Challenge Cup Charleville 16 - Mallow 32

Mallow made the short trip to Charleville on Sunday 21st September to play for a third round place in the Munster Junior Challenge Cup. In very fine conditions Mallow opened the scoring straight from the kick off when the referee penalised Charleville for going to ground at the ruck. Andrew Cashman kicked the resulting penalty that gave Mallow an early lead in this local derby. Mallow continued to keep the pressure on Charleville for the opening period with Mallow's No 8 Michael O'Connor causing Charleville a lot of problems from the back of the scrum. Charleville however scored the first try of the game with a some good handling in the backs to set Charleville’s left winger racing towards the Mallow try line, excellent covering from full back Des Golden stopped the winger just meters from the line, quick ball from the resulting ruck gave Charleville the overlap that allowed them to score in the corner.

Poor discipline from Mallow allowed Charleville to further extend their lead with a penalty for a late tackle, but this was soon cancelled out by Andrew Cashman when he kicked another penalty to reduce the deficit to 2 points, Charleville now lead Mallow 8 - 6. Mallow's line out was excellent all day with Mallow jumper Dan McCarthy getting his hands to several of Charleville’s lineout’s. Towards the end of the first half Mallow began to increase the intensity and were rewarded with a try after excellent running from Mallow's outside backs to bring play to Charleville’s try line. Mallows forwards finished the move with a quick tap from No 8 Michael O'Connor to score under the posts. Cashman added the extras and soon after added another penalty just before the half time whistle to leave it Charleville 8 - Mallow 16.

The second half began with Charleville scoring another penalty to edge back into the game but Mallow further extended the lead when Cashman kicked two more penalties afters centres Jim Molony and Brendan O'Brien forced some desperate defence from Charleville to concede the errors. Mallows winger Rory McSherry always looked dangerous when he received the ball out wide and full back Des Golden was always a treat. Cashman scored and converted a try mid way through the second half to effectively end the game as a contest but Charleville continued to play with pride and were rewarded with a late try, but again Cashman kicked another penalty to end the game, Charleville 16 - Mallow 32. Mallow team Neil Lucey, Frank Thornton, Jason Sheehan, Ivan Bolster, Daniel McCarthy, Micheal Lynch, Graham Kelly, Michael O'Connor, Liam Kelleher, Andrew Cashman, Rory McSherry, Jim Molony, Brendan O Brien, Anthony Barrett, Des Golden.(Subs: Donal Lucey, John McAuliffe, Brian Daly, Gavin O'Keeffe, Brian O'Connor).