Dungarvan will be playing rugby in Division 2 of the Munster Junior League next year, having won promotion from Division 3 for the first time in the club's history. The season ended with a walkover when Bantry declined to travel, but Carrick on Suir also picked up points and topped the group to join Dungarvan going up.
With the league season finished attention moved to various cup competitions, with the most prestigious being the Munster Junior Plate. Having beaten Douglas and Muskerry in the earlier rounds, and picking up a win against Youghal in the clockgate cup, Dungarvan faced Presentation in the Munster Plate decider to be played in Annacotty in Limerick. In typical April conditions the weather varied from sunshine to torrential showers, with a strong wind blowing from the Limerick city end of the pitch. Dungarvan played with the wind in the first half, and it was clear they would need to make the most of the conditions. An early penalty for Conor Foley opened the scoring, with the kicking star easily splitting the posts from the 10m line. Pres fought back to level the score, but a second shot at goal reclaimed the lead for Dungarvan as the first half progressed in a heated battle. Both sides were making handling errors and narrowed their game plan to suit the conditions, but it was Dungarvan who took the upper hand in the scrum, particularly when veteran Mel Shanley came on as a blood replacement. Pres were devastating with rolling mauls from lineouts however and crept up the pitch a number of times.
Pres scored the first try of the game, when they following a very effective maul they got some rare possession in the Dungarvan 22 into the wind, and from under the posts they rearranged their attack to the left quickly, creating an four on two overlap and simple passing finished out wide, too far out for the conversion to count, but gave pres the lead for the first time 8-6.
With the first half coming to a close Conor Foley again got his chance with a long range penalty on the half way line which he struck perfectly dropping over the bar to give the visitors the narrowest of leads at half time, 8-9. In the second half it was clear that Pres had adjusted their game plan to now play with the wind and launched several high kicks to gain territory effectively. Conor brought Dungarvan further ahead early in the half with another penalty, but a crash over try from Pres star number 8 was converted to bring the score to 15-12, and with another penalty to 18-12. Dungarvan battled hard for the remainder of the half, and used their dominance in the scrum to great effect. With five minutes to go Dungarvan won several scrums on the Pres line against the head, and looked to get the decisive score that would turn the game again, however Pres cleared their lines from a penalty, and with Dungarvan throwing everything into attack sealed off the result with a well taken drop goal, and an intercept try in the last seconds to swing the score to a flattering 28-12.
It was great to see excellent performances from the young players Jack McGrath and Ben Dunford, and a season best showing from Jack Cummins, which bodes well for the future of the club. A creditable performance that could have gone either way, but it was Dungarvan that applauded the local side when they lifted the Munster trophy. Dungarvan will meet Pres again in Division 2 next year, and have a chance to improve their record.
Dungarvan: David Reynolds, Darrell Ryan, Jack Cummins, John O'Donohue, Declan Fennell, Richie Laffan, Mike Daly, Eoin Cunningham, Dermot Fahey, David Hickey, Cian Walsh (captain), Joey Lawlor, David O'Riordan, Mick Irwin, Conor Foley. Replacements: Tom Keith, Mel Shanley, Olan Murray, Jack McGrath, Ben Dunford.
Under 15 Tournament
There was a one day blitz tournament played at Dungarvan recently with two visiting teams from the UK. The tournament was run on a league basis with 2 points for a win and a point for each try scored.
The teams finished in the following order
- Pencoad
- Dungarvan Renegades
- Dungarvan U 15s
- Youghal
- Sleaford
Photo Caption: The winning team from Pencoad in Wales after the tournament. (DSC0889)
Photo Caption:The captain of the English touring team Sleaford been congratulated by Joe Harty (under 15 coach) after taking part in the recent Tournament in Dungarvan Rugby Football Club. Also included is Stephen Dunford of Dunurtaigh Construction Ltd and Johnny Curran ( under 15 coach ) of Cleanzone Technology Ltd ( Tournament Sponsors). (DSC0885)
Dungarvan u-15s also reached the East Munster cup final after tightly contested games against waterpark and cashel , and travelled to clonmel to play kilfeackle. As expected a tough and physical game played out with both sides coming close. The game certainly get all spectators entertained with Kilfeackle missing a penalty kick towards the end of the game.
This was certainly a game of heavy defending and tackles being put in with all players feeling the effects. Dungarvan certainly felt that chances where missed to finish this game but we continue on and with the replay scheduled for Friday evening again in Clonmel another big game of rugby is expected the players on the day. Jack Mullanay,.Stephen Keating, Louis Morgan.Eoin Halford, Tommy Harty, Blake Blakely, Adam Carey ,Richard Carroll, Finn Rhys-Thomas, Conor Prunty, Matthew Henly, Daniel Slevin Gary Hynds, Thomas ,Maurice Daly , Jamie McKelvie ,Ronan Keevers, Michael Phelan,Aaron Crotty.
