Interprovincial Campaigns 2006/7

4th September 2006 By Munster Rugby

Munster U19’s defeated 14-9 by Leinster in Donnybrook while the U18’s and U20’s are in action today.

2006/2007 IRFU U20 INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MUNSTER U20 s RUGBY

MUNSTER 20-29 ULSTER

Thomond Park

Munster U20 s hopes of claiming the U20 Interprovincial Championship for this season came to a halt on Saturday night when they were defeated by an on form Ulster in Thomond Park. With the sides remaining close throughout the game, it was the visitors that took the honours, winning 29-20 and booking themselves a place in the final next weekend against Leinster. Munster will have to contend with a 3^rd/4^th place play off with Connacht. (Next Saturday, September 23^rd, Athlone, ko 2pm)

For the first ten minutes the two sides traded scores, with Ulster opened the scoring with a penalty from full back Owen McMurray, which Munster winger Willie Staunton responded to minutes later. First to cross the line for a try was Munster out half Ronan O Sullivan after 15 minutes, which Staunton converted to give the home side a 10-3 lead. At the half hour mark, the score was levelled after Ulster tight head prop Neil Simpson went over for a try which McMurray converted. At 38 minutes, the visitors got the edge going into the break after David Pollack broke from a 5 metres scrum and scored, with McMurray again on target with the conversion to give Ulster a 17-10 lead at half time, despite Munster coming close to scoring and Ulster forced to defend on their line in the dying moments of the half.

Munster hit back with a penalty from Willie Staunton shortly after the restart, with Edwin Torrie on the wing scoring Munster s second try at 50 minutes. Staunton converted to put Munster 20-17 in front. The Ulster tighthead Neil Simpson picked up his second try of the day 20 minutes later, which was unconverted, giving Ulster a two point lead going into the final stages. Despite a massive effort from the Munster pack in particular, with some excellent mauling action keeping the pressure on Ulster, they failed to drive home the advantage, and a 72^nd minute try from Ulster s David Johnson sealed the victory, with Niall O Connor on target to complete the scoring at 27-20.

For Munster, Willie Staunton proved very solid, with Ronan O Sullivan at out half also playing very well. Captain Tommy O Donnell demonstrated a tireless work rate, but with Ulster players such as centre Darren Cave and flanker David Pollock leading the way, the Ulster side proved the better side.

MUNSTER

15. Mike Skelton (UL Bohs), 14. Edwin Torrie (UL Bohs), 13. Keith Earls (Thomond), 12. Eamonn Broderick (Young Munster), 11. Willie Staunton (Garryowen), 10. Ronan O Sullivan (UCC), 9. Paul Rowley (UL Bohs), 1. Ben Rowley (Garryowen), 2. Andrew O Driscoll (Dolphin), 3. Stephen Archer (UCC), 4. Neilus Keogh (UCC), 5. Richard McCarthy (UCC), 6. Tommy O Donnell (UL Bohs) Captain, 7. Eoghan Grace (Shannon), 8. Shane O Sullivan (CBC)

Replacements:

Shane Hassett (Young Munster) for Grace (10), Tim Kenneally (UCC) for Broderick, Ger Slattery (Young Munster) for O Driscoll (60), Roibard Wilmot (UCC) for B. Rowley (60)

ULSTER

15. Owen McMurray (MCB), 14. Michael Barker (QUB), 13.Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins), 12. Ian Whitten (QUB), 11. Chris Bruce (University), 10. Niall O Connor (Harlequins), 9. David Drake (Instonians), 1. Stephen Douglas (RBAI), 2. Michael Ferguson (QUB), 3. Neil Simpson (Instonians), 4. James McCullough (RBAI), 5. Chris Napier (Ballinahinch), 6. David Johnston, 7. David Pollock (QUB), 8. Johnny Graham (Ballinahinch)

Replacements:

Stuart Sloan (Dromore), Paul Keryianas (RBAI), Alex Jackson (Quins), Jeremy Turkington (Dungannon), Stuart Morrow (Ballinahinch), Chris Smyth (Ballymena), Michael Pyper (QUB)

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

Touch Judge 1: Ken Imbush (MAR)

Touch Judge 2: Niall O Connor (MAR)

Fourth Official: John Purcell (MAR)

2006/7 IRFU U19 INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FIXTURES/RESULTS

