In what turned out to be a disappointing for our Hurling Supporters here in Tipperary. Tipperary’s Rugby players woke up Monday morning with some bit of consolation as every Tipperary Rugby team, with the exception of Newport RFC, bagged a win in their respective Leagues.
Nenagh Ormond were first up in the ever popular Friday Night Lights Game, in what was also their first home League game as a Senior Division 2A side. The faced a tough, well drilled Thomond side who always give Nenagh a good run for their money.
This encounter between the two sides proved no different as the 8 – 6 scoreline suggests. Dan Fogarty nailed a penalty early on, which was cancelled out by the Limerick side shortly after, to level the scores. After some great work from the forward pack, in particular Kevin O’Flaherty and crowd favourite Lemaki Vaipulu, provided good clean ball to scrum half and Captain, Eoin Gardner. This platform resulted in Ruaidhri O’Brien being put into space and he used his pace brilliantly to cross the whitewash. Thomond added another penalty before the halftime break to put an end to the scoring.
Despite a scoreless second half, this was a terrific game, one in which left the home and travelling supporters on the edge of their seats until the referee blew the final whistle.
As Nenagh Ormond goes on the road again, looking to maintain their 100% start to the season, they face Bective Rangers in Donnybrook. Kick-off is at 3pm but the Ormond officials are advising that, to get a real feast of Rugby, set off earlier and catch the Leinster A Vs Munster A game which kicks off at 1pm at the same venue.
Newport RFC kicked off their campaign in Division 2 of the Munster Junior League, also on Friday Night, with a disappointing 68-7 away defeat to Bandon under lights at the Cork venue.
Newport have a home tie this weekend against another Cork side this weekend, where they lock horns with a Crosshaven side, who also started their campaign with a loss last weekend.
Cashel RFC got off the mark on Saturday at home, where they defeated a confident Naas side, who had a great win over a fancied UCC side the week previous.
Darragh O’Brien opened the scoring for Cashel, after withstanding a period of pressure from Naas, the pack worked down the field with the ball finally reaching the hands of O’Brien in the corner which he duly converted to make it 7-0.
O’Brien was on the score sheet again, nailing 2 penalties to Naas’ one before the Kildare side went on the attack. Following some great play between their backs and forwards, they finished the half with a converted try to leave the score at 13-10.
Cashel started the second half brightly, scoring a well worked forwards try, with Niall Fitzgerald getting the plaudits, and O’Brien converted to extend the lead. Naas brought themselves back into the game shortly after, with a clever lineout move, saw their hooker sneak over the line, in the corner. Full time: Cashel 20 – 15 Naas.
Cashel will travel up to Trevor Brennan’s former side, as NUIM Barnhall welcome the Tipp side that will be searching for their second win of the season.
Kilfeacle RFC welcomed Cobh Pirates to ‘The Hill’ as Division 1 of the Munster Junior League got underway last Sunday at the sun covered Tipperary venue.
Kilfeacle are always a tough task when competing on their own turf and Cobh weren’t in a position to disagree when Diarmuid O’Donnell made it over the line having reacted quickest to a Cobh error. Captain, Darren Lowry added the extras. The remainder of the half was a dour affair, the Cork side added two penalties to leave the minimum between the sides at half time at 7 – 6.
Benefiting from the breeze in the second half, Kilfeacle came out intent on completing the job, JJ Cooney scored the second try of the game which was converted by Lowry, who also added a penalty shortly after, for a scoreline of 17-6.
With the final whistle in sight, Kilfeacle ended the game as a contest with another try from Cooney in the corner to leave the score at 22-6.
Kilfeacle travel to Clonmel for the first Tipperary Derby of the season this Sunday, this should be a cracker of a game, with two sides who would be quietly confident of finishing the season with honours come March.
Clonmel RFC, as it turned out had an easy run out against newly promoted Kinsale in Cork, who discovered that life in Division 1 won’t be as straightforward as hoped.
The Tipp side had 10 points on the board in as many minutes, with a try from Luke Hogan, converted by Conor Cooney, who also added a penalty. Mick Barry added another try before half time with Cooney converting to give Clonmel a 0 – 17 lead at half time.
The scores kept coming from Clonmel, racing into a 0 – 39, with tries from Trevor Melbourne, Stephen Pyke and Greg Carroll, before Kinsale finally joined the score board with a converted try of their own.
The misery continued for Kinsale as Clonmel added to the score with tries from Cooney and another from Pyke, with Cooney adding the extras to ensure maximum points were going back to Tipperary.
As mentioned above, Clonmel welcome Kilfeacle in the much anticipated Tipperary Derby on Sunday which kicks off at 2.30pm.
In Division 2 of the Munster Junior League, dubbed ‘The Big Game’ in the Division, Clanwilliam RFC travelled to North Cork to play Mallow. In what was a closely contested game, it was the Tipperary Town side that came away with the spoils with Vivion Grisewood scoring the try and Brian Kissane kicking 3 penalties and slotting over the conversion for a final score of 3 – 16.
Clanwilliam welcome a poor Youghal side to their grounds on Sunday, which should result in a comfortable win for the home side.
Thurles RFC were also on the road, as they travelled to the Déise County to take on an ever improving Waterford City side.
Thurles started like a house on fire, with Peter Coman sneaking in for an early try which Eoin O’Dwyer converted. O’Dwyer added two penalties to Waterford City’ one to leave the half time score at 3 – 13.
Thurles would have been sweating with 15 minutes left on the clock as the Waterford winger stepped up to nail a penalty that levelled the game with the home team well on top, this had followed a converted try from the Waterford pack minutes earlier.
The Thurles players will have been breathing a sigh of relief on the way home, as they managed a smash and grab, having rediscovered their first half form, they worked their way up the field, with Nicky Irwin going over for the winner and O’Dwyer converting to leave the final score 13 -20.
Thurles welcome Ennis RFC to their Loughtagalla home this Sunday at 2.30pm. The Thurles men will take a lot of confidence from last week’s result but will need to improve significantly also if they intend on challenging for promotion this year.
In Division 3 of the Munster Junior League, Fethard and District will make their debut in the Junior 1 ranks as they welcome Bantry Bay RFC to Fethard.
This is an historic occasion for the South Tipp club who are only in existence a few years, this fixture is a credit to everyone at the club who has got the team to this position. The very best of luck to everyone at the club on Sunday and the rest of the year.
Last Weekend’s Results
AIL Division 2A:
Nenagh Ormond 8-6 Thomond
Cashel 20 – 15 Naas
Division 1 Munster Junior League:
Kilfeacle & District 22-6 Cobh Pirates
Kinsale 14-51 Clonmel
Division 2 Munster Junior League:
Mallow 3-16 Clanwilliam
Waterford City 13-20 Thurles
Bandon 68-7 Newport
This Weeks Fixtures
Saturday 4th October 2014
AIL Division 2A:
Bective Rangers Vs Nenagh Ormond, 3pm
NUIM Barnhall Vs Cashel, 2.30pm
Sunday 5th October 2014
Division 1 Munster Junior League:
Clonmel Vs Kilfeacle, 2.30pm
Division 2 Munster Junior League:
Clanwilliam Vs Youghal, 2.30pm
Thurles Vs Ennis, 2.30pm
Newport Vs Crosshaven, 2.30pm
Division 3 Munster Junior League:
Fethard v Bantry Bay, 2.30pm