Munster Secure Age-Grade Triple Header Success Over Ulster

On a beautiful day in Virgin Media Park it was a great day for Munster Rugby.

All three of Munster’s age-grade sides came away with crucial wins over Ulster. Two end-to-end nailbiters for the U18 Clubs and Schools sides and a dominant win for the U19 team. 16 tries were scored across the three high-scoring games for Munster in what was a great day in Cork.

Munster U18 Schools 32 – 26 Ulster U18 Schools

The U18 Schools side kicked off the triple header in Virgin Media Park and they did not disappoint. A dramatic finish to the game saw a try from Leo Carman restore Munster’s lead with the clock in the red. The Round 3 victory was the side’s first PWC Interprovincial win of the season and was against a strong, unbeaten Ulster team. Munster got their revenge having been beaten by Ulster two weeks ago in Round 1 of the competition at the Affidea Stadium, Belfast.

Ulster survived early pressure inside their own five metre line in the opening minutes but escaped unscathed. Matthew McCarthy opened the scoring for Munster with a penalty just inside the Ulster half after great work at the breakdown from Robert Carrigan. A well-worked maul from a line out saw Leo Carman be the first man to touch down 10 minutes in, following indiscipline from Ulster allowing Harry Quinlan to find touch deep inside the Ulster 22. McCarthy was again good from the tee to put Munster 10-0 up in the fixture. Ulster responded well with a maul of their own five minutes later with Dylan Armstrong crossing the whitewash to reduce the deficit to five. It didn’t take long for Munster to pull away again as a huge line break from Jack Hayes was duly finished by Harry Quinlan. A vital tip tackle from Matthew McCarthy had initially won back position for the Reds, but he failed to add the extras from the tee. The end-to-end first half continued as Ulster’s Zac Topping was in for a try and Jack Best was accurate from the tee. Munster chipped away at the Ulster defence for a lengthy period to end the first half but were unable to beat the determined defence. The Reds’ attack was eventually held up over the line to end the half 15-12 ahead.

Munster were the dominant side for the majority of the second half but a brief purple patch from the visitors added a scare for the Reds. A pinpoint 35-metre grubber kick from Hugh Downey found Alexander Bramoulle inside the Ulster five metre line, allowing Robert Carrigan in for a try from the resulting ruck. Two converted tries in quick succession from the Ulstermen saw them take the lead for the first time, 26-20. A long period of dominance from Munster in both territory and possession followed and was eventually rewarded when Alexander Bramoulle went over in the corner. An intense final few minutes was set up with just a point separating the sides. A close-range penalty was awarded to Munster with just minutes remaining. The line judges initially waved their flags for the effort from Matthew McCarthy before overturning the decision after a discussion with the ref, much to the outrage of the Virgin Media Park faithful. The confusion was quickly forgotten by the home supporters when Leo Carman was over for his second try of the afternoon with the clock in the red, securing the win for the Reds. Matthew McCarthy added the cherry on top with the conversion to earn Munster U18 Schools’ first win of this PWC Interprovisional season.

Scorers: Munster: Tries: Leo Carman 2, Harry Quinlan, Robert Carrigan, Alexander Bramoulle; Cons: Matthew McCarthy 2; Pens: Matthew McCarthy
Ulster: Tries: Dylan Armstrong, Zac Topping, Adam Crone, Dylan Gray; Cons: Jack Best 3

Munster U18s Schools v Ulster

15. Hugh Downey (CBC)

14. Alexander Bramoulle (Bandon Grammar School) (70’ off)

13. Matthew McCarthy (PBC)

12. Jack Hayes (Roscrea College)

11. Adam Bennett (Crescent College Comprehensive)

10. Harry Quinlan (CBC) (56’ off)

9. Tiernan Murphy (CBC) (61’ off)

1. William Powell (Roscrea College) (61’ off)

2. Leo Carman (Ardscoil Rís)

3. Kyle Yoxall (St. Munchin’s College) (41’ off, 61’ on)

4. Mark Whelton (Bandon Grammar School)

5. Andrew O’Connor (Castletroy College)

6. Sean Ryan (Crescent College Comprehensive) (50’ off, 64’ on)

7. Robert Carrigan (Rockwell College) (C)

8. Ronan Dillon (PBC) (64’ off)

Replacements

16. Bobby Meagher (St. Munchin’s College) (41’ on)

17. Oisín Gleeson (Crescent College Comprehensive)

18. David Fitzpatrick (Crescent College Comprehensive)

19. Jay Walsh (Crescent College Comprehensive)

20. Dylan L’Estrange (Bandon Grammar School) (61’ on)

21. Gearoid Hickey (Crescent College Comprehensive) (70’ on)

22. Jos Keating (Bandon Grammar School) (56’ on)

23. Ronan O’Brien (St. Munchin’s College) (50’ on)

Munster U18 Clubs 34 – 33 Ulster U18 Clubs

A high-scoring and enthralling clash in Virgin Media Park saw the home side come away with the win. The Munster U18 Club side responded to last week’s defeat to Connacht with a strong performance in Cork. The end-to-end encounter saw Munster defeat a strong Ulster side by a point, scoring six tries in the process.

