After a delayed start in Donnybrook this evening the first A Interpro game of the season kicked off and despite a second half comeback Munster A suffered a 22-17 defeat to Leinster A.
Although Munster A tested the Leinster A defence in the opening minutes an early scoring chance was scuppered by a knock-on at the line and the home-side quickly recovered to score themselves through fullback Billy Dardis minutes later. Centre Tom Daly was off target with the conversion and Leinster led 5 nil after 16 minutes.
Munster’s reply was through the boot of Rory Scannell after the men in blue were penalised for not rolling away and this was to be the only score for the visitors in the first half.
The Mick O’Driscoll coached side were soon back defending their line, and only for a scrambling tackle, winger Adam Byrne was stopped in his tracks and bundled into touch.
The home-side did extend their lead further with a Tom Daly penalty after 27 minutes before winger Michael McGrath was next to cross the whitewash, scoring just before the interval, and with Daly adding the extras Leinster A led 15-3 at half-time.
Leinster continued to attack early in the second half and once again turned pressure into points when Tom Denton dotted down for his side’s third try. With Daly kicking the conversion Leinster A moved further ahead 22-3 after 45 minutes.
Fifteen minutes later Munster eventually broke the Leinster defence when after a series of pick and goes Shane Buckley stretched over for the first try. Scannell kicked the conversion to leave the sides at 22-10.
The margin was reduced further when academy winger Stephen Fitzgerald intercepted an Adam Byrne pass and with the conversion sailing over Munster trailed by 5 moving into the final minutes.
With the home-side reduced to 14 men Munster continued to press but a final attacking wave ended in a knock-on and Leinster held on to record a 22-17 victory.
Munster A: Steven McMahon (Alex Wootton 55 (Tomás Quinlan 75)); Stephen Fitzgerald, Ned Hodson, Matt D'Arcy, Darren Sweetnam; Rory Scannell, Ryan Foley (John Poland 66); Liam O'Connor (JP Phelan 55 (Rory Burke 75)), Niall Scannell Capt. (Kevin O'Byrne 60), John Ryan (Brendan Quinlan 75); Brian Hayes, Frank Bradshaw Ryan (Conor Oliver 40); Ben Kilkenny, Jordan Coghlan (Sean O'Leary 60), Shane Buckley (Kelvin Browne 75).
