Highlights | Munster A Fightback To Earn Draw In Dublin

20th October 2025 By The Editor

Luke Murphy on the charge for Munster A against Leinster A. Inpho

Munster A started the Interprovincial Series with a 26-all draw away to Leinster A at Ollie Campbell Park on Saturday.

It was a remarkable comeback from 26-0 down with tries from Shay McCarthy (two), Luke Murphy and Kamil Nowak as Tony Butler kicked three conversions. The match also marked the return of Roman Salanoa in red after almost two-and-a-half years on the sidelines with the tighthead prop making his return from injury for Nenagh Ormond last week.

Evan O’Connell captained the side and was one of eight senior players included along with McCarthy, Butler, Salanoa, Fionn Gibbons, Mark Donnelly, Kieran Ryan and Conor Ryan.

11 Academy players were named in the matchday squad. Ben O’Connor, Eoghan Smyth, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Jake O’Riordan, Max Clein, Oisín Minogue and Luke Murphy all started with Danny Sheahan, George Hadden, Darragh McSweeney and Dylan Hicks featuring as replacements.

Garryowen flanker Finn McCall started as clubmate Johnny Byrne, UCC pair Kamil Nowak and Jed O’Dwyer, Shannon’s Alex Lautsou and Young Munster’s John Poland came off the bench.

Leinster dominated the first half. They mauled over for the first try early on, out-half Caspar Gabriel jinked through for the second on 24 minutes, their maul earned a penalty try after 37 minutes and Josh Kenny raced clear down the right wing for the fourth early in the second half.

Munster got off the mark on 60 minutes as Butler’s brilliant crossfield kick was gathered on the bounce by McCarthy, who streaked clear for his first of the day. Butler added the conversion from wide on the left. Academy back-row Murphy powered over from close range three minutes later to continue the momentum after a Danny Sheahan poach and Fionn Gibbons’ 50:22 put Munster in position. Butler again added the extras to narrow the deficit to 12 points, 26-14.

Butler was the catalyst for the third Munster try on 74 minutes as he shaped to kick a penalty to the right corner before taking a quick tap and spinning the ball left to Salanoa. The returning prop offloaded to John Poland, who whipped a pass for Gene O’Leary Kareem. O’Leary Kareem unselfishly passed for McCarthy to finish in the left corner with Butler’s touchline conversion making it 26-21.

With the clock ticking, Munster had the composure to complete the comeback from close-range despite fierce Leinster defence. A well-placed kick from Butler pinned Leinster into their 22 and after nnother bulldozing burst by Murphy, Nowak was the man on the spot to finish after a number of phases on the Leinster line. Butler was unable to add the very difficult conversion and the spoils were shared at Old Belvedere after a remarkable final quarter.

All three Munster A home games in the Interprovincial Series will be live-streamed on Access Munster. Sign up here.

Highlights

Munster A: Ben O’Connor (UCC); Shay McCarthy (Young Munster), Fionn Gibbons (Young Munster), Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution), Gene O’Leary Kareem (UCC); Tony Butler (Young Munster), Jake O’Riordan (Young Munster); Mark Donnelly (Cork Constitution), Max Clein (Garryowen), Kieran Ryan (Young Munster); Conor Ryan (UCC), Evan O’Connell (C) (Young Munster); Finn McCall (Garryowen), Oisín Minogue (Shannon), Luke Murphy (Young Munster).

Replacements: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Johnny Byrne (Garryowen), George Hadden (Garryowen), Darragh McSweeney (Nenagh Ormond), Roman Salanoa (Nenagh Ormond), Kamil Nowak (UCC), Alex Lautsou (Shannon), John Poland (Young Munster), Dylan Hicks (Cork Constitution), Jed O’Dwyer (UCC).