There was another mixed bag of results to be found for Kilkenny and Carlow sides in the Leinster League over the weekend.
In Division 1A of the men’s game, Kilkenny suffered another league loss, this time at the hands of Boyne at Shamrock Lodge. Three weeks on from their 27-7 home defeat at the hands of Monkstown, the result means Kilkenny have two wins from six this season and sit in sixth, a point above relegation on nine points. In a close-fought game with both sides running in three tries, ill-discipline proved Kilkenny’s undoing, though the losing bonus point will come in handy.
They’ll have a break again this coming weekend before hosting Seapoint at Foulkstown on Saturay 26 November.
Tullow’s up-and-down season continued on the road on Sunday afternoon. Dropping points against Athy in late October, Tullow bounced back with a bonus-point win over Longford last weekend at Black Gates but slipped to defeat again on Sunday, this time against Dundalk at Mill Road.
Again, another close game with both sides running in three tries but Dundalk making more of their chances as winter rugby sets in. The loss leaves Tullow in fourth with three wins from six games and secures a third losing bonus point of the season.
Carlow leads slips
For Carlow, defeat to Cill Dara on Sunday meant a lost opportunity to gain more ground on league leaders Wicklow. Having run in eight tries against Dundalk last weekend, the reality of life in Division 1B hit home on Sunday afternoon with a 20-14 loss against the Kildare side, Carlow surrendering their lead in the league in the process.
In a penalty-strewn game, Cill Dara saw yellow cards twice in the fist half with seven of ten second half penalties going against Carlow – all helping to dictate the scoring.
Eight minutes into the game Cill Dara got a huge touch from a scrum penalty on their own 22. From the lineout, their winger Ryan Bannon got in for a try which Tadhg Murtagh converted. Carlow then had an extended period of dominance, parked in the Cill Dara red zone. On five quick-fire occasions which included the two yellow cards, the home side were penalised. Carlow kept opting for five-yard scrums but somehow the home team kept their line intact. On the occasion of the fifth scrum, Carlow were penalised for early engagement and the siege was lifted.
36 minutes into the game Carlow eventually did get a try which was touched down by winger Conal Brennan and converted from out wide by Richard Whyte. This left the score at 7 each at the interval.
From the start of the second half things seem to fall apart for the visitors. Instead of taking advantage of the favourable wind the team incurred penalty after penalty. Two of these were goaled by Cill Dara’s Tadgh Murtagh and 13 minutes into the half centre Cian Buckley got a try which Murtagh again converted.
These scores put the home side into a lead of 20 points to six. Carlow’s efforts to stem the tide were frustrated by penalties, especially against their scrum plus a litany of self-inflicted handling errors. Ross Elmes and Conor Treacy came off the sub’s bench and added impetus to the visitors. Thirty minutes into the half Carlow got their act together and got over for a mauled try following a kick to the corner. Ross Elmes got the touchdown. Richard Whyte again goaled the tricky conversion. This earned a losing bonus point and put the visitors within a score of victory with about 14 minutes remaining. However, the plague of penalties again surfaced which enabled Cill Dara to hold out for their win.
Kilkenny women unbeaten
Kilkenny’s women’s side had a better run on Sunday as they picked up a 24-7 point win over MU Barnhall on the road. The result leaves the team unbeaten in Division 4 of the women’s Leinster League with five games played and the club top of the league standings.
Having missed a game last week with St. Mary’s College conceding their fourth-round fixture, the win hands Kilkenny a good boost heading into another home tie next weekend with South East Lions bound for Foulkstown at lunchtime on Sunday.
Tullow’s women’s fortunes are quite the opposite as their winless start to the season continued with a fourth successive defeat, this time at the hands of MU Barnhall who recorded a six-try shutout win at Parsonstown. Tullow will host Dubliin University at Black Gates this coming Sunday at 1pm.
Additional reporting John Shirley, Carlow v Cill Dara.
