Munster U18 Clubs Set For Decider

Munster Head Coach Brendan O’Connor has named his side for the U18 Clubs Interprovincial decider against Connacht on Saturday at the Sportsground (September 17, 2.30pm).

Munster and Connacht have won both of their ties so far so it will be winner-takes-all in Galway.

O'Connor has elected to stick with the same starting XV that beat Leinster last week with Waterpark's Harry Donnelly and Sunday's Well man Ryan Lenihan drafted onto the replacements bench.

Munster made an excellent start to their campaign as they emerged with a 19-14 win away in Ulster on the opening weekend earlier this month.

Hosts Ulster were 14-3 up after a dominant first-half performance with Munster's only score coming from an early Conor Hayes penalty.

The comeback started just five minutes after the interval as full-back Hayes touched down to make it 14-8.

Hooker Derry Gleeson scored Munster's second try later in the half as Munster moved to within a point and out-half Harry Byrne showed nerves of steel to kick two late penalties and complete a magnificent turnaround.

That was followed last weekend by a first win over Leinster at this level in eight years.

Captain Evan O'Gorman, Young Munster. played a leading role and it was his first-half intercept try that gave Munster a 7-3 half-time lead.

Garrryowen out-half Harry Byrne converted the 16th-minute score and Munster extended their lead on 52 minutes as speedy Ennis RFC winger Ikem Ugwuru raced clear down the right wing for the hosts' second try.

The win was sealed late on as Young Munster full-back Conor Hayes kicked a penalty to make it 15-3.

Munster U18 Clubs team to face Connacht (Sportsground, Saturday, September 17, 2.30pm)
15. Conor Hayes (Young Munster RFC)
14. Ikem Ugwuru (Ennis RFC)
13. Joe O'Connor (Tralee RFC)
12. Evan O'Gorman (Young Munster RFC) (C)
11. Tom Hanley (Charleville RFC)
10. Harry Byrne (Garryowen FC)
9. Nick O'Donoghue (Waterpark RFC)
1. Aaron Hennessy (Ennis RFC)
2. Derry Gleeson (Garryowen FC)
3. Fionn Flanagan (Bruff RFC)
4. Charlie Murphy (Dungarvan RFC)
5. Evan Murphy (Nenagh Ormond RFC)
6. Ross McCormack (Fethard & District RFC)
7. Shane Brosnahan (Young Munster RFC)
8. John Hodnett (Clonakility RFC)

Replacements:
16. Harry Donnelly (Waterpark RFC)
17. Paudie McCarthy (Bantry Bay RFC)
18. Ryan Lenihan (Sundays Well RFC)
19. Sam Kroupa (Nenagh Ormond RFC)
20. Alan McInerney (Young Munster RFC)
21. Aaron Hehir (Shannon RFC)
22. Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC)
23. Joe Quilter (Tralee RFC)

Interprovincial Fixtures and Results 2016
Munster Combined U20 & Development Squad
Friday, 9th September, Munster 21-18 Ulster, Thomond Park
Friday, 16th September, Leinster v Munster, Donnybrook, 7pm

Munster U19s
Saturday, 3rd September, Munster 35-0 Connacht, Thomond Park
Saturday, 10th September, Munster 13-15 Ulster, CIT
Saturday, 17th September, Leinster v Munster, Anglesea Road, 3pm

Munster U18 Clubs
Saturday, 3rd September, Ulster 14-19 Munster, Rainey Old Boys RFC
Sunday, 11th September, Munster 15-3 Leinster, Thomond Park
Saturday, 17th September, Connacht v Munster, Sportsground, 2.30pm

Munster U18 Schools
Friday, 26th August, Ulster 15-18 Munster, Pirrie Park
Tuesday, 30th August, Munster 8-3 Leinster, Thomond Park
Saturday, 10th September, Munster 19-13 Ulster, CIT
Saturday, 24th September, Leinster v Munster, Donnybrook, 3pm