Tipperary team Kilfeacle bounce back with clearcut win over Kanturk

Kilfeacle 24 Kanturk 5

After the previous week’s away defeat it was vitally important for Kilfeacle to continue with a win in the league.

At 2.30pm on Sunday last the sun was shining but it was bitterly cold and the visiting side had the advantage of a strong breeze for the first half.

Kilfeacle started the game well and immediately pushed Kanturk back into their own 22. Kilfeacle played most of the first half in their opponents’ half but they met with a very resolute Kanturk defence. Kilfeacle’s first half was blighted with many forced and unforced errors and the freezing conditions only added to the difficulties faced by both sets of players.

As the half wore on Kilfeacle pushed further and further into their opponents’ territory and managed to put together some threatening attacks.

Eventually, in the 35th minute the deadlock was broken when Kilfeacle’s man of the match, Thomas Fogarty finished a fantastic team effort and scored the first try of the game. Luke Heuston couldn’t find the target against the wind with the conversion attempt.

The half ended with Kilfeacle and District having a very slender lead of 5 points to 0.

At half time the Kilfeacle management team made their intentions clear by utilising their very strong bench. This did not in anyway weaken the Kilfeacle performance, which augers well for the future.

From the restart, Kilfeacle immediately took the game to Kanturk and gained territorial advantage and within two minutes were further ahead, with the Kanturk defence giving away a penalty try for illegally stopping Kevin Doyle from touching down the ball after Kevin had sprinted from the halfway, line breaking four tackles on his way. The score was now 12 points to 5.

With 52 minutes gone Kilfeacle set up camp in the Kanturk 22. After countless phases of play the home team scored their third try through Jacques van Wyngaardt after some fantastic work by both backs and forwards. Luke Heuston converted from a very tight angle and Kilfeacle now led by 19 - 0.

Kilfeacle were now in pursuit of a bonus point try and there was little Kanturk could do to stop the onslaught. Kilfeacle were camped inside the Kanturk 22 and only some excellent last-ditch defending by Kanturk kept them at bay.

Eventually, in the 60th minute Kilfeacle’s captain Kevin Kinnane crashed over from the base of a scrum to score Kilfeacle’s fourth try. Luke Heuston was unlucky not to convert and the home side now led by 24-0.

Kilfeacle then emptied the bench to give squad members more game time and the intensity dropped with all the positional changes.

Kanturk, to their credit, never gave up and caused some worrying moments for the home side and in the 79th minute their endeavours paid off as they scored a pushover try. Their conversion attempt hit the upright and the score was now 24-5, which was the final score.

After the game coach Conor Keyes said, “We are delighted with the win and the manner in which it was achieved. It was great to see a fine display by a young and exciting team. I thank Kanturk for a hard fought but sporting match”.

Kilfeacle’s next game is a tough away game against Mallow next Sunday.

We know that the boys in blue will give everything they have to the cause and not be left wanting, and what more can we ask for.

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