Round-Up | Age-Grade Interpros v Ulster

It was a busy weekend of Interpro action as Munster’s age-grade sides took on their Ulster counterparts.

Ulster U18 Girls v Munster U18 Girls

Our U18 Girls side got proceedings underway this afternoon with a stellar 5-34 win against a strong Ulster outfit.

It was the home side that got the first points on the board through scrum half Amy McConkey as she crashed over in just the third minute.

But Munster posed a strong retaliation and scored a further six tries through Cora Miller, Abi Kelly, Maria O’Donovan, Elena O’Brien, Ciara O’Driscoll and Julie Finn with Lani O’Donovan adding two conversions.

A strong finish to the competition leaves the side in third going into the finals weekend next Saturday in Energia Park.

Munster: Maria O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC); Abi Kelly (Ennis RFC), Jo McCaughey (Clonakilty RFC), Lily Byrne (Dolphin RFC), Cora Miller (Waterpark RFC); Lani O’Donovan (Clonakilty RFC), Sophie O’Riordan (Bruff RFC); Aoife Martin (Ennis RFC), Ciara O’Driscoll (Cloankilty RFC), Alice Buckley (Kanturk RFC); Lisa O’Mahony (Ballincollig RFC), Laura Danaher (Scariff RFC); Elena O’Brien (Midleton RFC), Cailinn O’Brien (Garryowen FC); Eliza Wiley Murphy (Scariff RFC).

Replacements: Erin Ridgway (Kinsale RFC/Dolphin RFC), Maya McMahon (Clonakilty RFC), Aine O’Rourke (Mallow RFC), Orlaith Grimes (Shannon RFC), Kiera Murphy (Dolphin RFC), Julie Finn (Clonakilty RFC), Niamh O’Mahony (Ballincollig RFC), Alice O’Donovan (Bantry Bay RFC).

Ulster: Aoibhin Smith; Katelyn Magee, Caitlin Crowe, Emily Irwon, Eunice Adesanya; Grace Bracken, Amy McConkey; Orlaith Maguire, Alanna Scullion, Alanna Corcoran Cusack; Olivia McKinley, Jessica Kingston; Elinor Van Lil, Alana Eadie; Maisie Bowden.

Replacements: Ava Boyle, Alice Seaney, Fianche Higgins, Darcey Smith, Myah Vance, Méabh Hull, Brooke Schoenfeldt, Erin Robinson.

Ulster U18 Boys Clubs 19 – 27 Munster U18 Boys Clubs

It was a hard fought win for our U18 Boys Clubs side as they defeated their Ulster counterparts 19-27 in Newforge Sports Complex.

It was blindside flanker Daniel Ward that got scoring underway early on as he crashed over in the corner. Centre Sean O’Regan was unable to add the conversion from a tight angle, leaving the score at 0-5

Ulster responded through tighthead prop Joel Irwin to bring the score to 7-5.

Munster regained the lead just two minutes later as O’Regan slotted over a penalty.

But Ulster drove over once more before the break to bring the score line to 14-8 at half time.

We regained the lead just five minutes into the second half as Darragh Carroll dotted down in the corner and O’Regan adding the extras.

Replacement back-row Alex Reddin was next to make his mark as he barreled over in the 55th minute. With the addition of O’Regan’s conversion, our lead was extended to 14-22.

Ulster did not back down as scrum-half Sam Harper sniped in to bring the score to 19-22.

But Gerry Casey’s side had one more trick up their sleeves as a driving maul sent replacement hooker William Hanley over to secure the win with a final score of 19-27.

The side will now face Leinster in the last remaining game of the championship in Virgin Media Park this Sunday.

Munster: Dave Sargent (Tralee RFC); Darragh Carroll (Mallow RFC), Cillian O’Flynn (Bandon RFC), Sean O’Regan (Old Christians RFC), Diarmuid Gleeson (Nenagh Ormond RFC); Davyn Maher (Old Christians RFC), Edward Breen (Waterpark RFC); Dara O’Brien (Newcastle West RFC), Calum Tutty (Dungarvan RFC) (C), Jonathan Tutty (Dungarvan RFC); Daniel Moloney (Ennis RFC), Alex Ryan (Clanwilliam FC); Daniel Ward (Bantry Bay RFC), Alan Phelan (Waterford City RFC); Michael Griffin (Castleisland RFC)

Replacements: William Hanley (Fermoy RFC), Patrick O’Connor (Kilfeacle & District RFC), Ronan Maher (Nenagh Ormond RFC), PJ Walsh (Clonmel RFC), Alex Reddin (Waterpark RFC), Devyn Duggan (St. Senans RFC), Ewan Knowles (Clonakilty RFC), Liam Kelleher (Old Christians RFC), Rueben O’Riordan (Youghal RFC), Conor Cogan (Highfield RFC).

It was a disappointing end to the day for our U18 Schools side as they were defeated 35-23 by Ulster.

Munster opened up scoring early on with a penalty from full-back Daniel Murphy.

But Ulster responded as James Wells touched down for their opening try.

Winger Najim Jagena put Munster back in front once again as he intercepted a rouge kick from Ulster and ran in over the white wash.

This lead was short lived as Ulster reacted and were in themselves just minutes later.

Munster quickly hit back, with centre Ryan McCormack looking to score before a penalty was given. They opted for a lineout, and Ryan McFarlane scored from the resulting maul. Murphy’s conversion made it 14-17.

Ulster once again responded with a penalty just before half time to bring the score line to 21-20

But it wasn’t to be for Munster as their final penalty was no match for the last two tries scored by the Ulstermen to bring the final score line to 35-23.

Munster U18 Schools: Daniel Murphy (PBC); Najim Jagena (Ardscoil Rís), Alex Moloney (PBC), Ryan McCormack (Ardscoil Rís), Eddie Dooley (PBC); David Nolan (PBC), Lewis Lenihan (Bandon Grammar); Caden Smith (Glenstal Abbey), Michael Landers (St Munchins College), Sean Fitzpatrick (CBC); Ben O’Connell (Castleroy College), Tom Murray (PBC); Rian McFarlane O’Shea (PBC), Cathal O’Doherty (Ardscoil Rís); Xabi Scanlon (Castleroy College).

Replacements: Kevin Griffin (Castleroy College), Jack Deasy (Banon Grammar), Conor Dillon (St Munchins College), Conor McLoughlin (PBC), Sam Healy (CBC), Liam O’Brien (PBC), Alan Cleary (CCC), Harry O’Halloran (CCC), Brian O’Loughlin (Ardscoil Rís), Bobby Meagher (St Munchins College), Sam Barry (Bandon Grammar).

Ulster U18 Schools: James McMillan (Coleraine GS); Isaac Hatch (Campbell College Belfast), Nathan Hamilton (RS Armagh), Connor Patton (RBAI), Dylan Gray (RBAI); Josh McCaughey (Down HS), James Wells (CCB); Alex Stinson (RS Armagh), Charlie Reaney (RS Armagh), Lewis Robinson (Regent House); Archie Graham (Dalriada), Jayden Irwin (BRA); James Reid (Methodist College Belfast), Cian McClean (RBAI); George Gamble (Enniskillen RGS).

Replacements: David Nelson (Campbell College Belfast), Reuben McIlwrath (RBAI), Jonah Woolley (Antrim GS), Harry Doherty (MCB), Oliver Gartley (Methodist College Belfast), Jack Best (Campbell College Belfast), Ollie Taylor (RBAI), Harry Wells (CCB).