Senan’s ease relegation worries

St Senan’s 20   Galbally 16

St Senan’s hosted Galbally at Jimmy Slattery Park last weekend. Galbally got off to a good start when they got two early penalties. They were pegged back when Senan’s attacked and were stopped short of the line. The ball was fed out to Brian Collins, who kicked a lovely drop goal.

Galbally increased their lead when they opted to kick to the corner from a penalty and took the ball cleanly in the line-out. They got over for an easy try, which they converted to leave the half-time score 13-3.

Senan’s came out much more determined in the second half and gradually got control of the scrum and pushed Galbally back on several occasions. Minutes into the second half, after good driving by the pack from a line-out, Declan Collins forced his way over for a try.

St Senan’s second try came when again Galbally were forced back at a scrum and Fergal Lawlor picked up and drove over from close rang to leave the sides level. The Senan’s pack were totally on top now and it was only a matter of time before they again drove Galbally back in the scrum. Stephen Ryan picked up and drove over for a fine try, which Declan Collins converted. Galbally did get a penalty to leave only one score between the teams and give Senan’s an anxious last 10 minutes.

Because of Munster’s crucial Heineken Cup game at Thomond Park on Sunday, all Munster junior fixtures scheduled for Sunday have been deferred and this includes the proposed fixture between St Senan’s and Clanwilliam.

St Senan’s: Davy Dunne, Barry Murphy, Declan Collins, Neil McDonagh, Brian Collins; Philip Noone, Daragh McCoy; Tony O’Brien, Fergal Lawlor, Pa Ryan, Capt, Aaron Skerritt, MJ McDonagh, Jamie Keogh, Eamon O’Donaghue, Stephen Ryan.
Subs: Ger McNamara Davy Webb.

 

Too strong for Ennis

Mallow 20   Ennis 5

The recent winning run enjoyed by Ennis was interrupted on Sunday when the club’s hopes of moving closer to the top spot on the league table were dashed at Mallow.

Ennis were lying in fifth spot as they faced up to second-placed Mallow. 

Ennis travelled with confidence but on the day, the required all-round performance was not there. From the start, Ennis were penalised a number of times and were 3-0 down after 12 minutes. While the pack were doing ok against a bigger well-organised Mallow pack, Ennis did play some excellent rugby and always proved dangerous out wide. This was rewarded with an excellent try from Shaun O’Flanagan.

Just before half-time, Mallow were awarded a penalty try for an infringement at the scrum. They went on to lead at the break on a 13-5 scoreline.

Ennis put plenty of effort into the second half and courageous defending kept them in the game until the dying minutes when a try was awarded to Mallow from a maul. Robbie Doyle converted to kill any hopes of an upset.

There are still four games left for Ennis and lots to play for, with an enticing Junior Cup fourth-round tie away to Clonmel also on the list.

Ennis: Joe Moloney, Evan Lewis, Liam Ryan, Enda Galvin, Dara Killeen Pat Harding, Brian Dolan, Damien Forde, Cian Guilfoyle, David Murphy, Cian Nugent, Niall Nevin, Shaun O’Flanagan, Frank Coffey, Conor Dolan.
Subs: David O’Connor, Phil Molloy, Kelan Flynn, Jason Considine, Steven Dunne.

No promotion for Scariff

Abbeyfeale 17   Scariff 7

SCARRIF’S hopes of promotion from Division 3 were in the Munster Junior Rugby League were killed off on Sunday when they lost out to Abbeyfeale.

The East Clare side struggled to find their form in the opening half when they played against the wind and they found themselves 0-9 behind at the interval after the West Limerick outfit had converted three penalties.

Abbeyfeale landed another penalty early in the second half to extend their lead before Scariff, who played much better in this period, struck for a Conor McNamara try. McNamara was successful with the conversion.

Some poor defending five minutes from time resulted in Scariff allowing their opponents in for a try, killing off their hopes of a win.

Scariff will return to action on Sunday week when they will have home advantage against Dunmanway-Bantry Bay in the third tier of the Munster Junior Cup. The game will kick off at 2pm.

Scariff: Bernard McGrath; Colin Bugler, Joe McGrath, Dara McNamara, Declan Noonan, Henry Purcell, Darren McNamara, Conor Minogue; Paul O’Sullivan, Robbie Madden; Ger Burke, Eoin Collins, Kenny Mason, Paul Lynch, Conor McNamara.
Subs: Paul McTiernan, Brendan McNamara, Michael Noonan, Shane Gibbons, Aidan Burke.