Club Round Up As Munsters Win Derby Clash with Garryowen

UNBEATEN since the return of rugby action in all senior competitions, Young Munster continued their good run on Saturday when beat Garryowen in Greenfields in the Energia Conference 1.

Old Crescent put in a stunning second half to come back from 26-12 down to level the tie at the final whistle while in division two, UL Bohemian’s trip to Nenagh saw the Annacotty boys lose narrowly 14-8. Bruff beat visitors to Kilballyowen Midleton by a single point, 20-19.

Conference 1, Young Munster 27, Garryowen 15: In a typical derby clash it was the black and ambers who took the laurels after a closely contested 80 minutes. Evan Cusack and Conor Hayes traded penalties before Cusack pushed the home side 6-3 ahead with ten minutes played.

With Bailey Faloon in the bin Garryowen came under pressure from the Young Munster pack and the referee awarded a penalty try to increase the home lead to 13-3. With ‘Munsters’ getting the better of the battle up front, they went further ahead with a second penalty try and now trailing 20-3 the light blues needed the next score.

Now playing some great rugby, Garryowen set about their task and they cut the lead to just five points with 20 minutes remaining thanks to tries from Evan Maher and Cian Huxford and a conversion by Conor Hayes.

Young Munster’s ability to close games out has been impressive in recent weeks and they sealed the victory with a try from Huw Worthington, converted by Evan Cusack to maintain their impressive winning run.

UCC 26, Old Crescent 26: Played at the Mardyke in Cork, today’s meeting of UCC and Crescent proved to be a real thriller. UCC got off to a good start and led 5-0 after just five minutes thanks to a well-taken try. The home side added to their tally with a converted try around the 30^th minute and they finished the half with a third touchdown and conversion that gave them the comfort of a 19-0 lead at the break.

Crescent came out in determined mood as the second 40 minutes got underway and they started their revival with a Daniel Hurley, converted  by Ronan McKenna that got them back in the game at 19-7. Michael Hanrahan got in for a second try for the Rosbrien boys but ‘College’ went 26-12 in front with a converted try that pushed them clear once again.

In a thrilling last quarter Old Crescent showed the form that has made them such a delight to watch over recent seasons. A try from Sean Monaghan, converted by Ronan McKenna reduced the leeway to seven points and the Limerick side got a share of the spoils when winger Van McDermott once again showed his class, racing in for his side’s fourth try with McKenna’s conversion  levelling a result that looked unlikely late in that exciting second half.

Nenagh 14, UL Bohemian 8: There was no joy for Bohs on their trip to Tipperary. Nenagh 14-3 at half time and while the Red Robins had plenty of possession and a few good chances in the second half they just came up short. The Ormond scored a try in the corner after seven minutes and it was 11-0 after 22 minutes as Bohs struggled to get into the game.

A penalty kick by Darragh O’Gorman gave the visitors some hope but another Nenagh penalty saw them increase their lead to 14-3. The Limerick side set up an exciting finish when Darragh O’Gorman got in for an unconverted try but it was not enough to give them victory.

Bruff 20, Midleton 19: The home side just got the better of their Cork rivals in this thriller in Kilballyowen. Andrew Carey and John O’Grady combined to give Bruff an early 7-0 lead and Carey added a penalty to restore Bruff’s lead after Midleton had equalised with a converted try.

Two tries and a conversion from the Cork side saw them lead 10-19 at the break but Bruff upped the tempo of their game in the second half and they snatched a one point victory thanks to a brace of second half tries.

Cork Constitution had a 28 to 17 victory over Cashel while the game between Shannon and Highfield did not take place and was called off on Friday night.