Munster Junior Cup Quarter-Final
SHANNON 17-22 KILFEACLE & DISTRICT
The rugby season is now at a stage where all games are knockout cup competitions.
Kilfeacle and District were on the road again on Sunday last, facing Shannon RFC at Coonagh in the Munster Junior Cup with a home semi-final tie against Highfield RFC the prize for the winners. Too many times in the past Coonagh has become the graveyard for Kilfeacle’s hopes and dreams in the Munster Junior Cup.
The game started in rain and with a strong, cold breeze that blew down the pitch and favoured Shannon. The hosts brought an intensity that was impressive. Kilfeacle were unable to match this and weren’t provided the time to accustom themselves to the conditions.
Shannon laid siege to the Kilfeacle line, trying to take advantage of being at home and having the wind and rain at their backs, and they landed the first blow when after four minutes they worked a scoring opportunity and elected to kick for goal when awarded a penalty, with Cillian O’Connor obliging for a 3-0 lead.
Shannon were asking questions of Kilfeacle’s attack and the visitors needed to answer these questions and respond with a score. They went about their task admirably, with the backs consisting of Gavin Heuston, Luke Heuston, Christopher Thomas, Jacques van Wyngaardt, Darren Lowry, Keith Bourke and Kevin Doyle combining well with the forwards.
Slowly, definitely and inexorably Kilfeacle once again started to play to their own strengths, with the pack begining to control the game. In the 10th minute a move initiated by the forwards and finished by the backs saw Kilfeacle win a penalty outside Shannon’s 22. Luke Heuston’s penalty attempt against the wind came back in on the wind but unluckily after it had passed the post.
Shannon were piling on the pressure and just could not break down the Kilfeacle defence. The “Boys in Blue” came roaring back into the game in the 20th minute when their captain, Kevin Kinnane, wrestled the ball from Shannon and exploded out of his own 22. He broke through four tackles before finally being hauled down just metres outside the opposition’s 22. He looked up to see team mate, Jacques van Wyngaardt, at his side in support. The offload was sublime and Jacques continued in “Kinnanesque” style by bursting through three desperate tackles to score under the posts. Luke Heuston kicked the conversion to push Kilfeacle ahead by 7-3.
A fiercely determined Jacques van Wyngaardt on his way to scoring Kilfeacle’s opening try in the Munster Junior Cup quarter-final win away to Shannon on Sunday last
Anxious moments followed for the travelling supporters, as Shannon worked field position phase after phase. Kilfeacle’s defence was outstanding with the pack consisting of Brian Barron, Brendan Barron, Richard Whitney, Bob Purcell, Cormac Ryan, Jonah O’Keeffe, Gavin McCormack and Kevin Kinane proving impenetrable. However, in the 40th minute Shannon eventually worked their way into a scoring position and all their industry paid off when Luke Moylan scored a great team try under the posts. Cillian O’Connor’s conversion attempt was successful and his team now took a 10-7 to the half-time break.
The manner in which the visiting team started the second half seemed to have an unnerving effect on Shannon and some last gasp defending, coupled with numerous handling errors, were to prevent Kilfeacle from scoring.
To their credit, the manner in which the home side defended has to be acknowledged but the onslaught was too much and in the 47th minute Bobby Purcell crashed over the line under the posts. Luke Heuston tapped over the conversion to regain the lead, 14-10.
Kilfeacle were now benefitting from the wind and had Shannon trapped in their own 22. In the 57th minute Kilfeacle extended their lead, when after some excellent work by Cormac Ryan, Jonah O’Keeffe and Ricky Whitney, they were awarded a penalty just outside Shannon’s 22. Luke Heuston’s attempt found its mark and the score was 17-10.
Kilfeacle brought on some reinforcements in the guise of Rian Doody, Darragh Kennedy and Simon Barry. These changes increased Kilfeacle’s attacking threat and they kept probing, looking to increase their lead.
In the 74th minute the backs, who were a constant threat, put together an excellent move that ended with Kevin Doyle going over in the corner for a 22-10 lead.
The scoring wasn’t finished yet, as in the 78th minute Shannon broke out of their own half and seven phases of play later had breached Kilfeacle’s defence and Scott Gleeson scored under the posts. The conversion attempt was hastily kicked by Cillian O’Connor, reducing Kilfeacle’s advantage to 22-17 but time was against the home side.
Shannon secured the restart but Rian Doody wrestled possession back and earned his side a priceless penalty on the halfway line. With the clock in mind Kilfeacle opted for the kick at goal. Luke Heuston’s penalty attempt fell just short and Shannon went to spin the ball wide in one last-ditch attack. However, Kilfeacle’s defence was too good and they were forced into touch. Game over.
The display that Kilfeacle gave and the manner in which they played could be measured by the applause they received from everyone, as the wearily made the way off the pitch.
HIGHFIELD IN SEMI-FINAL AT MORRISSEY PARK
Last Sunday’s win means that Kilfeacle have a home semi-final tie against Highfield RFC on this Sunday. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Kilfeacle’s squad: 1 Brian Barron, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Richard Whitney, 4 Bob Purcell, 5 Cormac Ryan, 6 Jonah O’Keeffe, 7 Gavin McCormack, 8 Kevin Kinnane, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Christopher Thomas, 12 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 13 Darren Lowry, 14 Keith Bourke, 15 Kevin Doyle, 16 Simon Barry, 17 Rian Doody, 18 Darragh Kennedy, 19 Kyle Morris, 20 Killian Noonan.
