Brendan Barron’s late try ensures Tipperary side's win in Munster Junior League

Munster Junior League 1

CHARLEVILLE 21 KILFEACLE & DISTRICT 23

A much changed and youthful Kilfeacle squad started last Sunday’s game well and immediately pushed Charleville back into their own 22. After 15 minutes, all the territorial dominance finally paid dividends when Kevin Doyle touched down in the corner for Kilfeacle’s first try, which Luke Heuston converted from a tight angle.

In the 25th minute Kilfeacle were awarded a penalty just outside their opponents’ 22 which, with the aid of a very strong breeze, was kicked to settle any nerves and stretch their lead out to 10-0.

Kilfeacle didn’t rest on their laurels and straight from the restart were pressurising Charleville again. Brendan Barron caught the restart inside his own 22 and made a surging run, which saw him being stopped just short of his opponent’s try line. The ball was recycled quickly by Kyle Morris and three phases of play later Brian Barlow crashed over in the corner to score Kilfeacle’s second try to leave it at 15-0.

Kilfeacle were now looking dangerous on every possession but Charleville managed to keep them at bay with some excellent defending for the remainder of the half.

The second half started in the same manner, with Kilfeacle in the ascendency. With 45 minutes gone on the clock Luke Heuston kicked an excellent penalty against the wind to push Kilfeacle’s lead out to 18-0.

In the 60th minute a series of events unfolded and in just a matter of seconds the whole game was turned on its head. In one ruck two Kilfeacle players were injured and unable to continue. As the players lay on the ground play continued and Charleville intercepted a pass deep inside their own half. A number of missed tackles on the wing saw the Charleville winger go over for a try under the posts, which was easily converted. Charleville had reduced the deficit to 18-7.

Kilfeacle were forced to make two substitutions and suddenly they were second best to everything and making uncharacteristic, unforced errors. Playing against the wind away from home, playing new young players in new combinations, things did not look good. This score gave Charleville fresh impetus and the home supporters were in full voice. In the 70th minute, following many phases of play in the Kilfeacle 22, the home side scored a second try from a rolling maul, which was converted. The score was now 18-14 and the game was back in the melting pot.

Things went from bad to worse for Kilfeacle when, in the 76th minute, a dominant Charleville pack were awarded a five metre scrum. The resultant scrum saw Kilfeacle back pedalling at a rate of knots and Charleville took the lead with a pushover try. The try was converted and Charleville led for the first time, 21-18, with three minutes remaining.

The visiting fans, of whom there was a large amount, started to fear the worst and needed something positive to latch onto. The restart by Kilfeacle was contested, very successfully, and in the process Charleville knocked on the ball, which signalled a Kilfeacle scrum. This proved to be a pivotal moment. Kevin Kinnane, playing at number eight, picked the ball up from the base of the scrum and burst forward into the Charleville half before being stopped illegally. The resultant kick for touch by Luke Heuston brought Kilfeacle to just outside the Charleville 22. An excellent lineout provided a ball for the onrushing Keith Bourke, who sprinted into Charleville’s 22 to be stopped just metres short. Kilfeacle kept backing themselves to win the game and after three extra minutes of nail-biting intensity Brendan Barron finally touched the ball down in the corner for the winning score. Luke Heuston’s conversion attempt failed and the score was now 23-21.

The referee signalled that there was time for one last play. In their attempts to regain the restart Charleville gave away a penalty. Luke Heuston gladly tapped and kicked the ball dead to end a tight and absorbinga contest.

GARRYOWEN IN THE CUP
This Sunday’s game is another mouth-watering Munster Junior Cup encounter, a repeat of last year’s final, with Kilfeacle welcoming Garryowen to Morrissey Park on ‘The Hill’ for a 2 pm kick-off.

Kilfeacle’s squad: Richard Whitney, Brendan Barron, Simon Barry, Bob Purcell, Cormac Ryan, Brian Barlow, Gavin McCormack, Kevin Kinane, Kyle Morris, Luke Heuston, Christopher Thomas, Jacques van Wyngaardt, Keith Bourke, Killian Noonan, Kevin Doyle, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Adam Crowe, Anthony Foley, Aaron Daly and Gavin Heuston.