Thurles hosted Muskerry in Loughtagala last Sunday for round 7 of the Munster Junior League. Muskerry were lying bottom of the table and without a win to date but have proved particularly troublesome opponents for Thurles, as in there three previous encounters since Thurles returned to this division, they have not managed a win in what have always been close games. Unfortunately for the home team they remain one of only two teams remaining in the division, the other being Skibbereen, that they have not managed a league win against. Thurles again fell just short of a win in this when despite trailing for the entire game and having some chancesto clinch the victory in the closing stages. 

The opening exchanges of the game evenly matched with neither teams exerting any dominance. Thurles had the edge in set piece at lineout with a 100% return on the day and a couple of steals on opposition throws, a big Muskerry eight edged in the scrums scrum from an early stage. Muskerry were first to strike when after 13 minutes they were awarded a penalty for high tackle, something the referee was strict on all day and which Thurles fell foul of on numerous occasions despite several warnings. The kick was converted to leave the score at 3 – 0 in favour of the visitors. Muskerry, playing with a strong breeze and excellent outhalf and full back were getting the better of the kick duels with the Thurles backfieldwhich largely resulted in significant field position advantage. It just took four minutes more for them to register their first try. Sweeping the ball wide to their backs , 40m out where Thurles appeared to have cover and numbers when some elusive running from their full back beat two would be Thurles tacklers to score wide on the right after 17 minutes. Conversion missed this left the score at 8 – 0 in favour of the away team. Thurles responded well and a sweeping counterattack from deep, with James O’Mara making great ground the left wing before Thurles swung the ball wide through several hands before Fionn Fogarty timed his pass perfectly to put Paddy Mcgrath sprinting away to score from 30m and dotting down behind the posts, Muskerry earning themselves a yellow card for an illegal challenge the dead ball area. But Muskerry’s response was almost immediate – a poor missed touch deep into the Muskerry half saw their outhalf return a perfect 50-22 into gaping space in the Thurles backfield to earn Muskerry an excellent attacking lineout just 10m out from the Thurles line. Muskerry went through some phases before Thurles conceded a penalty for offside just 5 m out. Muskerry chose to scrum and scored a pushover trywhich was converted to push the score out to 15 – 8 in favour of the visitors with 23 minutes gone. Steven Kirwan was the first sub off the Thurles bench at prop to help shore up a creaking Thurles scrum on 25minutes. There were no further scores in the remainder of the first half and Thurles turned over the second half with the aid of a strong breeze which they immediately made use of. A good penalty kick to the 5 m line gave Thurles and excellent lineout position. Sam Quinlan won the ensuing lineout and the Thurles pack mauled the ball over the line with Shane Nugent getting the touch down. James Maher landed and excellent conversion from the touchline to leave the minimum between the teams, 14 – 15 in favour of the away team. But again it was Muskerry who responded best after this score and registered their third try after some sustained pressure in the Thurles 22. Conversion missed this left the score delicately poised at 20 to 14. Thurles were struggling to respond and after some more sustained Muskerry pressure Sonny Dwyer was yellow carded and penalised for high tackle on 63 minutes and Muskerry converted the kick to push the score out to a two score game 23 to 14. Thurles made some changes, with Donnacha Ryan replacing Colin Nolan and Ciaran Murphy on for the excellent Ciaran Ryan, who had al put in big shifts at this stage. Thurles rallied more time to cut the deficit on 75mins with the usual formula on the day, good kick to 5m by James Maher followed by a great lineout maul resulting in Jason Theron crashing over for Thurles third try. James Maher landed a great conversion again to put the score at 21 – 23. Thurles last chance probably elapsed a minute or two later when JockFogarty excellent all day at wing forward stripped a ball from a maul and kicked long into the Muskerry half where 50-22 looked to be on only for the ball to drift inches wide of the corner flag. Muskerry clung on for the remaining 3 minutes to edge the win. A bonus point loss is some small consolation and the last three games for Thurles have resulted in gut wrenching close calls which have gone the wrong way on too many occasions. Thurles now head into the long Christmas break with over half of the season gone and facing into a long distance away game in Bandon for their next outing on the 4thof January.  

Jack Kavanagh, Shane Nugent, John Shaw, Colin Nolan ,Jason Theron, Jock Fogarty, Sam Quinlan Ciaran Ryan, Seamie Holohan, James Maher, James O’Mara , Sonny Dwyer, Fionn Fogarty, Cian Ralph, Paddy McGrath.

Subs: James Butler (John Shaw) Steven Kirwan (for Jack Kavanagh)Donnacha Ryan (for Colin Nolan), Ciaran Murphy(for Ciaran Ryan), Evan Ryan, Ed O’Gorman, Dylan Shaughnessy, Andrew Bourke, Sean Lloyd.