Thurles made the trip to the heart of Limerick City to take on St Marys’ in Round 5 of the Munster Junior 1 league last Sunday. This is never an easy place to go on play rugby, but although only newly promoted this year, St Marys’ were enjoying good start to their league campaign and were sitting comfortably in fifth position in the league. Thurles propping up the bottom of the table were very much in need of a result and will have felt somewhat unlucky to not have garnered more from their opening four league games where they had surrendered winning positions.

The opening exchanges of this game were fairly evenly matched but it was the home side who registered the first score when off a lineout on the Thurles ten metre line they transferred to the midfield where some well-timed passing prised an opening for their centre to score close to the posts with just 7 minutes gone. The conversion was added to leave the score at 7 – 0 in favour of St. Marys. Slow starts have been a problem and Thurles have conceded first in every league game so far this year but generally have reacted well in coming back into the game. This was to be the case and after some strong ball carrying close in by the Thurles pack, John Shaw powered over from short range to get Thurles off the mark with just 12 mins gone in the first half. Thurles missed the conversion to leave the scoreline at 7 – 5. Thurles established control over the game from this point and although St Marys had opportunities in the Thurles twenty two on a number of occasions some great defensive efforts forced turnovers to allow Thurles half backs Seamie Holohan and James Maher to push Thurles downfield. The Thurles scrum was on top all day putting pressure on St Marys ball and winning a couple of penalties, Thurles own lineout functioned very well and managed a couple of steals on opposition throw. A pivotal moment coming on 30 minutes when St Marys having won a penalty inside Thurles ten metre line with a relatively easy three points for the taking opted to kick for the corner. A poor touch find left the lineout on the Thurles twenty-two which Thurles duly turned over, with Seamie Holohan clearing long into the St Marys half. Five minutes later on 35 minutes, some great forward approach play saw the Thurles backline attack down the short side and some slick handling put Jack Flanagan clear in the corner to score to push Thurles out to 10 – 7, again failing to convert. The last two moments of the first half belonged when Matty Kelly shortly after winning a superb turnover at a ruck, he managed to gather a wayward pass on the left wing on the opposition twenty two after Thurles backs attacked well of off goo forward approach play. Having gathered the ball he stepped inside two defenders and beating the remaining cross field cover to dart in under the posts for a superb try to put Thurles in the driving seat at the stroke of half time. Jack Flanagan easily converting to put the score at 17 – 7 in favour of Thurles .

The second half began with some stalemate with neither side really threatening and it took almost twenty minutes for the first score which went to the home side who had started to gain some momentum. A long series of phase play eventually overcoming the Thurles defence saw them score a try which was converted to narrow the gap to 17 -14 in favour of Thurles. The home support maybe sensed blood and probably felt that they might see the game out from this position but Thurles regathered themselves and fired the next shot. James Maher took the ball flat to the line, found his centre James O’Meara on hard line into a gap, who sprinted home under the posts from thirty metres untouched to give Thurles the crucial breathing space to see this game out. O Meara and his partner Sonny Dwyer in the centre had threatened all day with their hard running lines and eventually got their rewards. St Marys managed a consolation score with the last play of the game, Thurles will have pointed to alleast two knock ons in the long phase of play, which saw Thurles defend valiantly with a man in the bin for the final minutes. Final score Thurles 24 St Marys and a vital 4 try bonus point win for Thurles which sees move clear of the bottom three of the league. This was brilliant collective effort. The Thurles pack carried hard all day with Stevie Kirwan ( until replaced by Bryan O’Connell) and

Ciaran Ryan making good yards ably supported by Colin Nolan , Sam Quinlan, and Mark Cummins, the front row were gargantuan all day with all three going the full eighty minutes for the cause.

Thurles lined out as follows:

John Shaw, Shane Nugent, Gerry McCormack, Steven Kirwan, Mark Cummins, Sam Quinlan, Ciaran Ryan, Seamus Holohan, James Maher, Sonny Dwyer, James O’Meara, Luke Fogarty, Dylan Shaughnessy, Matty Kelly, Jack Flanagan.

Subs: Ciaran Murphy, Brandon Meaney, Daniel Lanigan Ryan, Bryan O Connell (for Stephen Kirwan ) Donnacha Ryan, Ricardo Prandi (for Matty Kelly), James Devaney(for Luke Fogarty)

 

 

 

 

 

TRFC Women hosted Bruff Women's team for their Division 2 league encounter .

The game started brightly for us with 2 early try's (1 converted) to lead by 12 points to nil . 

Bruff did get their game going with strong carries into contact and worked their way back into the game with 2 tries of their own leaving the half time score 12 / 10 .

The second half was much more of the same with both teams trading scores to level at 22 points with 15 minutes remaining .

Thurles created chances in this period but failed to capitalise and put the game out of reach .

With time running out Bruff worked their way up field with quick tap penalties and strong carries to eventually score in the corner with time up to secure the win with Bruff 27 / Thurles 22 .

With their recent history of tight games with one score separating them after 80 minutes this one went to script with Bruff securing the spoils with the late score .

Thurles scorers . Niamh Ryan . Gemma Dunican. Alannah O Toole . Kaitlyn Callanan with Eimer Ryan converting 1 .

