Senan’s grab last-minute victory

St Senan’s, Shannon 12  Clonmel 11

St Senan’s, Shannon got their Munster Junior League campaign off to a great start with a victory over Clonmel at Slattery Park on Sunday.

The win came three weeks after the Tipperary club had comprehensively beaten the same opposition in the Challenge Cup.
The game was played in ideal conditions and both sides managed to create several try-scoring opportunities.
The visitors were first to score when Morgan Lyons converted a penalty awarded against the home team for not releasing the ball when tackled.
St Senan’s were awarded a scrum and Clonmel knocked on following a Brian Collins tackle.
From the resultant scrum, the Shannon side took the ball out of defence through captain Ian Fitzgerald in a move that went through the full length of the field, with some great inter-play between backs and forwards.
They won a five-metre scrum and drove for the line for Fergal Lawlor to get the touch down for the try and this gave them a 5-3 half-time lead.
This was deserved, with Shane Markham kicking well until forced to retire due to injury. Aidan O’Callaghan did well in the line-outs and Tony O’Brien was impressive in the scrums and mauls.
Clonmel had the better of the early second-half exchanges and stretched their lead with a try by hooker Phil Corby and a penalty from Morgan Lyons.
Clonmel dominated for the rest of the half and only a combination of missed penalties by Lyons and some great tackling by the home side kept the margin to five points. A tackle by replacement full-back Bobby O’Connell saved a certain try.
With time running out, St Senan’s launched one last attack. Fran Duggan put a great up and under at the Clonmel full-back, which the Tipperary side’s player failed to collect.
St Senan’s mauled their way to the Clonmel line and Mick O’Connell forced his way over near the posts.
Darren Guerin had no trouble with the conversion and the final whistle sounded almost immediately, leaving the home side fortunate winners.
St Senan’s: Pa Ryan, Fergal Lawlor, Tony O’Brien, Aidan O’Callaghan, Aaron Skerritt, Dwane Horkan, Ian Fitzgerald, Jack Jones, Darren Guerin, Shane Markham, Declan Coughlan, Fran Duggan, Chris Sloan, Davy Dunne, Brian Collins.
Subs: Bobby O’Connell for Markham, Ger Hall for Lawlor and Mick O’Connell for Jones.
On Sunday, St Senan’s will travel to play Ballincollig in the league at 2.30pm.

Ennis 6  Galbally 11
Ennis suffered their second league loss in succession when they went down to Galbally in their league tie at Ennis on Sunday.
Brian Murphy contributed all of the Ennis side’s points when he landed two penalties.

Division 3
Kilrush will take on Scariff in the Division 3 League on Sunday in Monmore, with the kick-off at 2.30pm.