Munster Under 20 Beat Leinster

A magnificent performance by Munster saw them take a big step closer to winning the Under 20 Inter Provincial Championship with a resounding victory over Leinster at the Mardyke.

Munster 22, Leinster 8.

Despite the torrential rain that fell hours before the game, the Mardyke pitch was in excellent condition and both teams must be credited for producing a cracking tie.

Leinster pack held the upper hand in the scrum but with Sean O’Leary, Dan Walsh and John Foley dominating the line out, the forward exchanges were evenly contested even if Munster were on the back foot for long periods.

Leinster out half Tommy Whittle had a poor day with the boot missing two kickable penalties at a time when there was little between the sides.

Munster had to replace their out half twice. Bill Johnston had to leave the field with a hand injury after thirty five minutes which resulted in full back Dave O’Mahony moving into the fly half position.
However he too had to leave the field after forty five minutes and Tom McHale took over the out half berth.

Early pressure by Leinster was rewarded with a penalty by Whittle after eight minutes.

Munster were level five minutes later when Bill Johnston slotted over with his first attempt at the sticks.

Johnston had Munster in front mid way through the half as Leinster began to conceed some needless penalties.

Dave O’Mahony took over the kicking duties following Johnston’s withdrawal and he extended Munster’s advantage with a long range effort five minutes before the break to give Munster a 9-3 half time lead.

Whittle was off target with a penalty five minutes into the second half as Leinster dominated.

A great burst by Leinster winger Hugo Keenan was halted on the Twenty Two by a try saving tackle by John Poland which resulted in the Munster scrum half being yellow carded. From the resulting penalty, Whittle was again off target.

Tom McHale took over the kicking duties and he extended Munster’s advantage with a penalty on fifty six minutes.

A great Leinster move involving Keenan and Rowan Osbourne sent Matt Byrne in for an unconverted try in the corner.

Munster responded immediately with Shane Daly intercepting on the half way line and he raced over the line for a try which McHale converted for 19-8 lead.

Restored to fifteen players, Munster grew in stature and a McHale penalty six minutes from time put the game beyond Leinster.

Next up for Munster is a game with Connacht which could see them being crowned champions.

Munster: Dave O’Mahony (Young Munster); Colm Hogan (Glenstal Abbey School), Shane Daly (Presentation Brothers College), Paul Kiernan (Captain) (UCC), Lee Molloy (Rockwell College); Bill Johnston (Garryowen), John Poland (Presentation Brothers College); Peter Meyer (Young Munster), Vincent O’Brien (Cork Constitution), Ben Betts (Young Munster); Sean O’Leary (Cork Constitution), Barra O’Byrne (Garryowen); Kelvin Browne (Shannon), Dan Walsh (Vice-Captain) (Cork Constitution), John Foley (Shannon).
Replacements: Shane Fenton (Young Munster), Shane O’Hanlon (Christian Brothers College), Rob O’Donovan (Cork Constitution), Pat Staff (Young Munster), Evan Mintern (Cork Constitution), Tom McHale (Rockwell College), Jamie McAleese (Glenstal Abbey School), James O’Connor (Young Munster).

Leinster: Jack Power; Matt Byrne, Conor O’Brien, Jimmy O’Brien, Hugo Keenan; Tommy Whittle, Nick Peters; James Bollard, John Moloney, Adam Coyle; Michael Melia, James Ryan (capt); Will Connors. David Aspil, Max Deegan.
Replacements: Hugo Kean, Vakh Abdaladze, Greg McGrath, Greg Jones, Neil Reilly, Rowan Osbourne, Matthew Gilsenan, Terry Kennedy.

Referee: Karl Collins (IRFU).