Schools Rugby – Munster No Match for Leinster

Following on from their narrow defeat by Ulster in Belfast the Munster Schools side, having trailed 22-12 at half-time, were beaten 35-12 by Leinster in Thomond Park yesterday.

Following on from their narrow defeat by Ulster in Belfast the Munster Schools side were well beaten by Leinster in Thomond Park yesterday. Right from the off Munster were under pressure and found themselves 19 points down at the end of the opening quarter.

At that stage they looked set for a miserable afternoon but to their credit they rallied in the closing stages of the half to record tries from Cian Ahearne and Pat Rowley. Rowley’s try was superbly converted from the touchline by Gerard Slattery to leave his side trailing 22-12 at the break.

In the second half however it was all Leinster and although they only managed to breach the Munster goal-line once they were full value for their victory at the end of a very impressive performance.

Munster: K. Doyle (CBC); C. Aherne (Crescent, M. O’Driscoll (Rockwell), E. Broderick (St. Munchin’s), P. Thompson (Rockwell); R. O’Sullivan (Crescent), P. Rowley (St. Munchin’s); M. O’Leary (PBC), G. Slattery (St. Munchin’s), A. Cotter (St. Munchin’s); N. Keogh (St. Munchin’s), D. Keogh (CBC); D. Gardiner (St. Munchin’s), B. O’Mahony (Crescent) capt, D. Sherry (Ard Scoil Ris). Replacements: G Dunne (PBC) for Broderick 40 min, P Carroll (Crescent) for Thompson 40 min, S Cronin (PBC) for Rowley 68 min, C O’Donoghue (CBC) for O’Leary 68 min, S O’Dwyer (Rockwell) for Slattery 68 min, C Canning (Rockwell) for O’Mahony 62 min, K Roche (Rockwell) for Sherry 54 min.

Leinster: B. Collins (Castleknock); S. Durkin (Terenure), L. Fitzgerald (Blackrock), J. Power (Blackrock), V. Artemiev (Blackrock); A. Cumiskey (St. Michael’s), R. Viz (Terenure, D. Rowe); C. Healy (Belvedere), C. Culliton (Blackrock), R. Burke-Flynn (St. Michael’s); S. Dunlop (Terenure), C. McInerney (St. Mary’s) capt; B. Coyle (Clongowes), M. Lynch (Blackrock), D. O’Reilly (Blackrock).

Referee: M. Kilgore (IRFU).