Munster Defeated By Connacht In Age-Grade Double-Header

It was a disappointing afternoon for Munster’s age-grade sides in Woodleigh Park as both the U18 Boys Clubs and U19 Men sides both fell to defeats to the Western Province.

Munster U18 Clubs 21 – 36 Connacht U18 Clubs

It was the U18 Clubs who were in action first and Connacht took an early lead with two tries with one of them converted. Munster responded with a try from Alex Reddin which was converted by Davy Maher.

Just before half-time, Munster took the lead. A scrum put-in five metres out saw Reddin carry hard off the scrum and from the next phase tighthead Peter O’Brien powered over from close range. Maher converted to give Munster a 14 to 12 lead at halftime.

Connacht got the first score of the second half after a number of penalty concessions from Munster handed Connacht good territory in the Munster 22. After a number of phases close to the Munster line, Connacht went back against the grain to their number 12 David Walsh who stepped inside the Munster defence to crash over for Connacht for a try. Darragh Murray landed the touchline conversion to give connect a 19 to 14 lead with five minutes played in the second half.

Munster responded with a well worked try. They dominated possession and territory within the Connacht five metre line and eventually Harry O’Dwyer went over for a close range try to level the game at 19-19 ahead of the conversion. Maher landed the conversion to give Munster a 21-19 lead at the midway point of the second half. Frustratingly for Munster they conceded a try immediately after their previous effort as Connacht took a 24 to 21 lead after Murray’s conversion attempt went wide as Connacht took a three point lead.

Munster had a good opportunity to get back into the game but a penalty which was almost kicked to the corner unfortunately went on the wrong side of the corner flag and went dead which gave Connacht an opportunity in their own half to relieve the pressure.  Despite this, Munster won a scrum penalty against the head and the home side had another opportunity to kick to the corner. From the resulting line out, Munster over threw the ball and Connacht collected possession. The visitors kicked downfield and a mistake from Munster in the backfield saw a Connacht player hack the ball towards the Munster line which was collected and dotted down by Munster. From the resulting 5m scrum for Connacht, some brave Munster defence saw the home side win a crucial turnover on their own line.

Again a promising Munster attack resulted in another mistake as Munster lost their own lineout before Connacht counter attacked very quickly. The ball went wide to Tom Smyth who showed his pace to score a cruical try which put them eight points in front. The conversion was added as Connacht took a 21-31 lead.

Munster pushed for a try to get back in the game but Connacht secured another try which saw the Western province win out 21-36.

Munster U18 Boys Clubs v Connacht

15. Fionn O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC)

14. Josh Devlin (Newport RFC)

13. Harry O’Donoghue (Ennis RFC)

12. Ewan Knowles (Clonakilty RFC)

11. Ruben O’Riordan (Youghal RFC)

10. Davyn Maher (Old Christians RFC)

9. Cillian Sturdy (Clonakilty RFC)

1. Thomas Buckley (Bruff RFC)

2. Harry O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC)

3. Peter O’Brien (Midleton RFC)

4. Patrick Cook (Clane RFC)

5. Flynn Cooke (UL Bohemian RFC)

6. Kenneth O’Brien (Dungarvan RFC)

7. Caolan Johnston (Waterpark RFC)

8. Alex Reddin (Waterpark RFC)

Replacements:

16. Eoin John Harrington (Kinsale RFC)

17. Conor Cawley (Skibbereen RFC)

18. Calum Fitzgerald (Carrigaline RFC)

19. Seán O’Sullivan (Kinsale RFC)

20. Mbekezeli Masuku (Clonmel RFC)

21. Ryan O’Neill (Newport RFC)

22. Ferdia Geoghegan (Carrick-On-Suir RFC)

23. Mark Reynolds (Old Christians RFC)

Munster U19 26 – 41 Connacht U19

It was a tough outing for the Munster U19s on Saturday and they had a mountain to climb in the second half after going into the break three converted tries and a penalty down. This 24 point margin stretched out to 27 points early in the second half

Conor started the second half well and won a penalty which they opted to go for the posts. Dylan Curran converted the penalty to give Connacht a 0-27 lead. 

Munster put some very good phases together for the first time in the second half which resulted in Noah Dann going over for a try under the posts which Alan Cleary converted which brought the scoreline back to 7-27.

Unfortunately, for Munster, Connacht scored another try after more indiscipline from Munster allowed the visitors kick to the corner and from the resulting lineout, Ruben Flynn carried hard off the back of the lineout and he crossed the line close to the corner flag. Curran successfully made the conversion which stretched Connacht’s lead to 7-34.

More indiscipline from Munster saw Caden Smith received a yellow card which ultimately resulted in Connacht getting another try from close range with one of their replacement props crashing over. The successful conversion stretched the Connacht lead to 7-41.

Another setback for Munster saw Cian O’Connor receive a yellow card for tackling a player in the air.

Cathal O’Doherty got a try in the corner to reduce the deficit for Munster but unfortunately the convesion drifted wide.

Evan Boland scored a superb solo try as he weaved his way through the Connacht defence from his own half to score under the posts. The resulting conversion saw the deficit reduced to 19-41. Boland then got in for another try after Munster did well to create and overlap with fullback crossing with ease. Cleary notched a brilliant conversion to reduce the deficit to 15 points at 26-41.

Munster should have been in for a fifth try after Cathal O’Mara made a superb break but unfortunately for Tommy O’Donnell’s side they couldn’t finish off the move and the ball went forward.

Munster U19s v Connacht

15. Evan Boland (Castletroy College)

14. Najim Jagana (Ardscoil Rís)

13. Cathal O’Mara (Roscrea College)

12. Noah Dann (Rockwell College)

11. Oisín Healy (Ardscoil Rís)

10. Alan Cleary (Crescent College Comprehensive)

9. Lewis Linehan (Bandon Grammar School)

1. Jack Deasy (Bandon Grammar School)

2. William Hanley (Fermoy RFC)

3. Conor Dillon (St Munchin’s College)

4. Gareth Murphy (Ardscoil Rís)

5. Ben O’Connell (Castletroy College)

6. Eamon Collins (Crescent College Comprehensive)

7. Eddie Dooley (Presentation Brothers College)

8. Cathal O’Doherty (Ardscoil Rís) (c)

Replacements

16. Kevin Griffin (Castletroy College)

17. Caden Smith (Glenstal Abbey)

18. Patrick O’Connor (Kilfeacle RFC)

19. Cian O’Connor (Ennis RFC)

20. Jack Ashcroft (Crosshaven RFC – Cork Constitution FC)

21. Liam O’Brien (Presentation Brothers College)

22. Sean O’Regan (Old Christians RFC)

23. Cillian O’Flynn (Bandon RFC)