Great boost for Tipperary rugby as Kilfeacle overcome Cork Con in Munster Junior Cup
MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP Round 1
Kilfeacle & District 19 Cork Constitution 10
“The Boys in Blue” were at home to Cork Constitution on Sunday last and were hoping to get their Munster Junior Cup campaign off to a winning start.
Kilfeacle got off to a strong start and had the vast majority of territorial advantage for the majority of the first eight minutes but were unable to capitalise, to the crowd’s disappointment.
Cork Con then went ahead when they burst through from their own half, and moving the ball quickly through the backs set up John Scanlon to score in the corner.
The next 20 minutes saw possession and territory to and fro, with neither side able to score. In the 29th minute Killian Noonan opened the Kilfeacle account with a well-taken try after some sterling team work.
Kilfeacle’s pack were starting to look impressive and set up the next score when, after numerous phases of play, Gavin Heuston scrambled over the line to touch down under the posts. Timmy Clarke added the conversion and Kilfeacle now led 12-5.
The second half became a very nervous affair, with both teams making forced and unforced errors. Kilfeacle were having the better of the exchanges but were unable to convert opportunities when they arose, and in truth these were keeping Cork Con in the game.
In the 65th minute Cork Con encroached into the Kilfeacle 22 for the first time in the half. There then followed 17 phases of play, where it seemed that the unstoppable force had met the immovable object. Something had to give and eventually Kilfeacle, with a man down injured, capitulated and Cork Con’s Michael Hand crashed over for a try.
With the score now 12-10 to Kilfeacle, the home crowd were starting to feel slightly uneasy, as Cork Con were now within striking distance. It was becoming an end to end game and Kilfeacle needed someone to take this game by the scruff of the neck. Cometh the hour cometh the man, and on this occasion for Kilfeacle it happened in the 76th minute when the pack took over to win a penalty under the posts and Kevin Kinane made the most of the scrum option when he picked off the base of the scrum to finish himself. Timmy Clarke converted the try to make it 19-10.
“The Boys in Blue” couldn’t afford to sit back and rest on their nine-point lead but they were able to keep Cork Con scoreless until the final whistle to advance to the next round.
Scorers: Kilfeacle and District: Tries: Kevin Kinnane, Cillian Noonan, Gavin Heuston; Conversions: Timmy Clarke 2.
Cork Constitution: Tries: John Scanlon and Michael Hand.
Kilfeacle’s squad consisted of Diarmuid O’Donnell, Ricky Whitney, James Ryan, Brian McLaughlin, Rian Doody, Ben White, Tom Doyle, Jack McLoughlin, Kevin Kinnane, Timmy Clarke, Kelan O’Connor, Killian Noonan, Gavin Heuston, Darren Lowry, Kevin Doyle, Keith Bourke, Darragh Kennedy, Brian Barron, Brendan Barron, Adam Crowe, Jack Armshaw and Shane Farrell.