Seven-try Kilfeacle prevail in all-Tipperary Munster Junior Cup clash with Thurles

Munster Junior Cup Round of 16

KILFEACLE & DISTRICT 43 THURLES 29

In difficult weather and underfoot conditions Kilfeacle faced Thurles in the Munster Junior Cup at Morrissey Park on Sunday last.

Thurles opened the scoring with a penalty kick by James Maher after eight minutes but Kilfeacle were soon ahead when Kevin Kinnane scored a try under the posts. Kilfeacle’s out half, Luke Heuston, added the extra two points for 7-3.

Three minutes later they extended their lead when Jacques van Wyngaardt finished in the corner.

The next 20 minutes was all Thurles who, using the elements to their advantage, scored excellent team tries by Conor Moloney, James Maher, Kieran O’Hagan and Paddy McGrath, and with two conversions now led by 22-12.

Kilfeacle hit back in the 38th minute and after many phases of play Bobby Purcell scored an excellent try, which was converted by Luke Heuston.

The half time score had Thurles leading by 22-19.

Kilfeacle were optimistic at half-time that they could take advantage and push on to victory. The second half became a very nervous affair, with both teams making forced and unforced errors.

In the 42nd minute Jacques van Wyngaardt broke through a number of tackles and made the hard yards before setting up the opportunity for Christopher Thomas to score under the posts. Luke Heuston tagged on the extras and Kilfeacle had wrestled back the lead 26-22.

In the 53rd minute Thurles encroached into the Kilfeacle 22 for the first time of the half. There then followed seven phases of play before Colin Nolan crashed over for a try for Thurles. James Maher’s conversion found its mark and Thurles once again led 29-26.

Kilfeacle needed someone to take this game by the scruff of the neck. Cometh the hour cometh the man, and in the 58th minute the pack took over to manufacture an unstoppable rolling maul. Ricky Whitney made the most of the chance to crash over the line. Luke Heuston converted to bring the score to 31-29 for Kilfeacle and District.

The Boys in Blue couldn’t afford to sit back and rest on their two-point lead. Not only were they able to keep Thurles scoreless until the final whistle, they also added two further tries.

The first of these was finished in the corner by Brian Barlow in the 69th minute. Luke Heuston kicked a monster of a conversion for 38-29. The game was finished as a contest in the 75th minute when Jacques van Wyngaardt scored his second try and Kilfeacle’s seventh on the day.

It was the home side who prevailed 43-29 in sunny but breezy conditions.

After the game, captain Kevin Kinnane said “We knew what we were coming up against today with Thurles, they’re a pretty impressive side. The whole squad really dug deep again. Results are going our way. We’re not doing anything extraordinary. We’re doing the basics of rugby and it’s not a complicated game”.

AWAY TO SHANNON
This Sunday Kilfeacle and District travel to Shannon RFC for the quarter-final of the Munster Junior Cup.

Kilfeacle’s squad: 1 Brian Barron, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Simon Barry, 4 Bob Purcell, 5 Darragh Kennedy, 6 Jonah O’Keeffe, 7 Brian Barlow, 8 Kevin Kinane, 9 Gavin Heuston, 10 Luke Heuston, 11 Christopher Thomas, 12 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 13 Darren Lowry, 14 Killian Noonan, 15 Kevin Doyle, 16 Richard Whitney, 17 Gavin McCormack, 18 Rian Doody, 19 Kyle Morris, 20 Keith Bourke, 21 Shane Farrell and 22 Kyle Morris.