Report | Late Gloucester Try Denies Munster

6th September 2025 By The Editor

Evan O'Connell in action against Gloucester. Inpho

A converted try in the last play saw Gloucester edge past Munster in an entertaining, full-blooded pre-season encounter at Kingsholm on Friday night.

Both teams looked sharp, especially in defence, and it was an excellent run-out as preparations continue for the 2025/26 campaign.

Andrew Smith and the returning Shane Daly were the try-scorers with Tony Butler kicking a conversion.

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Both clubs had named two teams (one for each half) with Munster looking to give game-time to as many players as possible.

Academy players Max Clein and Seán Edogbo were among the 31-man squad with new signings Dan Kelly, Conor Ryan and JJ Hanrahan all involved as Kelly made his first appearance.

After absorbing a strong Gloucester start, Andrew Smith gave Munster the lead on 14 minutes as he touched down brilliantly in the right corner after a Tony Butler crossfield kick. Butler added an excellent touchline conversion and Munster led 7-0.

A Tom Farrell intercept nearly led to a second Munster try with Shay McCarthy just caught by a retreating defender. Gloucester then nearly capitalised on a loose ball with Ruadhán Quinn getting back to touch down after a kick in behind the Munster defence.

From the resulting five-metre scrum, Gloucester’s pack got the shove on and no.8 Jack Mann touched down. Ross Byrne added the extras to level the game after 25 minutes.

There were no further scores before the break with front row forwards Max Clein, Mark Donnelly and Kieran Ryan coming on for the final seven minutes of the first half and staying on for the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Fineen Wycherley and John Hodnett also stayed on with 10 changes allowing more players to get minutes under their belt.

A new front row combination of Josh Wycherley, Lee Barron and Oli Jager was introduced after 50 minutes with Munster nearly creating a super score as JJ Hanrahan’s crossfield kick found Shane Daly on the right wing and he kicked ahead.

Tom Farrell dived on the loose ball after Thaakir Abrahams pressure forced a mistake and a penalty for a no-arms tackle on John Hodnett allowed Munster kick to the corner but the Gloucester maul defence earned them a scrum.

Lee Barron was shown a yellow card for a cynical challenge on the Gloucester scrum-half after 65 minutes. The pre-agreement between both teams was for any player yellow-carded to be replaced with Clein returning for an extra 10 minutes of game-time.

Diarmuid Kilgallen showed his searing pace to make a break from his 22 with Patterson in support but when the ball was worked infield, Alex Nankivell’s kick to the wing was overcooked and the opportunity had passed.

A determined chase from Hanrahan then prevented a second Gloucester try as he forced a knock-on from Jack Hathaway as he looked to regather his own kick in behind the defence.

Strong Munster maul defence held out Gloucester on 79 minutes but the hosts won a free-kick from the resulting scrum and Will Trenhom managed to dive over from close range after their pack pounded the Munster line.

George Barton’s conversion edged Gloucester in front for the first time in the final kick of the game and brought a good pre-season encounter to a close.

First Half Team

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman (Mark Donnelly, 33), Niall Scannell (C) (Max Clein, 33), John Ryan (Kieran Ryan, 33); Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Second Half Team

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Shane Daly, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Mark Donnelly (Josh Wycherley, 50), Max Clein (Lee Barron, 50), Kieran Ryan (Oli Jager, 50); Conor Ryan, Fineen Wycherley (Evan O’Connell, 60); Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett (Ruadhán Quinn, 60), Jack O’Donoghue (C).