THOMOND have retained their Munster Junior League title courtesy of a twelfth bonus point win of the campaign.
For emotional Thomond, there were scenes of excitement when the final whistle was sounded in Kilfeacle, where the defending champions defeated second-placed Kilfeacle 32-14 to claim their fourth league title, and will now face the Ulster Junior League champions in the semi-finals of the All Ireland League qualifiers in April.
Thomond opened the scoring with a try by Riann Burke which Jason Kiely converted. A try and a conversion by Kiely gave Thomond a 14-7 interval lead.
Two Kiely penalties extended Thomond’s advantage and a try by Jamie McGarry made it 25-7. In the final minute, Jake Connolly scored Thomond’s fourth try and Kiely converted to start the celebrations.
Kiely topped the Division’s scoring charts with a huge haul of 128 points.
The achievement of Thomond was tinged with huge sadness following the recent passing of “our friend and senior player Jack Cosgrave.”
On the club Facebook page, it stated recently: “Our sorrow is mixed with gratitude to have had the privilege to get to know Jack over the last few years, his modesty, kind nature and sense of humour off the field transformed into a very talented rugby player when he crossed the white line and earned him many great accomplishments on the pitch for Young Munsters and Thomond and made him so very popular in the dressing rooms and around our club.”
The big game at the other end of the table between the two bottom sides saw Newcastle West come away from Crosshaven with the spoils on a 33-19 scoreline. James Kelly scored two tries for Newcastle West and Aaron Rice and Liam Treacy grabbed one each. Shane Airey kicked two conversions and three penalties.
