Ennis surprise favourites in Junior Cup competition

Ennis 16
Nenagh Ormond 9

Ennis progressed to the second round of the Munster Junior Cup when they surprised a fancied Nenagh Ormond team at Ennis on Sunday.
The visitors started well and put the home side under a lot of pressure in the early stages but Ennis managed to weather the storm and take a foothold on the game.
Both sides played lots of good rugby and Ennis, to the delight of their followers, took the lead after 25 minutes when Bryan Murphy converted a penalty. The lead didn’t last long as the visitors converted a penalty to tie up the scores at 3-3.
As half time approached, Nenagh won a penalty under the posts that they converted and this game them a 6-3 lead at the break.
On the restart, Ennis applied some pressure and having worked the ball downfield, out-half Bryan Murphy launched a Garryowen which Saran Butler fielder. He off-loaded to Alan Malone who passed to Niall Nevin who went over in the corner for the game’s first try. The conversion was missed but Ennis were 8-6 ahead.
Nenagh had a chance to go back in front but they failed to score from a penalty. Ennis were dominating in the tight and their forwards were also having an edge in the scrums. Midway through the half, they struck for another try when Saran Butler rounded off a great move with a touchdown in the corner. This put the home side 13-6 ahead.
Fifteen minutes from time, Nenagh closed the gap when they converted a penalty but Ennis replied with a like score from team captain Bryan Murphy.
In the final 10 minutes, Nenagh piled on the pressure and spent much of the time camped on the Ennis line. However, the home side stood firm and recorded a merited win to secure a home tie in round two against Shannon in two weeks time.
This week it’s back to league action and Ennis will be away to Newcastlewest.

Ennis: Dylan Tynan O’Mahoney; Cian Clancy, Niall Nevin, Alan Malone, Saran Butler; Bryan Murphy (capt), David Murphy; Conor Mahony, Jason Considine, Sean McCormack; John Queally, John Corry; Mike McInerney, Eric McInerney, Bryan Farrell.
Subs: Joe Moloney for M McInerney.

Waterpark 27
St Senan’s 10

St Senan’s made the long journey to Waterford on Sunday to play Waterpark in the Munster Junior Cup. The Shannon side lost two of their starting lineout due to being cup tied with other clubs but got off to a bright start when the ball was moved across the backline for Barry Murphy to score a fine try in the corner.
They undid their good work when they allowed Waterpark get over from a quickly taken tap penalty to level the scores.
Midway through the half Senan’s were defending on their own line when the ball squirted out of a ruck and quick thinking winger Jed McNamara ran the length of the field to score and put Senan’s back in front.
Senan’s suffered a major blow when hooker Fergal Lawlor had to go off with a leg injury and this seemed to disrupt their scrum and allowed Waterpark to take control in this area. Another quickly taken penalty resulted in a try before the break that was converted to leave the scores at 12-10 to the home team and Senan’s still very much in the tie.
In the 27th minute of the second half Waterpark turned over the ball in their own half and ran in for a try. This was quickly followed by a penalty under the posts to put the match out of reach of St Senan’s. The winners added on a late try and conversion to seal the victory.
Next up for Senan’s will be a return to league action this Sunday and a battle with fellow relegation strugglers Ballincollig. Ennismust win if they are to have any hope of avoiding relegation. Ballincollig themselves went out of the cup last weekend and will be targeting this match to try and avoid the drop.
Senan’s will be looking to the inform number eight Mick O’Connell, out-half Declan Collins and Dylan Sonneman to lead the way, Ian Fitzgerald should be back from honeymoon and they will hope that Fergal Lawlor recovers in time. They will look to their forwards to give them a platform for a win and confidence boost for the remaining matches in the league versus Cobh Pirates and Clonmel.
The seconds play Cashel in the Webb Cup on Saturday week. The annual ‘nite at the dogs’ will be held at the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday week.

St Senan’s: Rob Hegarty, Fergal Lawlor, Tim Larkin, Aaron Skeritt, Aiden O’Callaghan, Duane Horkin, Paul O’Halloran, Mick O’Connell, Daragh McCoy, Declan Collins, Jed McNamara, Brian Collins, Ronan O’Callaghan, Barry Murphy, Davy Dunne.
Subs: Dave Lee, Ed Slattery, Jake Egan, Fran Duggan.

Dungarvan 31
Kilrush 13

Kilrush made the long journey to Dungarvan on Sunday for a tie that doubled as a first round cup tie and a league game.
Despite taking the lead through a Paul Conway penalty as early as the fifth minute, the West Clare side failed to match the Waterford outfit.
Dungarvan hit the front in the 15th minute with the game’s first try that was converted and they repeated this seven minutes later to go 14-3 ahead.
Kilrush were given a boost when Trevor Downes went in for a try on the half hour mark and they hit for a second try five minutes later when Ray Conway got the touch down.
Early in the second half, Dungarvan had their third try and this was also converted and they followed with a penalty. They sealed victory ten minutes later with their fourth try that was also converted.

Kilrush: Padraig O’Malley, Aidan Mescall, Trevor Downes, Martin Hehir, Martin Griffin, Matthew Flanagan, Brian Johnson, Rory Cussen, Ray Conway, Brian Saunders, Pat Cussen, Paul Conway, John Conway, John Tubridy, David Egan.
Subs: Dermot Moloney for Rory Cussen John O’Neill for John Tubridy.

It’s back to league action for Kilrush this Sunday when they travel to play Abbeyfeale at 2.30pm.

Scariff travel but no game

Scariff were due to play Douglas in the cup last week and they had made the journey to the Cork venue but the match didn’t go ahead as the match official deemed the pitch unplayable.
It’s expected that the game will be rescheduled for next week.
Meanwhile, the East Clare side face a top of the table clash in the league on this Sunday. Presentation currently lead the third division from Scariff and the sides clash at the Limerick club’s venue in a tie that should go a long way to deciding the destination of the league title.