U21s Finish Top of Their Table

22nd September 2002 By Munster Rugby

Munster finished top of the table in the Under 21 Interprovicial championship, thanks to an emphatic 48-20 victory over Ulster in Thomond Park on Saturday.

At the end of a closely contested first half Munster led 21-13, but by then had assumed control and dominated the second half exchanges to emerge comfortable winners, scoring five tries in the process.

Ulster were the first to score in Thomond Park but Munster struck back with a try from captain Stephen Keogh. Towards the end of the first half the Munster pack assumed control and Ulster were really not able to handle the power of the Munster forwards. In the second half that trend continued and with barry Keeshan controlling matters superbly at out-half, Munster maintained their stranglehold on this game. They will now have home advantage when they take on Leinster (tbc) in the play-off semi final next weekend. In the other game played at the Sportsground, Connacht beat Leinster 12-9.

Munster Scorers: Tries: P O’Brien, F O’Loughlin, S Nihill, S Keogh, J Rothwell. Cons: R Lane. B Keeshan (2) Pens: B Keeshan (4)

Munster U21 Side:

P O’Brien, A Cowley, B Murphy, K Matthews, R Lane; B Keeshan, F O’Loughlin, V Soden, D Fogarty, E McGovern, R Hartigan, P McCarthy; S Keogh (Capt), E Nihill, B O’Connor.

Replacements: C Garvey, F Gately, J Danagher, R O’Connor, G Noonan, K O’Mahony, F Cogan.