Club News & Match Reports 17.01.23
Mitchelstown Rugby Club
Galbally/Mitchelstown notes
The men of the joint junior side have enjoyed another break due to cancellation following flooding in Galbally. Next weekend is league again, with a trip to Carrick on Suir with a 2:30pm kick off
The Munster Junior Cup follows a week later with a home tie against Youghal, with the venue to be confirmed.
Under 16 bowl competition
Skibbereen 17 Mitchelstown 12
On Saturday last we made the long journey to Skibbereen, into the latest hotbed of Munster talent development that is West Cork. The conditions were very heavy underfoot and this ensured the game was always going to be a tight physical one.
We got on the scoreboard early on after a well-executed intercept try which was converted. The game was very even with us putting some nice moves together with several phases of keeping the ball alive after contact, however as the game wore on conditions dictated that heavy carrying was going to be the order of the day. Skibbereen broke through for a couple of tries in quick succession and added a 3rd on the stroke of half time to go into the break 17-07.
The 2nd half was a very even affair in what was a physical battle, we got to grips with their heavy carriers and fronted up with some great early tackles preventing them from getting any momentum. A great try 5 mins from the end after a brilliant clearing kick from our own 22 narrowed the gap but unfortunately the home side ran the clock down and the game finished 17-12. Again, this was an encouraging performance where our work rate and appetite for the battle really stood out in difficult conditions in a tough place to go to.
Our next game is at home in Currabowen next Saturday at 1200 against Clanwilliam.
Match report courtesy of Kevin Kelly
Under 14 South Munster league.
Mitchelstown 40 Youghal 5
On Sunday afternoon our U14 boys played host to Youghal RFC. After our win away to Sundays Well last week our boys were keen to keep their winning run going. The lads just seemed so focused before the match started, and pressed right from the kick off with a well worked try by Colman Fagan bursting through their line with a powerful run and scoring right under the posts. Colman full of confidence had an easy kick over to make it Mitchelstown 7 Youghal 0.
Youghal regrouped and fed the ball to one of their big powerful forwards but his run was very short lived when he was met by our own big forwards Sean Hennessy and Michael Kenneally. Our lads were so quick off the line, putting so much pressure on Youghal that it wasn’t long before our forwards started gaining yard after yard working the ball all the way up till about 3 meters from the line when Niall Casey drove forward to make it a second try for us, again this was converted from a very tight angle by Colman Fagan. Mitchelstown 14 Youghal 0 with in the first 10mins.
We were now playing at a very high tempo, and it only took another 5 minutes before Colman powered over again for his second try and third conversion.
Halftime score Mitchelstown 21 Youghal 0
Youghal seem to regroup well in the second half but after 10 mins of sustained pressure our lads held their line well, making strong tackle after tackle, and turning the ball over. From one of these turnovers Niall Casey broke through to score his second try in the corner, this made the kick very difficult for Colman to make off his right foot. This was shortly followed by Colman’s third try and 4th conversion. Everything seems to be going well for our lads and every one of them worked very hard tackling and turning over ball after ball this resulted in 2 more tries for us with Niall Casey getting his third try with Colman Fagan getting his fourth of the day with both conversions going straight between the posts by Colman. The Youghal side, who in fairness never gave up, scored a well worked try but couldn’t make the conversion. This was a massive team performance by all the lads with their line speed in making the tackles being the deciding factor.
This team plays Midleton next Sunday at home at 2pm
Panel: Jack Dalton, Eoin Luddy, Jake Farrissy, Colman Fagan, Michael Coughlan, Will Howard, Niall Murray, Michael Kenneally, Evan Stock, Sean Hennessy, Mark O’Regan, Seamus O’Brien, Eoin Sheedy, Niall Casey, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Cormac Hoye. Coaches: Louis van der Werff, Michael Casey, Michael Hoye (referee), Denis Howard. Match report courtesy of Mike Casey
Training
Minis up to 12 Sunday @10am
Boys U14 Tuesday and Thursday @ 7:00pm
Boys U16 Tuesday and Thursday @ 7:00 pm
Adults Wednesday and Friday @ 7:00pm in Galbally
Girls Check with Marie Meade
LOTTO JACKPOT €1,000.00
Next draw Sunday 22nd January at 9:00pm
The lotto jackpot of €2,200 survived Christmas and new year, but the first draw of 2023 saw the numbers 1, 3, 10, 19 drawn in Jackie O’Brien’s Bar on Sunday last. The lucky winner was Owen Dawson, club president.
Tickets available in all associated business premises in Mitchelstown, and from the club web site. An annual ticket for all draws for a year is an ideal present for only €50. For lucky dip winners, please check the website for a full listing, where annual tickets can be purchased, in addition to single or multi draw. Call Owen Dawson 087 8112991 for details.
Hon Ballygiblin
The officers and members of Mitchelstown Rugby Club, wish to extend hearty congratulations to the All-Ireland Junior hurling champions on their great achievement.