Sat 16th September 2006: Munster 16-3 Ulster

Fri 22nd September 2006: Leinster v Munster, Donnybrook, 5.30pm

MUNSTER 16-3 ULSTER

MUNSTER YOUTHS U18 s RUGBY

Fixtures

Saturday 23^rd September: Munster Youths U18 s v Leinster, Thomond Park, 1pm

Saturday September 30^th:Ulster v Munster Youths U18 s

Saturday October 7^th: Munster Youths U18 s v Connacht

Saturday November 25^th:Munster Youths U18 s v London Irish

Saturday January 20^th:Inter Pro Semi Final

Saturday January 27^th:Inter Pro Final, Mullingar

Squad

Sean O Mahony (Tralee), Timothy Quirke (Bruff), Graham Bolger (Bruff), Gavin Duffy (Sunday s Well), Dave McCormick (Clanwilliam), Peter O Connor (Nenagh), Nigel Clancy (Young Munster), Paul Molloy (Waterpark), Hugh Keena (Mallow), Mike Lenihan (Mallow), Paddy Cleary (Bruff), Padraig Cleary (Bruff), Jerry Harney (Waterpark), Leon Toland (Kilfeacle), Chris O Sullivan (Killorglin), Brian Walsh (Waterpark), Garry Meaney (Midleton), Declan Bannon (Young Munster), Donal Fogarty (Nenagh), Dale Harris (Waterpark), Colm Downes (Newcastle West), Greg Carroll (Clonmel), James Deasy (Clonakilty), Denis O Sullivan (Muskerry), Paul Denn (Clonmel), Danny Barnes (Tralee), Dave Lee (Muskerry), Eoin Reece (Highfield)

Management

Chairman of Selectors & Team Manager: Nick O Keeffe

Head Coach: Pat Collins

Asst. Backs Coach: Mark Hickey

Asst. Forwards Coach: Eddie Montgomery

Fitness Advisor: Kevin King

Selector South Munster: Tom Nyhan

Selector East Munster: Pat Coman

Selector North Munster: Dermot Kelly

Selector West Munster: Denis Griffin

Sports Therapists: Claire Wills & Julie Cody

Advisor to Irish Youths Team: Tom Nyhan

Musgrave Park

Munster U19 s have got their Interprovincial campaign off to an ideal start with a 16-3 win over their Ulster counterparts in Musgrave Park on Saturday afternoon in what proved to be a tough and fast moving encounter.

Two first half penalties from Munster out half Scott Deasy put the home side in front, with second half tries from No. 8 Kieran Essex and winger Brian Derham completing Munster s scoring. Ulster s only score came from a second half penalty from out half Frank Jones.

With the 16-3 win under their belts, an away trip to Leinster next Friday will decide the destination of this year s competition. A win for Munster would secure the Championship.

MUNSTER

15. Richard Mullane, 14. Brian Derham, 13. Murray Kinsella, 12. Derek Houlihan, 11. Diarmuid McMahon, 10. Scott Deasy, 9. Shane Costigan, 1. Michael Moynihan, 2. Conor Whelan, 3. Thomas Burke, 4. David Foley, 5. Jonathon Griffin, 6. Liam Murphy

7. James O Neill, 8. Kieran Essex

Replacements:

16. Patrick O Regan, 17. Michael Sherry, 18. Matthew Kearney, 19. Ian Nagle, 20. Noel Kinnane, 21. Diarmuid Upton, 22. Sean Scanlon

Managers: Ger Slattery and Tom Casey.

Coaches: Tommy Crowe, Conor Twomey, John Broderick and Tom Mulcahy.

Physiotherapists: Julie Cody and Claire Willis.

ULSTER

15. Adam Craig, 14. Will Stewart, 13. David Goodrich, 12. Chris Rowan, 11. Neil Alcorn, 10. Frank Jones, 9. Ian Porter, 1. Richard Michael, 2. Robert Logan, 3. Gareth Megaw, 4. Michael Johnston, 5. Breffni O Reilly, 6. David Bradford, 7. Michael Entwhistle, 8. Jonathan Clarke

Replacements from:

16. Patrick Callow, 17. Harry McAleese, 18. David Haliday, 19. Cathal Creggan, 20. Adam Glass, 21. Leigh Jackson, 22. Stephen Fergusson, 23. Stuart Lester

Manager: John McKibbin

Assistant Manager: Glenn Aiken

Coaches: Alistair Brown

Neil Doak

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Mark Gargan (IRFU)

Touch Judge 1: Shane Coveney (MAR)

Touch Judge 2: John Burnett (MAR)

Fixtures/Results

Friday September 1st 2006: Leinster 58-8 Munster

Friday September 8th 2006: Munster 32-14 Connacht

Saturday September 16th 2006: Munster 20-29 Ulster