Scariff improve promotion prospects

Scariff  8 
Abbeyfeale  3
Scariff strengthened their chances of promotion from the third division with a hard-earned but merited win over Abbeyfeale at the East Clare club’s venue on Sunday.
This was Scariff’s first competitive match in seven weeks and it showed, with handling errors and overall rustiness in set plays. Abbeyfeale went 3-0 ahead early on with a penalty but Scariff responded well with prolonged pressure in the Abbeyfeale 22, which was rewarded with a try from second-row Rory Slattery. The conversion was missed but James Kelly added a penalty before the break to leave it 8-3.
In a scoreless second half, Trevor Kelly came closest for the home side. Scariff spent the last 10 minutes defending their line as Abbeyfeale piled on pressure in an attempt to get the levelling score.
This Sunday, Coirce Duibhne (Dingle) visit Cravens Field in the junior cup and the following Sunday it is a top-of-the-table league clash with Presentation in Ruthard.
Scariff: Joe McGrath, Colin Bugler, Paul McTiernan, Dara McNamara (capt), Rory Slattery, Pat Minogue, Henry Purcill, Robbie Madden, Tom Cronin, James Kelly, Barry Gibbons, Eoghan Collins, Kenny Mason, Trevor Kelly, Conor McNamara.
Replacements: Darren McNamara, Steve Madden, Joe Brody, David Harte, Shane Gibbons, Sean Hayes.

Ennis 19 
Castleisland  10
Ennis eased their relegation worries with this victory over a fancied Castleisland side at Ennis on Sunday and, in the process, provided a timely boost ahead of their Munster Junior Cup first-round tie this week against Nenagh Ormond.
Having lost five games by just a score, Ennis needed to get a win under their belts to get away from the relegation area. Ennis got off to a great start and took an early lead when Bryan Murphy converted a penalty inside the first five minutes.
They increased the lead in the 15th minute when Cian Clancy went over in the corner for the game’s first try. Another penalty was converted by Murphy and Ennis were 11-0 in front and very much in control. On the stroke of halftime the visitors got in for a try, which was converted, and this left the half time score 11-7. On the resumption, Ennis continued to dominate territory and possession and extended their lead with a Niall Nevin try to go 16-7 in front. Castleisland hit back with a penalty but Bryan Murphy completed the scoring with his third penalty of the day.
On Sunday, Ennis will have Nenagh as visitors in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup.
Ennis: Dylan Tynan O’Mahoney, Cian Clancy, Niall Nevin, Alan Malone, Saran Butler, Bryan Murphy, David Murphy, Damian Forde, Conor O’Mahoney, Sean McCormack, John Corry, Enda Galvin, Michael McInerney, Eric McInerney, Brian Farrell.
Replacements: Paddy Harding for Corry.

Kilfeacle 32 
St Senan’s (Shannon) 17
St Senan’s were pushed closer towards relegation from the first division of the Munster Junior Rugby League when they went under to Kilfeackle on Sunday.
A strong start by St Senan’s saw them drive Kilfeacle deep into defence, where they held them for the first 15 minutes of the game. However, the home side’s defence held their shape and frustrated Senan’s scoring attempts. When Kilfeacle eventually mounted an incursion into the St Senan’s half, they were rewarded with a penalty in front of goal, which they converted to take a 3-0 lead.
This score lifted the home side and they soon followed with a well-worked try out wide to extend their lead to 8-0. Despite some spirited attacking play by the Clare side, it was the home team that finished the first half on a high, adding a converted try on 35 minutes to lead 15-0 at the break.
Senan’s started the second half with the same determination that they had the first half and this time they were rewarded when Fergal Lawlor crossed the try line after just five minutes. Declan Collins converted to reduce the deficit to 15-7. A few minutes later Senan’s reduced the deficit further when Declan Collins kicked a good penalty to leave Senan’s trailing 15-10.
A number of handling errors and lack of discipline in the rucks saw Senan’s hand the initiative back to Kilfeacle ,who scored two tries in quick succession on 25 and 28 minutes, extending their lead to 29-10. Seeing the game slip away from them sparked a late response from Senan’s and on 33 minutes Pa Ryan scored their second try and Declan Collins made no mistake with the conversion to pull the score back to 29-17.
A few minutes after this Kilfeacle sealed the game with a late penalty.
Next Sunday, Senan’s travel to Waterford to face Waterpark in the Munster Junior Cup, kick-off for this match is 2:30.
St Senan’s: Declan Coughlan, Ronan O’Callaghan, Barry Murphy, Brian Collins, Dylan Sonneman, Declan Collins, Darragh McCoy, Mike O’Connell, Ger Hall, Duane Horkin, Aidan O’Callaghan, Aaron Skerritt, Fergal Lawlor, Timmy Larkin, Pa Ryan.
Replacements: Rob Hegarty, Dave Lee, Gary Crowe, Jake Egan, Ger McNamara, Paul O’Halloran.
Kilrush will also be in junior cup action this Sunday. They travel to play Dungarvan is a tie that will double as a league game.