Our Black team recorded a second consecutive home win in the U14 West Munster Cup with a deserved victory over Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne on Saturday while the Reds just fell short in an epic comeback in Castleisland on Sunday.
The Saturday lunchtime game started under low clouds in a strong breeze and with rain threatening. Corca Dhuibhne played with the breeze in the first half and used it early on to pen the Black team in their own half but super defence kept them scoreless. We opened the scoring with our first meaningful attack - outhalf Dara Stack spotting a gap to race in under the posts.
We had chances to extend the lead but were pinned back when Corca Dhuibhne took advantage of a yellow card for a high tackle to score against a short-handed Killarney team. Reaching half time on level terms we hoped to use the breeze in our favour in the 2nd half.
Hugh Dorrian opened the scoring early in the second half. A third try soon followed after a maul from a lineout brought us close to the line. We recycled well and Scott Carlton was able to break the stretched defence to score from close range.
As expected RCD came back at us but our quick line speed kept Corca Dhuibhne at arms length and some excellent kicking by Dara Stack - making full use of the breeze - relieved the pressure and pinned Corca Dhuibhne back in their own half.
Two further tries came late on for No 8 Shane O'Sullivan both from a pick and go from scrums in the RCD 22 against a tiring opponent. This was easily our best performance of the season and hugely satisfying to see the good game management and calm decision making.
Highlights were the carrying and tackling of props Tom Chambers and Scott Carlton plus the straight running of centre Hugh Dorrian. Dara Stack showed calmness and authority in his line kicking and got the backline moving well. Gearoid Sugrue made a number of key tackles and was a disruptive influence at RCD rucks.
Killarney Black - Tom Chambers, Luis Caruz, Scott Carlton; Alfie Barrett, Kris O'Leary; Shane O'Sullivan, Gearóid Sugrue, Bryan Walsh; Senan Cotter, Dara Stack; Hugh Dorrian, Leon Bowler, Mark Kennelly, Colm Janot.
On Sunday morning, our Red team travelled to Castleisland to play under sunny skies. We opened the scoring through centre Ignacio Moreno who scored from close range after debut outhalf Muiris O'Donoghue was held up short of the line after an elusive run. This woke Castleisland who set their big forwards running at us to score the next 2 tries. We struck back through Adam Lynch who powered over with what appeared to be half the Castleisland team hanging off him (the other half had been left trailing in his wake by his run from halfway).
We then seemed to fall asleep as Castleisland scored 2 more tries before halftime and then another 2 after it to leave us trailing 34 - 12. The lads then roared back into the game - powerful runs from TJ Healy and Adam Lynch put us close to the Castleisland tryline and Ciaran Doyle powered over close to the posts. Daire Murphy kicked his second conversion and at 34-19 the game was alive again. Jack Donoghue - whose elusive running made him a constant thorn in the side of Castleisland's defence all day - scored a great solo try. Taking the ball on the 10 m line Jack broke several tackles and evaded a few more before scoring in the corner.
From the kick off, Ignacio Moreno ran straight back at Castleisland and straight on to score close to the posts. The conversion was missed but we went into the final play of the game trailing 34-29. Again we pressured the Castleisland defence and just when the 'great escape' looked on, the referee adjudged a knock on and blew for time as we sought to recycle the ball from a ruck close to the line.
Credit to Muiris O'Donoghue and Alex Sheahan who stepped in at half back at short notice and performed creditably at these pivotal positions. Adam Lynch and TJ Healy had some great carries - breaking the line and scattering defenders on multiple occasions. Cillian Murphy and double try scorer Ignacio Moreno made some powerful tackles setting the standard for their team mates in both teams.
Killarney Red - TJ Healy, Jake Leahy, Daire Murphy; Eanna Coffey, Adam Lynch; Gearóid O'Connor, Ciaran Doyle; Alex Sheahan, Muiris O'Donoghue; Jack Donoghue, Cillian Murphy, Ignacio Moreno, Tomas Swords, Ben O'Brien, Colin O'Shea.
