Bonus Point Win For Munster Under 19s

After their disappointing opening defeat by Leinster last week, the Munster Under 19s, sponsored by Star Elm Frames, had a comprehensive 30-10 win over Connacht in the Interprovincial Championship at Clifford Park on Saturday afternoon.

Munster had this game wrapped up by half-time with tries from James O’Connor, Dan Walsh and Joe White with Paul Downes converting two of the tries and also kicking a penalty.

Connacht did score a try in the first half but Munster added to their 22-7 interval lead in the second half with Ben Betts scoring a fourth try and Downes kicking another penalty.

The Munster pack were superb in the scrum and the line-out with some excellent defence pressuring Connacht into mistakes that the Munster side clinically punished.

Winger Joe White and wing forward Dan Walsh were particularly impressive for Munster after an excellent all-round team performance.

The Under 19s end their campaign at home to Ulster next Saturday at the Mardyke (ko 2pm).

Munster: James O'Connor (Tralee); Brian Fanning (Bruff), Tim Cronin (Bantry Bay), Rory Horgan (Capt.) (Rockwell College), Joe White (Clonakilty); Paul Downes (Bruff), John Poland (Presentation Brothers College); Philip Poilet (UL Bohemian), Shane Fenton (Ardscoil Rís), Ben Betts (Young Munster); Patrick Staff (Ardscoil Rís), Seán O'Connor (Rockwell College); Ronan Murphy (Castletroy College), Daniel Walsh (Christian Brothers College), Kelvin Brown (Shannon).

Replacements: Vincent O'Brien (Christian Brothers College), Peter Meyer (St. Munchin's College), David Jennings (Clonakilty), Josh Barnes (Tralee), Stephen Hickey (Cobh Pirates), Rory Cunningham (Old Crescent), Paul O'Keeffe (Kanturk), Gary O'Sullivan (Crescent College Comprehensive).

Connacht: Kevin Burke (Buccaneers); Patrick Daly (Ballinrobe), Andrew Lynch (Sligo), Ruairi Greene (Galway Corinthians), Jack Keegan (Sligo); Charlie McMickan (Buccaneers), Tom McHale (Westport RFC); Niall Farrelly (Buccaneers), Joe Bennett (Sligo), Joseph Ugbo (Galwegians); Peter Claffey (Galwegians), Conall O'Brien (Buccaneers); Mathew Cosgrove (Capt.) (Sligo), Michael O'Connell (Galway Corinthians), Daniel Trayers (Galway Corinthians).

Replacements: Conal Slater (Buccaneers), Thomas Moran (Sligo), Matthew Gavin (Connemara), Patrick Conway (Buccaneers), James Foley (Buccaneers), Simon Keller (Ballinasloe), Jamie McAleese (Buccaneers), Paddy Griffin (Galway Corinthians).