Munster took the lead after just seven minutes. Thomas Buckley got the Reds on the board thanks to some great work by the forwards. The lead was short-lived after Rueben O’Riodan received a yellow card just 10 minutes in. Munster were put under immediate pressure, having to defend a 5-metre scrum down to 14 men. The Reds conceded a penalty in the scrum, which was kicked to touch and Corbin Marsden scored a try in a maul from the resulting line-out. Joel Clarke’s sideline conversion then sailed over the bar for the visitors. Munster didn’t drop their heads when down to 14 men. A clever kick in behind was gathered and touched down by Josh Devlin in the corner to go 10-7 ahead. For the remaining 20 minutes of the half Munster enjoyed the majority of the possession and many phases in the Ulster half. Dominance in the maul got the Reds into great positions but couldn’t quite get over the try line. It wasn’t until beyond the 35th minute that Munster finally got their reward for their prolonged pressure. Seàn O’Sullivan powered past the Ulstermen from close range after a few phases within the five-metre line to earn the five points for his province. Tadhg Bane slotted the conversion to go into the break 17-7 to the good.

Ulster were quickest out of the blocks in the second half. Ayrton Pienaar went over for the visitors after a spell of pressure in the Munster half. Joel Clarke added the extras from a much easier position than his first. Minutes later the Ulstermen struck again. A phase of play starting deep in their own half resulted in Jacob Ennis-McManus speeding down the left wing, out of the reach of any Munster defender. Ulster’s lead didn’t last long as Munster’s dominant maul was finally rewarded when Harry O’Dwyer crossed the whitewash, and the extras were provided by Tadgh Bane via the post. The hosts’ kicking game provided the next try. A deep kick into the Ulster half was fumbled forward by their fullback earning a great field position. A cross-field kick followed the scrum which was also fumbled and gathered by the rushing Josh Devlin. The Newportman’s offload found Harry O’Donoughue who dived over the tryline. It was followed by an instant response from Ulster who scored almost directly from the restart through Ryan Mitchell. Joel Clarke was again accurate from the tee to cut Munster’s lead to three points. The home side showed great determination and great hands as they found Fionn O’Donovan out wide on the left wing. The Clonakilty native then finished into the corner with just minutes remaining. The Reds weren’t in the clear just yet. Jed Poutney’s quick tap and go allowed him to run 30-metres through the unset Munster defence and in for a try. Joel Clarke’s conversion put just one point between the sides in favour of the home team. The Ulstermen had just one last chance from the restart but a great tackle from Josh Devlin put Jacob Ennis-McManus into touch and the referee blew his whistle for the final time.

Scorers:
Munster: Tries: Thomas Buckley, Josh Devlin, Seàn O’Sullivan, Harry O’Dwyer, Harry O’Donoughue, Fionn O’Donovan; Cons: Tadhg Bane 2
Ulster: Tries: Corbin Marsden, Ayrton Pienaar, Jacob Ennis-McManus, Ryan Mitchell, Jed Poutney; Cons: Joel Clarke 4

15. Tadhg Bane (Ennis RFC) (66’ off)

14. Josh Devlin (Newport RFC)

13. Harry O’Donoghue (Ennis RFC)

12. Ewan Knowles (Clonakilty RFC)

11. Ruben O’Riordan (Youghal RFC) (19’ off)

10. Davyn Maher (Old Christians RFC)

9. Ryan O’Neill (Newport RFC) (66’ off)

1. Thomas Buckley (Bruff RFC) (66’ off)

2. Harry O’Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC) (56’ off)

3. Peter O’Brien (Midleton RFC) (19’ off, 31’ on, 66’ off)

4. Patrick Cooke (Clane RFC)

5. Flynn Cooke (UL Bohemian RFC) (49’ off)

6. Seàn O’Sullivan (Kinsale RFC)

7. Caolan Johnston (Waterpark RFC) (49’ off)

8. Alex Reddin (Waterpark RFC) (C)

Replacements

16. Nikolas Przewozniak (Bandon RFC) (66’ on)

17. Ivor O’Riordan (Kinsale RFC) (56’ on)

18. Calum Fitzgerald (Carrigaline RFC) (19’ on, 31’ off, 66’ on)

19. Kenneth O’Brien (Dungarvan RFC) (49’ on)

20. Christopher O’Flynn (Old Christians RFC) (49’ on)

21. Rua Clancy (Waterpark RFC) (66’ on)

22. Fionn O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC) (19’ on)

23. Oscar Flanagan (Waterpark RFC) (66’ on)

Munster U19 Men 41– 21 Ulster U19 Men

A dominant first half performance from Munster was this difference as they defeated Ulster in Virgin Media Park. There was a lot of pressure on the U19s following both U18 teams who got two great wins earlier on, but they did not disappoint. Three converted tries in the first 10 minutes put them out of Ulster’s reach for the rest of the contest, but Ulster came out fighting in the second half.

