--------------------------SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE U20 LEAGUE
SUNDAY'S WELL -------------------------81 - 00 --------------------------------KANTURK

Kanturk were up against it today. Not only were they missing key players but they were also facing a team relegated into their group. The Well did not think they belonged there and on todays performance they don't. They started the stronger and after five minutes caught Kanturk off-side but missed the resulting penalty. Right after that Kanturk had another let off when a Well player touched town but the ref gave Kanturk a scrum for double movement. Sean O'Sullivan put in an outstanding hit to force a knock on when Kanturk were again in danger. However The Well were in shortly after when left winger Gordan Wallace got over. James Kenny missed the conversion. Kanturk full back John O'Callaghan, a brother of Dan, was isolated in posession and a Well prop picked well and ran down the blind to score. James Kenny kicked the coversion to leave Kanturk trailing 12-0. The Well scored another try through Alan Caughlan which was converted by James Kenny. The Well no.13 intercepted the ball from Barry Lucey to score under the posts and James Kenny converted. After 25 minutes Kanturk lost Stephen Stokes to injury and had no subs to use. Alan Caughlan got a second try and the conversion was missed. Liam Murphy got injured and had to come off so Stephen Stokes came back on. Rogan Gee scored in the corner for The Well and the conversion was missed. No.17 then got a try for The Well which was again converted by James Kenny. No.12, Sean O'Sullivan (1), No.2 and No.6 also got tries to leave the score at 81-0. Brothers Dan and John O'Callaghan and Brian Cotter were all outstanding for Kanturk. They were three of the smallest men on the field but their tackling was exceptional.

Kanturk : Bob Du Wet, Barry O'Connor, Diarmuid Anketell, Sean O'Sullivan, Joe Linehan, Dan Cashman, Brian Cotter, Stephen Stokes, Liam Murphy, Barry Lucey, Dan O'Callaghan, John O'Callaghan.

{ Subs: None }

--------------------------SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE U20 LEAGUE
OLD CHRISTIANS-------------------------37 - 15 --------------------------------KANTURK

Kanturk had Old Christians away in their second game of the league. Kanturk started on the defensive with Stephen Stokes and Donal O'Brien tackling ferociously. Five minutes into the game Kanturk conceded a penalty and Old Christians out half Greg Mullaney clipped the post and the ball dropped over. Kanturk nearly scored shortly after when centre Donal O'Brien kicked a great cross field ball but the Kanturk winger was unlucky to knock it on with only one man to beat. Then Munster U18 centre Aiden Tobin tore through the Kanturk line and put Kevin Gilmartin away for his first try of the day. Greg Mullaney missed the conversion. Not long after the restart Peter Barry received a pass inside his own half and ran all the way for his first try of the day. Greg Mullaney kicked the conversion leaving Kanturk trailing 15-0. Kanturk whose pack were on top for long spells of the game came back at Old Christians hard. There was a lose ball at the base of a ruck and Kanturk prop Nana picked it up and forced his way over the line. Stephen Stokes missed the difficult conversion. On the half hour mark disaster struck for Kanturk when outside centre Stephen Ryan, man of the match from the previous week, had to leave the game with an ankle injury. Kanturk had to finish the first half with only 14 men. This seemed to rise Kanturk even more and their positive play was rewarded when Gary Piggott put Diarmuid Anketell away in the corner taking the score to 15-10. Stephen Stokes failed to kick the conversion. Kanturk finished the half inside Old Christians twenty-two but suffered another blow when out half Stephen Stokes had to go off. They did get a penalty on the touchline at the stroke of half time and with Stokes missing Gary Piggott took up the kicking duties and narrowly missed. The score at the interval was 15-10.

