First-round victories will see Clare sides clash

ENNIS and Scariff go into this Sunday’s Munster Junior Cup ties in the knowledge that victory for both will see them clash in the next round. The prospect of an all-Clare clash is certainly adding interest to this week’s games, both of which will kick off at 2pm.
Ennis have home advantage for their game with Charleville but the Clare club has a number of injury concerns ahead of this fixture.
Half-backs David and Bryan Murphy both missed last week’s league game due to injury and there is only a slim chance that Bryan will be available this week. He has a knee injury. David is ruled out due to a rib injury, which may keep him out for the rest of the season.
Scariff travel to play Muskerry in their cup tie and the Cork club will start as favourites.
The Clare sides are due to meet in the league next week.

Castleisland 13   Ennis 10

DESPITE dominating for much of their league tie on Bank Holiday Monday, Ennis went down to Castleisland.
Playing against the wind, the Ennis side defended well in the early stages. In fact, they took the lead after 15 minutes when, after winning a line-out, they mauled their way over the line and Conor Mahony got the vital touch down. The conversion was missed by Shane O’Connor.
Shortly after the re-start, Ennis conceded a penalty, which the home side converted. The Kerry club piled on the pressure and converted another penalty to go 6-5 ahead. Castleisland continued to dominate and, following a 5m line, they got over for a try, which was converted. This put them 13-5 ahead and this was the position at half-time. Shortly before the break, Shane O’Connor failed to convert an Ennis penalty.
Ennis dominated the exchanges in the second half but they failed to turn the dominance into scores. Eventually the pressure paid off and out-half O’Connor got over for a try.
For the remainder of the match, Ennis were camped on the Castleisland 22’. The home side conceded a series of 5m scrums but despite all the pressure, the visitors failed to get through for any more scores.

Ennis: Saran Butler; Frank Coffey, Brandon Grant, Niall Nevin, Paul Finnucane; Shane O’Connor, Dylan Tynan O’Mahoney; Conor Mahony, Enda Galvin, Jason Considine; Frank Holly, Dara Killeen; Michael McInerney, Liam Ryan, Joe Moloney.
Subs: Joseph Kelly for Moloney, Stephen Flynn for Considine and Paddy Harding for Killeen.