Kilfeacle defeat Limerick side Richmond for place in Junior Cup semi-final with UCC

Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final

Richmond 18 Kilfeacle & District 25

After excellent performances and results against Cork Con and Abbeyfeale in the previous rounds, Kilfeacle and District RFC were drawn away against Richmond in the quarter-final of the Munster Junior Cup.

In Richmond’s Canal Bank on Sunday last, the “Boys in Blue” showed their intent from the start and the large crowd of supporters were in buoyant form. Kilfeacle started the game well, as backs and forwards combined well to build phase after phase of good play and maintained control of the ball for long periods. This dominance was reflected on the scoreboard in the eighth minute after a penalty by Luke Heuston put Kilfeacle into the lead 3-0.

Richmond are resilient and in 17th minute they hit back with a try by Shane Halpin after some good play from their pack to take the lead at 5-3.

The game became a real arm wrestle between two evenly-matched teams and it would need something special for either side to score. That something special came in the all-round play of Bryan McLaughlin. His tackling and hunger for the game seemed to inspire his team mates to up the ante. In the 31st minute Kilfeacle set up the opportunity for Kevin Kinane to hit the line at speed just outside Richmond’s 22. It took four defenders to finally halt his progress but they only managed to do so after he had crossed their tryline and touched down for a try converted by Luke Heuston, which put the visitors back in front by 10-3.

With only seconds remaining in the first half, Tadhg Bennett kicked a penalty for Richmond to leave the home side trailing 10-8 at half-time.

The second half started with Kilfeacle putting all the pressure on the Richmond defence. The home side defended well but could not halt the onslaught. Kilfeacle edged further ahead when the pack set up a platform for the backs to move the ball quickly. The hard metres were earned with some excellent carries by Simon Barry, Rickey Whitney, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Darragh Kennedy, Cormac Ryan, Brian Barlow and Bobby Purcell. This then gave the backs the opportunity to express themselves in attack and some fine inter-changes between Luke Heuston, Jack Armshaw, Darren Lowry, Killian Noonan and Kevin Doyle saw Keith Bourke make a superb break and breach the Richmond defence to score an excellent try in the fifth minute of the second half for a 15-8 lead.
In the 60th minute Luke Heuston scored a penalty to push Kilfeacle 18-8 ahead and the team and their supporters started to believe that maybe they could win.

Even though Kilfeacle were away to the newly- crowned Munster Junior League champions, there was an air of expectancy among the travelling supporters in the Canal Bank.

However, this was short- lived, as in the 65th minute Kilfeacle were reduced to 14 players for what was deemed dangerous play. From the resultant penalty, Richmond immediately made inroads on Kilfeacle’s lead with a very well taken kick by Tadhg Bennett. The home supporters expected more scores, especially with the numerical and home advantage. The score board now read 18-11. Richmond were now in the ascendency and in the 71st minute a conversion by Tadhg Bennett of a Lee Bennett try saw Richmond tie the scores at 18 points apiece.

However, once again Kilfeacle showed their determination and belief in the squad members, as the bench was emptied and all who came on made positive impacts on the game. From the restart, 14-man Kilfeacle got the upper hand and in the 72nd minute Richmond were reduced to 14 men for a deliberate foul preventing a scoring opportunity.

Once again the pendulum swung and the Boys in Blue reasserted their command of the game and went hunting for a winning score. In the 76th minute Bryan McLoughlin, Tom Doyle, James Ryan, Thomas Fogarty and Darragh Kennedy set up a try-scoring opportunity for Gavin Heuston, who after making an excellent break for the line saw the opportunity to score the all-important match-winning try. His brother Luke nonchalantly scored the conversion and Kilfeacle led with only two minutes remaining. The score line now read 25 – 18 in favour of the “Small Club on the Hill”.

There was still time and Richmond gave it their all but they met a resolute band of players that were not going to relinquish their lead. When the final whistle sounded a spent band of players wearing the green of Richmond stood dejected and wondered how this one got away.

Kilfeacle team manager Paul Donovan said “It was an excellent team performance and result that lifted the heart. A home semi-final clash against University College Cork RFC will be a very tough task and they will be odds-on favourites to beat us but we have fried big fish before and will again, so who knows?”

We would like to thank everyone who travelled on the day and all from Richmond RFC. We thank them for a good game and wish the club the best for the rest of the season. The semi-final line-up is Kilfeacle v UCC and Garryowen v Young Munster, with these games scheduled for Sunday April 23. The team are delighted by the amount of support they receive and hope that their supporters will continue to come along and support them.

Kilfeacle’s squad: Simon Barry, Richard Whitney, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Darragh Kennedy, Cormac Ryan, Brian Barlow, Bryan McLaughlin, Kevin Kinane, Luke Heuston, Gavin Heuston, Jack Armshaw, Keith Bourke, Darren Lowry, Killian Noonan, Kevin Doyle, Tom Doyle, James Ryan, Bob Purcell, Thomas Fogarty and John Bourke.