Report | Munster Juniors Take Narrow Victory In The Capital

LEINSTER JUNIORS 26-28 MUNSTER JUNIORS

Munster came out on the right side of a one-score encounter in the second round of the Junior Interprovincial Championship at De La Salle Palmerston FC on Saturday.

Munster were keen to show they meant business from the kick off by taking an early advantage on the scoreboard. Concerted pressure on Leinster’s line culminated in inside centre Jack O’Connell reaching across the line for the opening try of the game. Shane Airey converted.

From the restart, Leinster moved at speed to create the opening for McKenna to make the corner flag to score, with the missed conversion leaving it 7-5 on seven minutes.

An offside decision allowed Leinster out-half Craig Miller to angle a kick to the corner in what was a statement of intent. The lineout, which was reliable all game thanks to Reynolds and second rows Jake Caldbeck and Tom Brady, moved with haste. There was total conviction about the pack’s cohesion for hooker Reynolds to claim the try, Connor Dunne converting to put Leinster 12-7 ahead in the 16th minute.

It was back-and-forth at this point. Munster turned up the heat. Leinster captain Donal McMahon was shown a yellow card for not rolling away at a ruck.

Munster opted for a tap from the resulting penalty, second row Killian O’Connell bulldozing to the whitewash for a try with Airey’s conversion recapturing the lead for the visitors.

Leinster rolled through a series of rucks for loosehead prop Bernard to cross for a score in response, which Dunne converted to make it 19-14 in the 36th minute.

Just before the break, Munster were awarded a penalty try when Oisin McKenna was yellow carded for not rolling away at a ruck for a fourth change of lead as the southern province held a 21-19 advantage at half-time.

By now, Munster had figured the best way forward was through. While the set piece was even enough, they got hold of an advantage at the breakdown. A tap penalty was the source of Munster’s fourth try by number eight Kain Donnellan, converted by replacement Fionn Fogarty for a two-score lead of 28-19 in the 54th minute.

Three minutes later, Leinster ramped up the phase play, with committed carries by replacement Garry Dunne, number eight McMahon and Reynolds.

A nice break by Connor Dunne sent Munster into scramble mode. Dangerman McKenna’s break and kick was gathered by the left wing for his fifth try in two games, converted by Dunne to narrow the difference to two points.

There was plenty of time left to complete the comeback, but Munster played the territory game, cleverly using one-out carriers to eat up the clock. Leinster could not escape until as late as the 78th minute.

A penalty, too far out to chance, was kicked to the corner, where they could not maintain control long enough to engineer a drop goal.

Scorers

Leinster Juniors: O McKenna 2 tries; G Reynolds, D Bernard try each; C Dunne 3 cons.

Munster Juniors: J O’Connell, K O’Connell, K Donnellan try each; Pen try; S Airey 2 cons; F Fogarty con.

Teams

Munster: Ben Daly; Matthew Crowley, Sam Glynn, Jack O’Connell, Sean Murphy; Shane Airey, Dave Evans; Matthew McCarthy, Scott Kingston, Cian Walsh; Killian O’Connell, Tadhg Galvin; Josh Brady, Sam Quinlan; Kain Donnellan.

Replacements: Ewan Kennedy, Cathal Dennehy, Jake Kennedy, Adam McEvoy, Sean Crowe, Fionn Fogarty, Brian Mullins.