Testing 2020 Ahead for Limerick's Junior Rugby Clubs

With the second phase of games resuming on January 5th, Limerick’s six challengers in the Munster Junior Leagues face a testing New Year.

Our main hope of success lies with Newcastle West who have been trailblazing their way through their MJL1 fixture list and are currently level with leaders Kilfeacle and District on 31 points.

Crucially, the Tipperary side have a match in hand. That one point home defeat by Kilfeacle on November 24 may yet be the deciding factor when the final series of games on March 15 sees ‘the District’ visit the Canal Bank to play Richmond in their final game.

Kilfeacle are certainly the form team at the moment and their sights are focussed on making a bold bid for senior status. They reached the final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup last week-end with a shock win over a hotly fancied Ashbourne, who have won this title twice in succession.

They now meet Dromore in the decider. The Belfast side beat Newcastle West last October in an earlier round and it will be interesting to see how the Munster representatives fare out in this one. Kilfeacle have a very well balanced site with a strong pack and plenty of flair in the backline. Brian McLoughlin, who helped Rockwell to Munster Schools Senior Cup glory a few seasons back, has been catching the eye of some senior clubs and they also have outstanding performers in Kevin Kinnane, Jack McLoughlin, Niall Heuston (brother of Garryowen out-half Jamie), Dan Lowry and Phillip O’Connor from Cashel.

The next few weeks are going to be pretty heavy ones for Kilfeacle and they are down to play Bandon on Friday night in the Munster Junior Challenge Cup but this has yet to be confirmed. They are certainly a very progressive club and this writer noticed a section of a city sports shop selling Kilfeacle RFC club merchandise for the Christmas market. They are certainly the only junior club competing with the major brands of IRFU, Munster Rugby, AIL clubs and a miscellany of Premier League kits in the city at present.

With that game in hand, Kilfeacle’s remaining fixtures in Munster Junior League 1 are away to Mallow on January 5th, three successive home games against Galbally, Clonakilty and Waterpark and that final game a visit to Richmond.  Newcastle West are at home to Clanwilliam on January 5th, away to Bandon the following week, away to Abbeyfeale  on February 9 followed by their final game, away to Waterpark, on March 15th

Thomond have made their mark on their return to junior ranks and are in fourth place, Richmond are seventh with Abbeyfeale and Galbally in the bottom half. With such a long break over the Christmas, some local clubs are finding it difficult to keep their players active. All will continue to train weekly in the various gyms with St Mary’s using the facilities of the local Athlunkard Boat Club and the new all-weather surface in Lee Estate.

The Grove Island side were hoping to play the Leprechauns in the traditional Christmas fixture but this has been cancelled. The ‘Saints’ have no second team this season but their underage section, which links with Shannon RFC, has been thriving which is a good omen for the future of this great city-centre club founded in 1943 and winners of the Munster Junior Cup in 1968.

Here are the current league standings:

Munster Junior League, Division 1
Munster Junior League, Division 2

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