sit second from bottom in the J2 table and in desperate need of a win when they play Thurles at home next Sunday.

Killorglin 0 Listowel/Tralee 24

WHILE the scoreline might suggest an easy victory for Listowel/Tralee, nothing could be further from the truth as Killorglin tackled hard and were in the game for long periods.

The away side’s defence was forced to pull out all the stops when Killorglin came calling near their line,and their committed tackling ensured that the Killorglin lads could find no way through.

Listowel/Tralee pened their account with a fine try by Scot Ryan followed with three more Brian McElligott .Kian Dowling and Liam Quilter. Edward O’Connor was accurate with the boot and slotted over two nice conversions. The result sees Listowel/Tralee level at the top of the table on sixteen points where they are joined by Castleisland and Killarney.

Special mention must go to Fergal Courtney who stepped up to referee the game.

Castleisland 24 Kanturk 7

CASTLEISLAND kept their title ambitions with a comprehensive home victory over Kanturk.

Castleisland got off to a whirlwind start and camped the visitors inside their own 22 for the first 15 minutes of the game. Their pressure soon paid off when Kanturk conceded a penalty and Donal Daly made no mistake from the resultant kick.

The home side continued to dominate and soon afterwards Patrick Fitzgerald went over for a good team try, with Daly making no mistake with the conversion to give them a 10-0 lead at half-time.

The second half continued in a similar vein for the victors with Daragh Kelly and Adam Kelly scoring well taken tries, with Daly adding the spares once more.

MUNSTER UNDER 18 CONFERENCE 2

Abbeyfeale 13 Tralee 12

TRALEE played with the aid of the Abbeyfeale grounds infamous hill and the wind in the first half and made full use of this advantage.

The windy but dry conditions meant that both sides tried to keep the game as tight as possible. Tralee dominated from the first minute of the contest and soon Barry Foley scorched over for their first try which was duly converted by Seamus Lyne.

Persistent Tralee pressure was met by some resolute Abbeyfeale defence, but eventually the home sides line was breached and Ian McCarthy touched down for Tralee’s second try. The half-time whistle sounded soon afterwards and Tralee took a 12-0 lead in at the break.

Abbeyfeale came out fighting in the second half with two unconverted

Listowel/Tralee 17 Ballina /Killaloe 20

LISTOWEL/TRALEE welcomed Clare side Ballina/Killaloe to O’Dowd Park on Saturday and the visitors left with a narrow victory over a spirited home side.

Both sides served up a feast of fine attacking rugby, although the very windy conditions meant that handling errors were frequent. Tralee’s scrum half and captain Jennifer Keating was the star of the show as time and again her sniping runs opened up gaps in the Ballina/Killaloe defence.

Tralee scored tries through Ornaith Wall (2),and Sadbh Morrisson while Emily O’Regan was successful with one of the conversions.

It wasn’t to be Tralee’s day however as the strong running Ballina/ Killaloe side finished the game as three point victors.