Bonus point victory for Tipperary team Kilfeacle in Munster Junior League

St Mary's 6 Kilfeacle 36

Kilfeacle suffered a major setback during the warm-up to Sunday’s Munster Junior League game in Limerick when Luke Heuston, the first choice out half, pulled up with an injury.

The home side had the advantage of a strong breeze for the first half. Kilfeacle started the game well and immediately pushed St Mary’s back into their own 22.

As the half wore on, Kilfeacle pushed further and further into their opponents’ territory and managed to put together some threatening attacks that finished with a try, in the 10th minute, touched down by Killian Noonan, who was one of the candidates for man of the match. Gavin Heuston couldn’t find the target against the wind with the conversion attempt.

The home side looked the more threatening for the next 15 minutes, during which time Kilfeacle’s captain, Jack McLaughlin, was taken off with what looked like a bad injury.

After 15 minutes St Mary’s had their first score of the game with a well-taken penalty, which brought the score to 5-3 in favour of Kilfeacle.

Five minutes later St Mary’s scored another penalty to take the lead, 6-5. In the 28th minute another penalty attempt fell just short for St Mary’s and Kilfeacle cleared the danger.

The reshuffled pack were now starting to work well together and once again started to gain the upper hand. A superb team move in the 31st minute started by Kevin Kinnane, who was another one of the candidates for man of the match, was finished by Killian Noonan under the posts for a try. Gavin Heuston had now come to terms with kicking into the wind and slotted the conversion over.

With the score reading 12 points to 6, the remaining eight minutes were played in the middle of the field and the whistle for half-time was a welcome respite for both teams.

From the restart, Kilfeacle immediately took the game to St Mary’s and gained territorial advantage when Kevin Kinnane caught the ball and crossed the halfway line before being pulled to ground. In the next phase of play St Mary’s were penalised for offside.

Quick thinking and a quick tap saw Gavin Heuston break into the St Mary’s 22 before offloading to the unstoppable Kevin Kinnane, who burst through the defence to score under the posts. Gavin Heuston dusted himself off to score the conversion and bring the score to 19-6 in favour of Kilfeacle.

St Mary’s were in danger of letting the game slip away so they upped their intensity, which meant that they had the better of possession and territory for the next 15 minutes, but Kilfeacle were able to deal with everything they threw at them.

In the 67th minute Kilfeacle and District were further ahead, with the St Mary’s defence giving way to a well-worked try touched down under the posts by Kevin Kinnane after excellent work from Kevin Doyle, Darren Lowry, Keith Bourke and John Bourke, who were inspired on the day.

Gavin Heuston’s conversion attempt made the score 26-6 and Kilfeacle had secured the bonus point.

Gavin Heuston scored a penalty in the 73rd minute to increase the lead to 29-6. Kilfeacle were now rampant and utilised the bench, which demonstrates the depth in the squad.

In the 78th minute Kilfeacle had the last say with a flowing move started by Darragh Kennedy, Rares Stoica and Ricky Whitney in the forwards. The ball was then whipped through the hands of the backs including Timmy Clarke, James Hogan, Kelan O’Connor and John Bourke before setting Killian Noonan free to score his third and Kilfeacle’s fifth try of the game.

Gavin Heuston was very assured as he slotted the conversion. The final score line of 36-6 in favour of the visiting side didn’t flatter Kilfeacle, as their win was deserved.

Kilfeacle’s next game is a tough home game against Thomond on December 18. We know that the boys will give everything they have to the cause and will not be left wanting. 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.

Kilfeacle’s squad on the day consisted of Kevin Doyle; Killian Noonan, Keith Bourke, Darren Lowry, John Bourke; Timmy Clarke; Luke Heuston, Gavin Heuston; Simon Barry, James Ryan, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Jack McLaughlin, Brian Barlow, Darragh Kennedy, Ben White, Kevin Kinane, Rares Stoica, Bobby Noonan, James Hogan, Ricky Whitney, Brian Barron, Adam O’Connell and Shane Farrell.