Munster A/Development Win In Limerick

A Munster A/Development squad beat Ireland U20s 26-24 in a highly entertaining game at Thomond Park this evening.

The fixture also saw Donnacha Ryan make a welcome return to action following a month’s hiatus due to concussion. The Tipperary lock joined colleagues Robin Copeland and Niall Scannell in a largely developing starting XV and managed to secure 50 minutes of valuable game-time.

It was Scannell who opened the scoring after 5 minutes when he capitalised on a well-worked driving maul by his fellow forwards to crash over from close range. Garryowen’s Jamie Gavin added the extras.

However, Ireland U20s responded when winger Hugo Keenan finished off an excellent passage of play from just outside the visitors 22, and with Bill Johnston adding the conversion the sides were level after 22 minutes.  The young academy out-half was named to start after successfully rehabbing a shoulder injury he sustained lining out for the Ireland U20s in December.

Munster’s second try came by way of fullback Conor Kearns who dotted down in the right hand corner on the half hour mark.  Gavin knocked over the tricky conversion to give his team a 14-7 advantage.

The lead was extended further on the stroke of half-time with Kearns again involved.  This time the Dublin University player provided the timely offload to Shannon centre Robbie Deegan for Munster’s third try.  Gavin was off target with the conversion attempt and the first half closed out at 19-7.

After the break Mick O’Driscoll’s charges went on the attack again using the maul to good effect from which Cork Con’s Dan Walsh ran an excellent line and claimed a well taken try.  Gavin made no mistake from the tee on this occasion to extend the lead to 26-7.

With a raft of changes to both starting teams the momentum of the match shifted and the young Ireland side regained composure and struck back through an improved use of their own lineout maul and a period of sustained pressure.  They registered three tries through Kelvin Brown, Vincent O’Brien and Conall Boomer, one of which was converted by Rob Little for a final score of 26-24.

Munster A/Development:  Conor Kearns; Aaron Spring, Robbie Deegan (Purcell 50), Paul Kiernan (Hurley 60), Steven McMahon; Jamie Gavin (McHale 50), John Poland (Higgins 60); Liam O’Connor (O’Hanlon HT), Niall Scannell (Moloney 50), Brian Scott (Cusack 50); Evan Mintern (Mitchell 55), Donnacha Ryan (O'Byrne 50); Robin Copeland (Oliver 50), Dan Walsh (Kilkenny 50), John Foley.

Replacements:  Adam Moloney, Shane O’Hanlon, Tony Cusack, Ben Mitchell, Barra O’Byrne, Conor Oliver, Ben Kilkenny, Jason Higgins, Joey Purcell, Tom McHale, Dan Hurley.

Ireland U20s:  Jacob Stockdale; Hugo Keenan, Shane Daly, Conor O’Brien, Terry Kennedy, Bill Johnston, Stephen Keirns; Peter Meyer, Adam McBurney, Adam Kyle; Sean O’Connor, James Ryan; Greg Jones, Kelvin Brown, Max Deegan.

Replacements:  Vincent O’Brien, Philip Poillot, Rob O’Donovan, Sean O’Leary, Conall Boomer, David Aspil, Johnny McPhillips, Rob Little, Brett Connan.