Munster Youths advance to Final

Munster Youths Outplayed a fancied Leinster in the set pieces on Saturday to win the semi- final of the Youths Interprovincial Championship and set up another chance to play Connaught in the Final.

Munster Youths Outplayed a fancied Leinster in the set pieces on Saturday to win the semi- final of the Youths Interprovincial Championship and set up another chance to play Connaught in the Final this coming weekend.

It was the Munster Youths who started the strongest of the two when from the kick off the Munster pack gathered to give scrum half Declan O Donoghue space to get his back line moving. On the second phase of play number ten Donal Twomey put a grubber kick behind the Leinster three quarter line on the twenty two only to be taken out by the Leinster out half. Kevin Doyle kicked the penalty to open Munsters account on five minutes.

Leinster replied within fifteen minutes when their winger ran in a try in the corner. The outhalf failed to put over the difficult conversion to leave the scores at 5:3 in Leinsters favour. Munster created numerous try scoring opportunities in the opening twenty minutes but couldn’t convert to points. Munster again had a penalty outside the twenty two just before the half time whistle put failed to capitilise.

Both sides were well matched in open play and entertained the large attendance in Portlaoise rugby club. However it was Munster who dominated in the Line outs and scrums with the second row partnership of Ben Nagle and Sean Ryan playing impressive rugby. Winger Kevin Doyle was unlucky to be forced into touch just short of the Leinster try line on three occasions in the second period where Leinster never threatened the Munster line.

Defiant defending in midfield held them out for much of the game. Munster were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck and Doyle was unlucky hitting the upright and missing the vital kick with only ten minutes to go.

But the Youths showed typical Munster spirit sticking to the task in hand and led by an inspirational Captain in Dave Ryan continued to mount pressure on the Leinster defence. Munster finally got another penalty for off side at the ruck in front of the Posts with three minutes of normal time remaining and Doyle was in no doubt of slotting this one over.

Munster ran out the game winning six points to five to meet Connaught in Portlaoise Rugby Club Saturday 25th October next, Kick off 13.00 hrs.

Great display by Munster youths and in particular props D Ryan, S Fitzgerald & K Griffin, Flanker Ed Crowley and second rows B Nagle & S Ryan.

Munster Youths: S Moloney, D Corcoran, K Doyle, N O Driscoll, K Merrigan, Donal Twomey, D O Donoghue, Ed Crowley, Darren Twomey, C Horgan, B Nagle, S Ryan, D Ryan, L Bannon, S Fitzgerald. Reserves: K Griffin for S Fitzgerald (30 min), A Cahill for D Corcoran (45min), D Corcoran for D O Donoghue (45 min).