Kilfeacle will top the Munster Junior League table over Christmas

Mallow 13 Kilfeacle 24

After the previous week’s win it was vitally important for Kilfeacle to continue with another win in the league. However, when the opponents were second place Mallow and Kilfeacle were away from home, it was going to be a tough assignment.

Although their form in the league has been good, everyone knew that if Kilfeacle were to take something from this game they would have to perform to the best of their ability as a team.

At 2.30pm on Sunday last the weather was bitterly cold and wet, and the home side had the advantage of a strong breeze and a slight gradient for the first half.

Mallow started the game well and immediately pushed Kilfeacle back into their own 22. After four minutes Mallow were awarded a penalty and elected to kick for the posts. Their kick was successful and they led by 3-0.

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From the restart Kilfeacle pushed further and further into their opponents’ territory and managed to put together some threatening attacks and after nine minutes team captain, Kevin Kinane, crashed over the line to score Kilfeacle’s first try of the game.

Muiri Lambe had lined up his conversion attempt but the ball fell off the kicking tee and forced him into making a hurried drop goal attempt, which didn’t find its mark. Kilfeacle led by 5 points to 3.

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Mallow used the wind to their advantage and a well-worked lineout manoeuvre put the home team ahead with a try after fifteen minutes, which was easily converted with the aid of the strong wind. Mallow now led by 10 points to 5.
In the 22nd minute Mallow increased their lead to 13 points to 5 with a well- taken penalty.

In the last 18 minutes of the first half Kilfeacle came more and more into the game. During this time they were unlucky not to score as they crossed the Mallow line twice but on one occasion were held up, and on the other were deemed to have knocked on the ball before grounding.

The consensus from the very vocal travelling supporters was that their team were playing the better of the two. The half-time whistle sounded with the scoreboard showing 13-5 in favour of Mallow.

The Kilfeacle squad knew that their discipline and hard work during the first half could be eroded in a few short minutes and that Mallow could easily have a realistic chance of achieving a vital home win if their discipline and work ethic wasn’t maintained.

At half-time Kevin Kinane let his team know the gravity of the situation in no uncertain terms and Gavin Heuston urged his team mates to continue as they had been doing, and that their patience and discipline would be rewarded.

From the restart, Kilfeacle immediately took the game to Mallow and gained territorial advantage and within five minutes had eaten into Mallow’s lead with an unconverted try from Rian Doody. The score was now 13- 10 to Mallow.
The remainder of the game was played nearly exclusively in the Mallow half.

In the 53rd minute Kilfeacle’s pack put together an unstoppable rolling maul and Bobby Purcell scored the try that wrestled the lead from Mallow. Muiri Lambe added the two points and the score now read 17 points to 13.

In fairness to Mallow they had not got to second place in the league by giving up without a fight but try as they did they were now coming out second best in nearly every facet of the contest.

“The boys in blue” knew that another try would earn them a bonus point win and guarantee them a position at the top of the league until the New Year.

Some momentous defending by Mallow meant that Kilfeacle had to wait until the 72nd minute before they scored their bonus point try. Once again the pack had their counterparts retreating at a rate of knots over their own try line. It was a mirror image of the third try, with Bobby Purcell crashing over the line again and Muiri Lambe adding the two points once more.

The score was now 24 points to 13 and Kilfeacle were now out of sight and the game was over as a contest. Kilfeacle finished the game in the ascendency and had seized another invaluable five points away from home against a highly fancied side.

After the game Shane Luby said, “We are delighted with the win and the manner in which it was achieved.
“We needed this win but it does not mean we can rest on our laurels. It was great to see a fine display by a young and exciting squad. I thank Mallow for a hard fought but sporting match”.

The team as ever are proud and humbled by the amount of support they receive and hope that their supporters will continue to come along and support the team for their remaining fixtures.

Kilfeacle and District squad: 1 Adam Farrelly, 2 Richard Whitney, 3 Daniel Lambe, 4 Bob Purcell, 5 Adam Crowe, 6 Rian Doody, 7 Gavin McCormack, 8 Kevin Kinane, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Muiri Lambe, 11 Ben Farrelly, 12 Keith Bourke, 13 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14 Kevin Doyle, 15 Darren Lowry, 16 James Ryan, 17 Diarmuid O'Donnell, 18 Simon Barry, 19 Bryan McLaughlin, 20 Ben White, 21 Kelan O’Connor and 22 Gareth Thomas.