Munster Impress in Ravenhill Victory

Munster completed the double over Ulster in this year’s Under 21 interprovincial championship when they recorded a 21-6 victory in Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon.

Munster completed the double over Ulster in this year’s Under 21 interprovincial championship when they recorded a 21-6 victory in Ravenhill this (Saturday) afternoon.

The home side had been beaten 27-6 a week ago in Musgrave Park and this time around included senior panelist Tommy Bowe in an effort to keep themselves in the championship race. After a bright opening half Ulster led 6-3 having managed dominate the Munster 8 for long periods. However, it was a different scenario in the second half, Munster responding to the half time ‘chat’ with coach Brian Hyland and his assistant Phillip Danagher.

“We felt they really hadn’t done themselves justice in that opening half,” said Hyland, ” and let them know that. We just asked them to give it their all for the second half. In fairness Ulster were well up for this one and maybe our lads let them dictate for long periods. But in fairness they responded brilliantly and in the second half we saw them play the sort of rugby we knew t hey’re capable of.

“Within ten minutes of the restart they had taken the lead. A well worked line-out move led to the game’s opening try from Anthony Kavanagh. Shane O’Connor won the line-out slipped the pass to Donncha Ryan who found Kavanaghg steaming around the front to score in the corner.

Barry Keeshan who had landed the first half penalty missed the difficult conversion but make no mistake ten minutes later, adding the points to a try from Donnacha Ryan and from then on Munster controlled the game much as they liked. Keeshan tagged on two further penalties in the closing stages.

This victory leaves Munster set fair to retain the title. They finish with games away to Connacht and home to Leinster. Victory in Galway next weekend will leave them interprovincial champions before the final game with Leinster (Thomond Park) on October 3rd but team manager refuses to think in terms of winning titles at this stage.

“It’s in our own hands now and that’s the way we want it to be be. We’ll take one game at a time, play the sort of rugby that we set out to play at the start and if we do I think the results will follow. We can’t take anything for granted. Connacht will be as tough a game as we’ve played so far and winning there is never easy. But that’s what is in front of us and we start preparing for that now.”