Junior Rugby Focus: Double delight for Tipperary rugby clubs

Saturday brought double delight for Tipperary rugby with Cashel winning their first provincial senior trophy and Clonmel making a great start to their All-Ireland Provincial League campaign.

At Musgrave Park on Saturday, Cashel lifted the Bank of Ireland Munster Cyril Fitzgerald Plate with a 26-14 victory against Highfield.

A try from Michael Cross and a conversion and three penalties from Pat O’Connor had Cashel 16-7 ahead at half-time. Dave O’Hea replied with a try for Highfield and Paddy O’Toole converted.

A second try from Eamon Connolly and a conversion and penalty by O’Connor secured victory for the Tipperary side. O’Hea scored his second try for Highfield and O’Toole converted.

It certainly was a good two days for Clonmel, who on Friday heard their postponed All-Ireland Provincial League tie at home to Enniscorthy, that was fixed for tomorrow, has now been put back to next Saturday.

Then, yesterday they opened their campaign with a 38-0 away win against Westport.

Two ties from Luke Hogan and a Conor Cooney conversion had Clonmel 12-0 ahead at the interval.

Further tries from Ronan Cross, Daniel Cass, David Lonergan and Dylan Cadogan, two of which Cooney converted, gave them maximum points from this encounter.

In the other game, Enniscorthy and Bangor played out a thrilling 19-19 draw at the Wexford venue.

A late try from Tom Ryan converted by Ivan Poole earned the Leinster champions a share of the spoils.

Bangor lead the table with seven points with only one game to play away to Clonmel and they are two points clear of Clonmel.

Yesterday’s junior rugby program was wiped out because of the weather and with just three weeks of the official season remaining, fixtures have piled up.

But no doubt an extension will be granted by the IRFU.