Stephen Stokes rejoined the fray at half time but switched to full back for the first ten minutes. Dan Cashman, who had been rested along with Jerry Foley and Peter Early for tomorrows Junior Challenge Cup game against Fermoy, also came on at half time and Kanturk again had a full contingent. Kanturk were under pressure from the off and Joseph Consididne did very well to deal with a difficult cross field kick on his own line. However he could do nothing to stop the three man overlap and Kevin Gilmartin going over for hid second. Greg Mullaney was rested for the second half for Old Christians Junior game tomorrow so Aiden Tobin took over at out half but missed the conversion. Kanturk kept battling with great play by Joe Linehan, James O'Riordan and Barry Lucey. Old Christians had the advantage of some fresh legs in the second half and from a driving maul Old Christians No.8 Dave Green crashed over. Aiden Tobin missed the conversion. Shortly after T.J O'Leary crashed over for Old Christians fifth try and Aiden Tobin converted. Kanturk once again came back at Old Christians and with 15 minutes remaining Gary Piggott seemed to go over for a try but the referee deemed that it was held up. From the ensuing five metre scrum No.8 Joe Linehan looked like his cousin Mick Sullivan as he picked the ball and forced his way over the line. With 12 minutes remaining Kanturk were again down to 14 men as hooker Diarmuid Anketell was binned for throwing a few hairy punches. Old Christians used this to their advantage and Kevin Kilmartin became provider as he put Peter Barry away for his second. Man of the match for Kanturk today went to Joe Linehan.

Kanturk : Diarmuid Anketell, Tadgh MacSweeney, James O'Riordan, Eugene Daly, Patrick Lynam, Joe Linehan, Gary piggot, Stephen Stokes, Denis O'Brien, Stephen Ryan, Joseph Considine, Barry Lucey.

{ Subs: Dan Cashman for Stephen Ryan (injury)}

---------------------------SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE U20 LEAGUE
KANTURK --------------------------------05 - 24---------------------------------BANDON

Kanturk were up against it in their opening game against favourites Bandon. Kanturk are a club who like the under-dog title normally fight like dogs and the U20's were no different today. Bandon had a long journey to Knocknacolan and were welcomed early by Kanturk and Joe Leinehen in particular who put in some massive hits. Kanturk then spent nearly 15mins lodged inside the Bandon twenty-two but failed to win enough of their own line-out ball and Bandon rode their luck. It took 24mins for the games first scrum and it was turned over by Kanturk and cleared to safety by Stephen Stokes. Kanturk used the elements to again put pressure on Bandon and were awarded with a penalty and the chance to take the lead but Stokes narrowly missed. The Kanturk trio of Stokes, Donal O'Brien and Stephen Ryan looked dangerous any time they got the ball and left nothing through when Bandon had the ball. The teams went in level at half-time but Kanturk had to play up the hill and against the wind in the second half.

Bandon used the wind and out-half Richard Milner pinned Kanturk inside their own twenty-two. Kanturk withstood a lot of pressure but had trouble dealing with the Bandon No.8 James Lyons who capped off an outstanding performance with three tries. Kanturk never gave up and played good running rugby for long periods of the second half and were rewarded with a try when Stephen Stokes crashed over. Bandon responded immediately when prop Robaird Wilmot went over under the posts and the game finished with Bandon winning 24-5. Man of the match for Kanturk was between Stephen Stokes, Donal O'Brien, Stephen Ryan, Joe Leinehen and Jerry Foley with Stephen Ryan just pipping it. The young player ran extremely well, tackled hard and even ended up rucking on a few occasions. Kanturk supporter Brendan Cotter said during the game "The footballers are making a big impact in the side, converting footballers is the way to go" "Beat them on the ground not in the air" said supporter Patrick O'Connor

Battling Turks lose out
U-20 SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Kanturk had their first competitive outing in the Under-20 league on Saturday last with a home tie against Bandon. The Turk's put up a good battle against a strong, well organised Bandon team. The sides were 0-0 at half time and the Kanturk side were served well by tight forwards Barry O'Connor and James O'Riordan along with out half Stephen Stokes and full back Barry Lucey. Kanturk fought bravely in the second half and although they conceded four tries, they scored an excellent try through Stephen Stokes. In the end Bandon were winners by 20 points to 10. But Kanturk can be satisfied with their display, especially their defence where Joe Linehan and Jerry Foley were superb.
By Peter Ledwith The Corkman Section 2

Kanturk : Bob Du Wett, Diarmuid Anketell, Barry O'Connor, James O'Riordan, Joe Linehan, Dan Cashman, Jerry Foley, Brian Cotter, Stephen Stokes, Charles O' Keoffe, Denis O'Brien, Stephen Ryan, Daniel O'Callaghan, Barry Lucey.

{ Subs: Sean O'Sullivan for Dan Cashman (tactical)}