Great Start For Munster U18 Clubs

9th September 2017 By The Editor

Munster's David McNamara gets past Connacht's Adam Cunningham to score a try at Cork IT Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Munster’s Under 18 Club side got their Interprovincial campaign off to a winning start as they came from behind to defeat their Connacht counterparts at the CIT Grounds 22-7.

The visitors opened the scoring within six minutes of the kick-off when Billy McVann made a break form a maul following a five-meter lineout to score the game’s opening try and his Ballina Club colleague Craig McCormack converted.

With the wind at their backs for the opening half, Munster began to turn the screw and Charlie O’Doherty opened their account with a try following a ruck inside the visitors’ 22. Conor O’Brien converted to tie the scores at seven points apiece.

Munster took the lead when the ball was spread out to David McNamara following a ruck inside the Connacht 22 and O’Brien added his second conversion.

O’Brien stretched the margin to ten points with a penalty form outside the visitors’ 22 before Craig McCormack missed a penalty for Connacht form outside the home side’s 22 on the stroke of half time.

The only score of the second half came three minutes from time when Ben Daly sprinted from his own 22 after intercepting a Connacht pass to score a try in the corner, which he failed to convert.

Munster: Conor O’Brien (Nenagh Ormond RFC/Nenagh CBS); Chimdi Oji (Douglas RFC/ Douglas Community School), Ciaran Evans (Midleton RFC/Midleton CBS), Patrick Scully (Fethard RFC/Thurles CBS), David McNamara (Ennis RFC/Ennistymon Technical School); Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC/Ard Scoil Na Mhara), Charlie O’Doherty (Newcastle Wes RFC/ Scoil Mhuire agus Ide); Conor Morrissey (Cork Constitution FC/Mayfield Community School), Paudie McCarthy (Bantry Bay RFC/Colaiste Phobail Bheanntrai), Darragh Fitzgerald (Rugbai Chorca Dhuibhne/Pobailscoil Chorca Dhuibhne); Thomas Ahern (Dungarvan RFC/St Augustine’s Dungarvan), Eoin O’Connor (Waterpark RFC/Gael Cholaiste Phort Lairge); Mark Stafford (Midleton RFC/Midleton College), Evan Murphy (Nenagh Ormond RFC/Nenagh CBS), Oisin Cooke (Garryowen FC/Villiers School).

Replacements: Harry Jephson (Waterpark RFC/ Newtown School), Ciaran Bohane (Ballincollig RFC/Gael Cholaiste Choilm), Shane O’Driscoll (Midleton RFC/Midleton College), Seaghan Walsh (Waterford City RFC/De La Salle College), Jack O’Keeffe (Nenagh Ormond RFC/ Nenagh CBS), Kevin O’Connor (Cashel RFC/Cashel Community School), Alan Kiely (St Mary’s RFC/Colaiste Chiarain Croom), Jamie Shanahan (Skibbereen RFC/ Skibbereen Community School)

Connacht: Conor O’Shaughnessy (Galwegians RFC/St Jartlath’s College); Dara Hanrahan (Corinthians RFC/ Colaiste Iognaid), Saul O’Carroll (Buccaneers RFC/Garbally College), Craig McCormack (Ballina RFC/Gortnor Abbey), Shane Jennings (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College); Adam Cunningham (Galwegians RFC/Colaiste Iognaid), Evan Kenny (Corinthians RFC/Colaiste Iognaid); Cathal O’Grady (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Billy McVann (Ballina RFC/St Muredach’s), Niall Carney (Corinthians RFC/St Jartlath’s College); Dara Murray (Buccaneers/St Aloysius College), Iarlaith Laheen-Morrin (Galwegians RFC/Calasanctius College); Sean Keaney (Galwegians RFC/The Bish), Mathias O’Neill (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Jack Mulholland (Corinthians RFC/The Bish)

Replacements: Darren Browne (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Caolin Hopkins (Ballina RFC/St Josephâs Foxford), Liam Doyle (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Thomas Connolly (Galwegians RFC), Oisin McCormack (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College), Tim Lambe (Creggs RFC/Roscommon CBS), Daniel Plaster (Castlebar RFC/St Gerald’s College), Nathan Horan (Buccaneers RFC/Garbally College).

Referee: Chris Lough (IRFU).