Kilfeacle dominate to book Tipperary a place in All-Ireland Junior Cup semi-final

ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR RUGBY CUP QUARTER-FINAL

KILFEACLE & DISTRICT 36 DROMORE 24

On Saturday last Kilfeacle and District RFC welcomed Dromore RFC to Morrissey Park for the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Cup. One of the largest crowds for some time assembled to watch what was an enthralling game.

Kilfeacle, with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, immediately took the game to the visiting side. Within five minutes Kilfeacle and District had opened a five- point lead after Killian Noonan scored a try in the corner after a superb rolling maul from a lineout created the scoring opportunity.

However, four minutes later Dromore had scored their own pushover try and converted it after Kilfeacle had failed to secure the restart.

After 17 minutes the home team were rewarded with a well-worked try scored by Cormac Ryan (Minor), which Luke Heuston converted. Kilfeacle led 12-7.

In the 20th minute, club captain, Kevin Kinnane finished an excellent team move to score under the posts. Luke Heuston kicked the conversion to increase his side’s lead to 19-7.

In the 24th minute Gavin Heuston blocked down an attempted clearance and chased the rebound to touch down in the corner. Luke Heuston was on the mark with the conversion attempt and the home side had now raced into a 26-7 lead.

The final 10 minutes of the half saw Dromore making some forays into Kilfeacle’s 22. In the 36th minute the northern visitors finally saw their efforts reflected on the board when after a fine team effort they pushed over in the corner for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 26-12.

Gavin Heuston gets over the line for valuable tries in Kilfeacle’s 36-24 victory over Dromore RFC at Morrissey Park, Kilfeacle on Saturday last in the All-Ireland Cup quarter-final. Pic: Vincent Flynn

This spurred the Kilfeacle team back into action. After numerous phases of play, with both backs and forwards combining well, Luke Heuston, Dubhan O’Grady, Anthony Foley, Jacques van Wyngaardt, Killian Noonan and Kevin Doyle put a scintillating move together that ended with Gavin Heuston scoring his second try of the day in the corner.

At half-time the scoreboard read 31 points to 12 in favour of Kilfeacle.

Into the second half, and cometh the hour cometh the man. On the 57th minute mark birthday boy, Kevin Doyle slipped through several tackles to score in the corner, stretching the home team’s advantage to 36-12.

With 10 minutes remaining and the game seemingly over as a contest, Kilfeacle emptied the bench. Dromore didn’t see the game as a lost cause and made ground slowly and inexorably. They finally seemed to have found another gear, when in the 73rd minute their number five pinned back his ears and set his sights on the goalposts. Kilfeacle’s players were struggling and could only watch in vain as the visiting side roared on as he touched down under the posts for a try. The Dromore fans were still celebrating as the conversion attempt sailed between the posts for 36-19.

Dromore threw caution to the wind and went on all out attack. In the 76th minute the referee signalled a penalty advantage to Dromore inside Kilfeacle’s 22. Dromore opted to play on and 90 seconds later they were scored in the corner, a try that they were unable to convert. They had reduced the lead to 36-24. It was to be the game’s final flurry of scoring before the referee’s final whistle.

Brendan Barron (with ball) lets Simon Barry in on his plans during last Saturday's Kilfeacle v Dromore ALl-Ireland Junior Cup quarter-final clash at Morrissey Park, Kilfeacle. Pic: Vincent Flynn

TOP OF TABLE CLASH NEXT ON SUNDAY NEXT

The next game is a top-of-the-table clash away to Thomond RFC on this Sunday at 2.30pm. 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 “Boys in Blue”.

Kilfeacle’s squad: 1 Simon Barry, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Brian Barron, 4 Cormac Ryan, 5 Bob Purcell, 6 Thomas Fogarty, 7 Brian Barlow, 8 Kevin Kinnane, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Dubhan O’Grady, 12 Anthony Foley, 13 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14 Killian Noonan, 15 Kevin Doyle, 16 Cian Carroll, 17 Gavin McCormack, 18 Darren Lowry, 19 Richard Whitney, 20 Kyle Morris, 21 Maurice O’Sullivan and 22 Fiachra O’Grady.