Munster Finish 6th At Limerick World Club 7s

Following a loss to defending champions Daveta Fiji in the Cup quarter-final of the Limerick World Club 7s, Munster then competed for honours in the Plate competition, securing a comprehensive win over New York in the semi-final before succumbing to Buenos Aires in their final game of the tournament.

The two days of action saw Munster finish up 6^th overall with Daveta Fiji claiming the Cup title for the second consecutive year. See a full round up of results and standings here.


Limerick World Club 7s Cup Quarter-Final: Munster v Daveta Fiji

Defeating the defending champions was always going to be a big ask, even more so against a side well versed international club tournaments.

However it was Munster who made the more positive start, applying pressure and forcing both knock-ons and penalties from the Fijians. Good work in the build up from Diarmaid McCarthy and Alan Bennie saw Ryan Foley touch down and convert the first try of the game in the second minute.

Momentum would soon swing the way of Daveta who then scored and converted three unanswered tries, using their considerable size to good effect in offloading in the tackle and running good support lines.

McMahon’s charges will be most disappointed with the final try of the half. On the attack deep in opposition territory, turnover ball saw Daveta exploit the unset Munster defence and make it 7-21 on the stroke of half time.

With a lot to do in the final seven minutes, Munster rallied, reasserting pressure on the tourists and winning the lion’s share of penalties. It was arguably Munster who scored the pick of the game’s tries when nice offloading from Niall Kenneally put captain Alex Wootton into space. Still with a lot to do, Wotton both kicked and claimed a beautiful kick-thru and with the conversion added, Munster were back within seven points at 21-14.

Unfortunately, the Fijians were able to find another gear when it mattered most and their experience would stand them in better stead, running in a further three tries before the end of the game.

40-14 the full time score, although a score not reflective how close proceedings had been up until the dying minutes.

Munster 7s: Ollie Lyons (Linn 12), Alex Wootton – capt., Niall Kenneally (Dwyer 11), Ryan Foley (Quinlan 9), Alan Bennie (Bradshaw Ryan 13), Diarmaid McCarthy, Steve McMahon (Aherne 9).

Replacements: Frank Bradshaw Ryan, Cian Aherne, Murray Linn, Tomás Quinlan, Sonny Dwyer.


Limerick World Club 7s Plate Semi Final: Munster v New York

Putting the disappointment of earlier aside, Munster bounced back in style running in five tries against the New Yorkers.

A wonderful solo effort from Steven McMahon got Munster off the mark in the second minute – the Waterford winger breaking a tackle inside his own half and backing himself around the outside of the cover defence, also using good upper body strength in handing off the last tackler before touching down.

Once again today captain Alex Wootton continued to lead by example, and the Ireland Men’s 7s international was on hand for Munster’s second, claiming the high ball and demonstrating a neat step on the counter on his way to touching down under the posts. Alan Bennie added the conversion.

A deft offload from Ollie Lyons for the oncoming Sonny Dwyer led to Munster’s third try, Dwyer also showcasing a deceptive step in getting past the New York defence. Again Bennie made it a full seven point return.

The American’s two tries came on either side of the half time whistle but in truth the result was never in doubt and certainly not after Cian Aherne made a flying break down the right wing before beautifully stepping inside the last defender. Bennie make it three in a row in the conversion stakes.

McMahon then crossed for his second, scooping up loose ball and exploiting the gap in the New York defence. Slotting the conversion, Bennie further extended the province’s advantage with Colm McMahon’s charges winning 33-10 and progressing to the final of the Limerick World Club 7s Plate.

Munster 7s: Ollie Lyons, Alex Wootton – capt., Sonny Dwyer (Linn), Ryan Foley (Quinlan 10), Alan Bennie, Steve McMahon, Cian Aherne.

Replacements: Murray Linn, Tomás Quinlan, Diarmaid McCarthy, Niall Kenneally.


Limerick World Club 7s Plate Final: Munster v Buenos Aires

An excellent opening saw Munster run in two consecutive tries – Cian Aherne lighting up the right flank for the first and Alex Wootton coming in off his left wing to step inside the Argentinian defence for the second. Bennie’s conversion gave Munster a ten point cushion with less than three minutes played.

Not alarmed, Buenos Aires would soon hit their stride and made it over the whitewash on their first venture into Munster territory. Despite a valiant try saving tackle from Wootton, an excellent offload and support line still brought the tourists right back into the game with their first try.

Munster would come again however and good hands from Sonny Dwyer saw him link up with Bennie who came at pace and there would be no catching the scrum-half in touching down and converting Munster’s third.

With the heavens opening above Thomond Park, both sides had to contend with slippery conditions and when Buenos Aires opted for the safer, more direct route, Munster struggled at the breakdown and were soon penalised twice within their own 22. Using the tap-and-go each time, Buenos Aires eventually made it over from five metres on the second attempt, sending Munster into the interval with just a five point advantage, 19-14.

Upon the resumption the South Americans laid down a marker, drawing the sides level within 30 seconds when they crossed for their third try.

Worse was to come for Munster when they infringed on their own line-out, giving Buenos Aires another foothold deep in opposition territory. When McMahon’s men were then penalised for not releasing, there was no stopping the visitors at short range as they registered their fourth try.

The fifth and sixth were soon to come with poor playing conditions taking their toll on the Munster-men. Buenos Aires added the fifth off a spilled pass as Munster looked to clear their own 22 and a clever restart kick-chase saw them complete a duo of tries within a minute.

The more experienced Buenos Aires rounded off the game by bringing their tally of tries to seven, using their trusty pick-and-go in running out deserved 43-19 winners and securing the Limerick World Club 7s Plate.

Munster 7s: Ollie Lyons, Alex Wootton – capt., Sonny Dwyer (Murray Linn 9), Ryan Foley, Alan Bennie (Quinlan 12), Steven McMahon, Cian Aherne.

Replacements: Murray Linn, Tomás Quinlan