It was a blistering start for Munster in the contest. Just two minutes in, Lewis Linehan played a lovely dummy off the back of a ruck to psyche out the defender before storming over the tryline. Alan Cleary’s conversion sailed over the bar to ensure the perfect start for the home side. It was about to get a lot better as the restart was knocked back by an Ulsterman and fumbled by his teammate. Evan Boland was quickest to react, the Castletroy College winger gathered it and bolted 40-metres in for a try, which was converted by Alan Cleary. Minutes later Munster were back knocking on the door, putting heavy pressure on the Ulster try line. Lewis Linehan eventually elected to go to his backs, playing a skip pass to Cathal O’Mara. O’Mara found a gap in the Ulster defence and strolled it in under the posts. Cleary was again accurate from the tee to put Munster 21-0 up in the first 10 minutes. Things got even more difficult for the visitors as Archie Graham received a yellow card and they were down a man. The Reds’ relentless pressure continued as William Hanley touched down Munster’s fourth unanswered converted try at the back of a maul. Just as Ulster looked to be getting a foothold in the game, Eddie Dooley won a penalty from a jackal in a ruck in a great area. Cleary went for the posts and continued his perfect kicking game, adding three points to the board. Another penalty from the Crescent Comp kicker with the clock in the red saw an end to a near-perfect half from the Munster side.

It was the visitors who had the fast start in the second half. Cian McLean ran under the posts from close range following a tap and go to give the Northern province their first score of the game. Munster responded swiftly, working it well down the right wing before being touched down by Eamonn Collins out wide. Cleary’s effort sailed over the bar yet again to maintain his 7/7 record from the tee for the afternoon. Ulster came out a much better team in the second half, and they began putting pressure on the Munster defence. Captain Jaden Irwin scored their second try of the game which was converted again by Ollie Worth. Munster went down to 14 men in the process as Eddie Dooley was on the receiving end of a yellow card as the try was scored. Despite being down to 14, Munster spent a lot of phases inside the Ulster 22. As Munster were chipping away at the Ulster defence there was a knock-on which was gathered by an Ulster defender and booted down the field. Isaac Hatch was quickest to get there and ran it under the Munster uprights for a try. Ollie Worth added the extras to cut their deficit to 20. And that’s how it would finish, 41-21.

Scorers:
Munster: Tries: Lewis Linehan, Evan Boland, Cathal O’Mara, William Hanley, Eamonn Collins; Cons: Alan Cleary 5; Pens: Alan Cleary 2
Ulster: Tries: Cian McClean, Jayden Irwin, Isaac Hatch; Cons: Ollie Worth 3

15. David Sargent (Tralee RFC)

14. Najim Jagana (Ardscoil Rís)

13. Cathal O’Mara (Roscrea College)

12. Sean O’ Regan (Old Christians RFC) (51’ off)

11. Evan Boland (Castletroy College) (35’ off, 55’ on, 65’ off))

10. Alan Cleary (Crescent College Comprehensive)

9. Lewis Linehan (Bandon Grammar School) (51’ off, 65’ on)

1. Caden Smith (Glenstal Abbey) (27’ off, 56’ on)

2. William Hanley (Fermoy RFC)

3. Patrick O’Connor (Kilfeacle RFC) (27’ off, 56’ on)

4. Cian O’Connor (Ennis RFC)

5. Ben O’Connell (Castletroy College)

6. Eamon Collins (Crescent College Comprehensive) (59’ off)

7. Eddie Dooley (PBC) (41’ off)

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

Replacements

16. Kevin Griffin (Castletroy College) (41’ on)

17. Seán FitzPatrick (CBC) (27’ on, 56’ off)

18. Conor Dillon (St. Munchin’s College) (27’ on, 56’ off)

19. Gareth Murphy (Ardscoil Rís) (59’ on)

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

21. Liam O’Brien (PBC) (51’ on)

22. Noah Dann (Rockwell College) (51’ on)

23. Robert O’Brien (Rockwell College) (35’ on, 55’ off)