Munster Colleges Defeat Leinster

Defending champions Munster Colleges defeated Leinster on Tuesday after a tight 17-15 win in Mullingar

MUNSTER STILL CHAMPIONS AFTER A CLOSE ENCOUNTER

LEINSTER 15 MUNSTER 17

Interprovincial Semi Final

Mullingar RFC

Tuesday 8^th November 2005

The game started very evenly, after 10 mins Munster were awarded a penalty on the opposition 10 yard line right of the posts. Jeffery Hitchmough elected to go for goal and scored with a long kick. From the kick-off Leinster exerted pressure and were awarded a penalty. Munster from here on had plenty of possession but did not get much reward except for two more penalties from Jeff Hitchmough. Half-time score 9-3 to Munster.

From the kick-off in the second half Munster piled on the pressure and forced a line-out on the Leinster 5 yard line. On the Leinster put in, Trevor O’ Sullivan dropped on the tap down, but Jeff Hitchmough failed with the conversion. Leinster s maul then clicked into place and from such a maul from 20 metres out Leinster scored a try which was not converted. More Leinster pressure through their maul yielded another try which was converted. Leinster a point ahead, 15-14.

Munster made some substitutions, Tom Mee, Joe Moynihan, Darren Murphy and Graham Keane coming on. This had the desired effect of lifting Munster. Relentless pressure eventually saw Munster awarded a penalty on the 22 metre line in front of the posts after Colin Corkery was short armed tackled after putting in a grubber kick. Jeff Hitchmough did not falter, score 17-15 to Munster. After that Munster wound down the last two minutes of extra time in the Leinster half. Alan O’Boyle led his team from the front with other noticeable performances from Jim Mackessy, Francis Broderick, Jamie Gogarty, Paul Dillon and Pat O’Connor.

TEAM
15 Hitchmough Jeffrey CIT Midleton
14 O’Connor Pat LIT Shannon
13 Dillon Paul LIT Clonakilty
12 O’Boyle (Capt.) Alan UL UL-Bohemians
11 Martin Jerry LIT Garryowen
10 Corkery Colin CIT Douglas
9 Gogarty Jamie Garda Dolphin
1 Farrell Brian LIT Old Crescent
2 Kerins John CIT Highfield
3 Mackessy Jim CIT UCC
4 Broderick Francis UL Garryowen
5 Prendergast Des Garda Shannon
6 O’Connor Philip LIT Old Crescent
7 Power Maurice CIT Highfield
8 O’Sullivan Trevor Cork Col Com. Cork Con.

Substitutes
16 Guiry Alan LIT Garryowen
17 Moynihan Joe CIT Sunday’s Well
18 Murphy Darren LIT Old Crescent
19 Mee Tom CIT-NMCI Sunday’s Well
20 Keane Darren Col Stiofan Naofa Cork Con.
21 Purtill Gary Garda Dolphin
22 O’Sullivan Shane ColStiofanNaofa/Sunday’s Well

other travelling reserves

Lee Joe -Garda RFC
Murphy Gavin LIT Ennis
Ring Eamon Col Stiofan Naofa Crosshaven