Impressive start for Thurles in the Munster Junior League

Munster J1 League - Kanturk 12 Thurles 51

Thurles kicked off their second year back in this division with what on paper seemed like a tricky outing in North Cork particularly given the outcome of the last meeting of these teams at the same venue in April 2022. On that occasion Thurles came from behind to secure a draw and first division status, that result condemning Kanturk to another year of division two rugby. It would have been much to the relief and surprise of the few Thurles supporters who made the trek to Kanturk and the coaching team that this result was secured by the half hour mark when John Shaw peeled off from an excellent lineout and rolling maul powering through the Kanturk winger in the corner nearest the home clubhouse for Thurles’s fifth try.

Thurles started this game having lost the toss facing the pronounced slope and stiff breeze blowing in from the home clubhouse corner. A poor kick off by Kanturk failed to make the requisite 10 metres giving Thurles an excellent attacking scrum in the middle of the field. A good backline move brought Thurles into the Kanturk 22 and after some sustained phases of forward carrying and backline play, Peter Kinane powered over wide on the right for the first of his hattrick of tries. Thurles failed to convert leaving the score at 5 – 0 after 7 minutes. This sparked Kanturk into a frenzied period of attack with Thurles hemmed into their own 22 and conceding several penalties which Kanturk elected to kick to the corners to test the Thurles defence. Kanturk threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors only to be met by ferocious Thurles defence, meeting attacks on and behind the gain line, pressure which eventually resulted in a Kanturk handling error and an opportunity for Thurles to relieve the siege. Whilst the result is unlikely to have been in doubt given that Thurles had the ascendency in all areas of the game subsequently, it must have been disheartening for the home side to see their best shots fall short during this period. Thurles never looked back from here. Kanturk were struggling to deal with Thurles’s big ball carriers, quick rucks and handling. Ciaran Ryan devasting with ball in hand, was causing the home team problems as were the hard carrying Thurles centres Sonny Dwyer and Eoghan Dwyer and the overall excellence of eh Thurles backline well-orchestrated by half backs Seamie Holohan and James Maher. The Thurles pack, flawless at set piece, laid the foundations providing perfect ball for their creative backline and this was the order of the day for the remainder of the first half. On 17 minutes, Kinane registered his second, a great break from the back of a 5 m scrum set up a close in ruck, a quick recycle and pop to Kinane around the corner enabling him to power over from close range.  Thurles next try was a sweeping backline move from 50m ending with Eoghan Dwyer’s perfectly timed pass putting Cathal Hayes in for Thurles third. 15 – 0 Thurles. Kinane got his third and Thurles’s fourth on 27 minutes, a great break from inside Thurles half by Ciaran Ryan with Sam Quinlan supporting saw Thurles get to within 10 m, a quick recycle saw Kinane dot down under the posts, which was converted by Matty Kelly to leave the score 22 – 0 to Thurles. Thurles further added to this tally when John Shaw scored from a well worked lineout and rolling maul on 32 minutes, 27 – 0 Thurles. Kanturk had a momentary response when they managed some possession in the Thurles half, a slip in the Thurles midfield defence leading to a try for Kanturk on 36 minutes. Thurles saw out the half with further tries from Luke Kelly, 39mins, and Eoghan Dwyer, converted by Paddy McGrath, just before half time leaving the score at 39 – 7 at the turn.

The second half saw Thurles dominate field position, but some poor accuracy and handling slowed the scoring rate considerably despite Thurles being dominant at lineout and scrum. It took Thurles until 69 minutes to add to their first half total, Sonny Dwyer powering through from 45m and off-loading to the hard working Colin Nolan to take it in from 15m under the posts, 46 – 7 . Luke Fogarty, a second half sub for Matty Kelly completed the scoring for Thurles on 74 minutes after another great break by Nolan. A late consolation by Kanturk finished the scoring on 78 minutes, and whilst the result was not in doubt this score will have disappointed what has a been a very miserly Thurles defence in competitive outings to date this year.  

This was a great start to the league campaign with an away win and try bonus points secured. There will undoubtedly be tougher outings ahead in this league starting with a home fixture next Sunday against Mallow, but this team continues to improve and work hard in training under the tutelage of new head coach Kevin Leamy. 

Thurles lined out as follows:

Ger McCormack, Shane Nugent, John Shaw, Colin Nolan, Peter Kinane, Mark Cummins, Sam Quinlan, Ciaran Ryan, Seamus Holahan, James Maher, Cathal Hayes, Sonny Dwyer, Eoghan Dwyer, Matty Kelly, Paddy McGrath.

Subs: Ciaran Murphy, Dan Lee, Luke Kelly, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Wall, Luke Fogarty, Kieran O’Hagan,