Kanturk set up intriguing tie with Skibbereen

KANTURK kept their hopes of a place in the play-offs for the Heineken Munster Junior League title alive with a deserved 24-7 victory over St Mary’s at Corbally.

They have now set up an intriguing clash next week with Skibbereen at the North Cork venue. That tie will decide which of these sides will join Youghal in the play-offs.

Kanturk, who have failed to pick up a bonus point in any of their games, set about their task in impressive style with first half tries from Paddy O’Connor, Brendan Cotter and Brian Daly, two of which Dara Meade converted for a 19-0 interval lead.

O’Connor made sure of all five points with his second try, while the Limerick side’s only response was a converted try.

It certainly will be a busy period for the Duhallow men as they face Youghal in the final of the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup on January 15 at Musgrave Park. By then, they will also know their opponents in the AIB All Ireland Junior Cup The draw for this competition takes place on Thursday, January 12 at Lansdowne Road, where Kanturk will be joined by Munster’s other representative, Youghal. Those competing from the other provinces are Monivea, Westport, Rainey Old Boys, City of Armagh, Naas and Seapoint.

In the only other competitive game of the weekend, Douglas booked their place in the semi-final of the O’Neill Cup with a deserved 12-3 victory over Ballincollig at Tanner Park and will now face Mallow at the North Cork venue.

The Douglas pack totally dominated the home side in the opening quarter, with skipper Morgan Kavanagh winning line-out ball at will and some great drives by Keith Fallon, John Kidney and Austin Bolger had Ballincollig on the defensive.

It was no surprise when the visitors went ahead after six minutes, following a line out on the 22. Douglas mauled the ball all the way to the home side’s goal line and from the resulting scrum, they drove the home side back and Kavanagh touched down for a try which Colin Corkery converted.

Player-coach Keith Murphy got his back line moving with some quick ball and they showed their pace on the quarter-hour mark when, following a break by Ciaran Cleary, the ball was recycled quickly out the back line and Corkery went in for their second try.

Ballincollig got on the score sheet after 20 minutes when Ken O’Connell kicked a penalty. The home side made a triple substitution before half time and this helped their pack to get back in the game, but they never found a way through a solid Douglas defence.