We travel to UL Bohs next Sunday for our return league fixture there .

All support most welcome for this away trip .

TRFC Women management

 

 

Thurles welcomed Kilfeace to Loughtagalla on Saturday night. This was a very entertaining affair with plenty of tries for the large crowd. It was a match that should have gone the home team’s way, but mo bhrón, they handed victory to Kilfeacle through unforced errors and silly mistakes. On the other hand, this is a team that is developing nicely and if they retain their sense of purpose, they will prove to be a very capable outfit.

Thurles hit the ground running and from the outset, the home team were on the offensive. Good work by the forwards, led by Donncha Ryan and his sidekick, Dwayne Stanley pushed kilfeacle back to outside. The quick reaction of Stephen Shaw, saw him snipe down the blind side and gallop over for a real scrum halves try. Joe Dwan who is developing nicely as an out half slotted over the conversion for the extra 2 points

Thurles continued to pile on the pressure with James Devaney slicing through the defence for 5 points and a Joe Dwan penalty gave Thurles a 15-0 lead.

With Thurles on the attack, an intercept allowed Kilfeacle to garner an easy score reducing the lead to 8 points. Good work by newly adapted forward, Gordon Murray and front row partners, Richie Houlihan and Brandon Meaney brough Thurles into the Kilfeacle red zone where slick hands from Sean Lloyd put full back Tommy Connolly through into space and he set Luke Molumby down the sideline to magic 

his way over the line. A 13 Point lead and well deserved. 

But as with the previous week, Thurles took the foot off the pedal and allowed Kilfeacle in for a converted try, followed shortly by another 7 pointer. HT score Thurles 20, Kilfeacle14

 

Kilfeacle began the second half on the front foot and scored early to reduce the lead to 1 point. They quickly added another converted try to take the lead to 26-21

Thurles responded immediately with Daniel Lanigan Ryan and Conor Ryan, one a “Townie” and the other a “Church” man, combined well to drive Kilfeacle back to their goal line. Calm and collected work from Stephen Shaw saw Thurles inches from the Kilfeacle try line and the final push from Kieran Murphy with Callum Hall in support, garnered 5 points with Joe Dwan converting. Thurles 27 – Kilfeacle 26. Surely the men in black and white would see it out

 

But holding on to a lead seems to be a difficult thing and a missed kick for touch allowed Kilfeacle to regain possession and cross the line to go ahead by 6. Once again, a great response from the Thurles men put the Kilfeacle forwards in rapid retreat. The final whistle was fast approaching but Thurles were not to be denied and Donncha Ryan broke through to score a well-deserved try. Jow Dwan struck the ball well for the conversion, but at the last second it sailed to the left and wide, giving Kilfeacle a 1-point lead

Sport is cruel, and on this occasion, it was spitefully so. Thurles were the better team and while Shay Scanlon (Manager) and Tom Quinlan (Backs Coach) consoled the lads, the players themselves were not happy with this performance. They knew it was an opportunity missed. The team head into next week’s re-match away to Fethard where a much need victory will be very welcome indeed. Well done to the young players coming through, Cillian O Shea, and Con Phelan, as well as Brian Moore and Stephen Cahill, the 2 new “Drom” recruits

 

Our under 14s had a home quarter final against Clanwilliam in the East munster leauge 1/4 final on Friday evening. Thurles kicked off, and Clan got straight into the action with their big No.8 carrying hard at the Thurles pack, but the Thurles defence held there're shape and held firm all night. This was a very physical game with both sides giving as good as they got with no one taking a backwards step and getting very heated at times! Thurles started to dominate, and some great carries from captain Paddy Ryan and Charlie long Thurles were getting on the front with Ryan coming close on a couple of occasions. The breakthrough came mid-way through the first half with James Maher who had an outstanding game and his first in a no.7 shirt got the ball on the half way line and with some good foot work and powerful running broke a few tackles and ran all of 50 meters to score under the posts Shea Fogarty’s conversion Attempt was blocked down and the score went in 5-0 to Thurles at the half. The second half was much the same as the first with both teams going at it. There were strong defensive displays all over the field from Mason Butler Danny Corcoran and a super counter rucking display from Cody Dooley, Philip Lloyd played out of his skin once again Thurles looked to be well on top when Paddy Ryan once again made a big carry into the Clan 22 and got held up short at the 5 meter line and after some good rucking  Charlie long picked and crashed over the line with Fogarty adding the extras to lead 12-0. Thurles had plenty of chances to put the game to bed but we're over eager to score at times and instead of letting the ball to do the work ran into to much traffic and the play would break down. Clan were always going to have a purple patch and with 5 minutes to go the got in for a well worked try and conversion to set up a nervy finish in the end Thurles prevailed 12-7 well done to all the boys involved.

 

Thurles travelled to Nenagh on Sunday morning for a very entertaining days rugby on the new 4G Pitch. Thurles came away with a well worked victory over a very well drilled Nenagh Ormonde side

 

 

It was a great evening in the clubhouse on Friday with the U14s fresh after their win against  Clan and the senior men off the training pitch all coming together to watch the ireland v NZ game. A big thank you to the first team scrum half and U14 backs coach Seamie Holohan who supplied us all with pizzas and chips to round off a very enjoyable evening👍 ⚫