Disappointing day for Clare clubs

Hopes of bringing the Munster Junior Rugby Cup to Clare this season ended on Sunday when both Ennis and St Senan’s were knocked out of the title race.

An injury-hit Ennis side failed to make any impression against an experienced Richmond outfit, while St Senan’s battled bravely but had to give best to Crosshaven at Slattery Park.

Ennis  0   Richmond  37
A much slicker and more experienced Richmond side proved much too strong for Ennis in this Munster Junior Cup tie at Drumbiggle on Sunday.
With former Ennis player Declan Flynn as part of their management team, the Limerick side dominated from the outset and were well on their way to the next round at the halfway point when they had 27 points on the board.
Ennis went into the game short a number of regulars due to injury and this certainly had an upsetting effect on the team.
The visitors struck as early as the second minute when outhalf James McDermott went over for the game’s first try, which he converted. Their second try had come before the 10th minute had been reached when Clifford Markham scored but this time, McDermott failed with the conversion attempt.
Markham’s try came after a sweeping movement the length of the pitch. Ennis were on the Richmond line and pressing for a try when they lost possession and, in a flash, the speedy Richmond three-quarters’ line had the ball at the other end.
In fact, the Richmond defence caused huge problems for Ennis throughout this tie. Midway through the first half, Richmond stretched their lead to 15 points when McDermott landed a penalty. Straight from the kick-off after this score, Richmond won possession and Michael Kelleher raced through to score his team’s third try, which McDermott converted to bring the score to 22-0.
Michael Friel, whose father Flan hails from Miltown, created the opening for Pat McNamara to score the winners’ next try, which left the score at 27-0 at the halfway point.
Ennis piled on the pressure in the early stages of the second half but they just could not get over the visitors’ line and midway through the half, Richmond extended their lead with a try from Finbarr Hogan.
By now, Ennis had introduced substitutes Joe Moloney, Steve Dnne, Ross McLoughlin and Richard Murphy but the loss of Bryan Murphy, Niall McMahon and Brian Farrell due to injury proved too much.
Shortly before the full-time whistle Ian Madden burst over for the game’s final score, a sixth try for the Limerick side  currently leading the way in the first division of the junior league.
Ennis: Noel Downes, Greg O’Flanagan, Niall Nevin, Gary Duggan, Mark O’Halloran, David Murphy, Shaun O’Flanagan, Damian Forde, Rory Murphy, Enda Galvin, Patrick Harding, Jason Considine, Mike McInerney, Liam Ryan, Eric McInerney.
Richmond: Jody O’Sullivan, Finbarr Hogan, Michael Kelleher, Cliften Markham, Michael Friel, James McDermott, Maurice O’Connor, Ian Madden, Colm O’Connor, Jason Horgan, Michael Gallagher, Barry Woods, Paul Wallace, Thomas Ahern, Pat McNamara.
Replacements: Ciarán O’Hanlon, Michael Hannon, Jonathan Tully, Jeffrey McNamara, Stephen Clancy.

St Senan’s  0   Crosshaven  12
THE visit of Crosshaven for this cup clash was an opportunity for both teams to size each other up before their upcoming league clash on March 7.
St Senan’s started the game confidently and held territorial advantage over the visitors for the first 15 minutes without producing any clear scoring opportunities. When Crosshaven did break into Senan’s half, they were rewarded with a penalty on the home side’s 22-metre line but they failed to convert.
From the restart the home side once again pushed the visitors back into their own half and held them there for the remainder of the first half but could not break down a well-organised defence.
The first half finished with the home side having had most of the play but not having the scores to reflect their dominance. The first 20 minutes of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Senan’s continually pushing the visitors deep into their own half.
The Crosshaven defence held firm and repelled each attack. Midway through this half,  they broke out of defence and with Senan’s committing players to attack, were able to run in a well-worked try, which gave them a 0-7 lead.
This setback disheartened the home side for a while but they soon regrouped and continued to pressurise the Crosshaven try line. On 35 minutes, in another breakout from defence, Crosshaven found the try line again and increased the lead.
Despite a late rally by Senan’s, they failed to get points on the board.
St Senan’s: Pa Ryan, Ger Hall, Dave Lee, Dermot Fitzgerald, Mike Lyons, Aidan O’Callaghan, Duane Horkin, Aaron Skerritt (capt), David Dunne, Declan Collins, Brian Collins, Chris Sloan, Fran Duggan, Shane Thompstone, Jake Egan.
Replacements: Edward Slattery, Gary Crowe, Stephen Ryan, David Webb.