Munster A suffered a 38-27 defeat to Connacht Eagles in round 4 of the Celtic Cup at the Sportsground today.
The Munster tries came from Academy players Jonathan Wren (two) and Ben Healy, with Healy adding all three conversions.
The out-half, who made his senior debut in the final minutes against London Irish on Friday night in Irish Independent Park, scored 17 of Munster’s points. He got straight down to business on starting at the Sportground, and got Munster off the mark with two penalties in the opening 15 minutes.
A try from Connacht scrum-half Stephen Kerins, converted by Conor Dean, moved the hosts ahead early in the second quarter before Wren restored the lead with his first try of the afternoon.
With Healy going over for his own score five minutes later Peter Malone’s charges held a 20-7 lead with two minutes left in the half.
However, the margin was reduced as Kerins crossed for his second try in the final seconds and with Dean kicking the conversion it was 20-14 at the interval.
Further attacking play from the home side saw them move into a 28-20 lead with tries from Sean Masterson and Niall Murray.
Despite the set back, Munster got to within a point after Wren’s second try on 65 minutes, but it was Connacht who closed out the game the stronger with a Dean penalty and a converted Diarmuid Kilgallen try.
