Thurles RFC had a busy weekend with all the senior teams playing at the weekend the j2 had a lively game away to Clanwilliam in the second round of the Gleeson league running out 30 :19 winners Eoin Long, Danny Lee, Ciaran Murphy, Craig Ravan and Darragh Sweeney got trys and Tommy Connolly got the rest of the points,
The firsts went to Glanmire to play Old Christians in the second round of the MJL Div1 and the best that can be said is that they left with all 4 points. On an appalling wet and windy day thurles made fierce hard work of beating a poor side. The backs had a day to forget, and the forwards huffed and puffed with a very immobile Christians pack. Unenforced errors were the order of the day with the ball resembling a bar of soap slipping out of everyone’s hands and the weather didn’t help, Old Christians scored 4 penalties. Paddy McGrath got three penalties and one of the very few who was outstanding was team Captain Luke Kelly who got fed up of the pulling and dragging and scored a great breakaway try to make the difference. Thurles did get over the line once in the first half with Owen Byrne getting in but the ref who was blindsided didn’t have the TMO to consult so called it held up , in the second half Sam Quinlan also was held up over the line, old Christians were very ill disciplined and Paddy McGrath was good with his kicks. Final Score Thurles 14 Old Christians 12
Teams 1sts Paddy McGrath, Cahal Hayes, James Devaney, Owen Byrne, Eoghan O’Dwyer, James Maher, Semie Houlihan , John Shaw, Shane Nugent, Ger McCormack. Peter Kinnane, Luke Kelly C , Sonny Dwyer. Mark Cummins, Sam Quinlan. Subs Tom McNamara, Andrew Bourke, Jack Kavanagh, Richard Houlihan, Donnacha Ryan.
2nds: Tommy Connolly Eoin Long, Dara Sweeney, JJ Schoeman, Craig Raven, Andrew O Halloran. Ollie Delaney C, Dan Lee, Daragh Sweeney, Dylan Dorney, Dwayne Stanley, Donnacha Ryan, Andrew Bourke, Cieran Murphy, Richard Houlihan, Brandon Meaney
The 50th anniversary of Thurles RFC 1971 Garryowen Cup Winning team gathering will be held in the clubhouse after next Sunday's match with Richmond in the league, a great night will be had as old teammates will be joined by friends and all are welcome
