Munster Age-Grade Interpro Round-Up

It was a busy weekend of Munster age-grade Interprovincial action with the Munster U18 Girls, U18 Boys Clubs, U18 Boys Schools and U19 Boys all playing matches across Saturday and Sunday.

Munster U18 Girls 5 – 13 Connacht U18 Girls

Up first were the Munster U18 Girls who took on Connacht in Musgrave Park on Saturday.

Unfortunately, Willie Shubart’s side couldn’t get their Interpro campaign off to a winning start as Connacht ran out 5-13 winners.

Connacht’s Saoirse Lawley got the only try of the first half as Connacht took a 0-5 lead into half-time.

Munster’s Niamh Crotty in action
©INPHO

The Western province extended their lead in the second half thanks to a try by Emily Foley.

Munster did hit back with a try from Killarney’s Ava O’Malley but hopes of a comeback were dashed when Connacht added three more points from the tee with the game finishing 5-13 to the visitors.

Munster U18 Girls To Face Connacht

15. Niamh Crotty (Dolphin RFC) (CC)
14. Lyndsey Clarke (Ennis RFC)
13. Caitriona Finn (Ballina Killaloe RFC/UL Bohemian RFC)
12. Lily Byrne (Dolphin RFC)
11. Siobhan O’Callaghan (Dolphin RFC)
10. Meaghan Crilly (Dolphin RFC)
9. Grace Dillon (Shannon RFC)
1. Ella Buckley (Kanturk RFC)
2. Emma Dunican (Tralee RFC)
3. Niamh McCarthy (Bantry Bay RFC)
4. Sally Hayes (Bruff RFC)
5. Aoife Grimes (Shannon RFC)
6. Aoibheann McGrath (Dungarvan RFC/Carrick-on-Suir RFC) (CC)
7. Ava O’Malley (Killarney RFC)
8. Sally Kelly (Ennis RFC)

Replacements:
16. Orlaith Morrissy (Sunday’s Well RFC/Ballincollig RFC)
17. Tuathla Ryan (Ballina Killaloe RFC)
18. Annie Lynch (Ennis RFC)
19. Niamh Hilliard (Clonakilty RFC)
20. Orla McCullum (Fermoy RFC)
21. Mia Hennelly (Ballina Killaloe RFC)
22. Hannah Hehir (Shannon RFC)
23. Alex Good (Bandon RFC)

Results: 

Round 1 | Munster 5  – 13 Connacht

Munster U18 Boys Clubs 37 – 42 Leinster U18 Boys Clubs

It was a busy day in Fethard Town Park with a triple-header taking place in the Tipperary venue. First up was the Munster U18 Boys Clubs side as they took on their Leinster counterparts at 1pm.

In a tight first half, Leinster took an early lead with a try from Harley Fagan which was converted by Darragh Farrell.

Munster responded well when Conall Cournane produced a deft chip over the top of the Leinster defence which Michael Connellan was able to ground for the home side’s opening try. Cournane’s conversion drifted wide as the gap was reduced to two points.

A long passage of play eventually resulted in some space opening up which allowed Fagan to get his second try which Farrell converted as Leinster took a 5-14 lead. Munster reduced the deficit to 8-14 before half-time with three points thanks to a successful penalty from Connellan.

Both sides exchanged tries early in the second half. Conan Gartland scoring for Lenster which was converted by Farrell before Munster responded with a try from Oskar Olszewski which went unconverted.

Munster’s Micheal Frawley with Eoin O’Doherty of Leinster
©INPHO

Leinster then stretched their lead with converted tries from Paidi Gorman and Sam Fennell. Down 13-35, Munster responded superbly. Cournane showed a great step and acceleration to glide through the Leinster defence to score a try which was converted by Connellan.

Michael Frawley then got another try back for Munster which was converted by Connellan to reduce the deficit to 27-35. Leinster’s Sean Walsh got an important try for Leinster after that which was converted by Farrell.

Munster responded with two unconverted tries, the latter from Michael O’Sullivan which left just five points between the teams but there wasn’t enough time for Munster to get one more score.

Munster U18 Boys Clubs

15. Marcus Moloney (Shannon RFC)
14. Oskar Olszewski (Cobh Pirates RFC)
13. Michael O’Sullivan (Iveragh Eagles RFC) (C)
12. Michael Connellan (Clonmel RFC)
11. Eli Reynolds (Bantry Bay RFC)
10. Conall Cournane (Iveragh Eagles RFC) (VC)
9. Marco Cleary (Ennis RFC)
1. Darragh McDonald (Clonakilty RFC)
2. Christian Foley (Abbeyfeale RFC)
3. David Coyne (Clonmel RFC)
4. Fionn O’Meara (Nenagh Ormond RFC)
5. Bobby Doherty (Waterpark RFC)
6. Aiden Carroll (Bruff RFC)
7. Andrew Purcell (Kilrush RFC)
8. Michael Frawley (Bruff RFC) (VC)

Replacements:
16. Luke Fitzgerald (Tralee RFC)
17. Darragh Fitzgerald (Dungarvan RFC)
18. Soloman Delea (Crosshaven RFC)
19. Jamie Walsh (Bruff RFC)
20. Jack Phelan (Shannon RFC)
21. Cathal Garvey
22. Darragh Gleeson
23. Ben Wallis (Waterpark RFC)

Results: 

Round 1 | Munster 37 – 42 Leinster

Munster U18 Boys Schools 19 – 29 Leinster U18 Boys Schools

Leinster got off to a quick start with an unconverted try in the corner before Munster responded well with a try of their own which was converted by Tom Wood.

Leinster scored three successive tries before half-time from Ethan Black, Luke McLaughlin and Dylan McNeice. Conor O’Shaughnessy landed all three conversions to give his side a 7-26 lead.

Munster got a crucial try before half-time from Conor Galvin but the missed conversion saw the score line at 12-26 at half-time.

In the second half, Chris Barrett broke through a gap to score his side’s second try which was converted by Wood. This reduced the deficit to seven points but Leinster added a penalty from O’Shaughnessy to stretch the lead to 10 points as Munster were unable to produce a response on the scoreboard.

Munster U18 Boys Schools

15. Tom Wood (St Munchin’s College)
14. Daire O’Callaghan (CBC)
13. Leo O’Leary (CBC)
12. James O’Leary (PBC)
11. Billy McCarthy (CBC)
10. Harry Murphy (PBC)
9. Chris Barrett (CBC)
1. Jamie Conway (Castletroy College)
2. Jonathan Byrne (Crescent College Comprehensive) (C)
3. Cian Walsh (CBC)
4. Joe Finn (Cistercian College, Roscrea)
5. Charlie Fenton (Crescent College Comprehensive)
6. Conor Galvin (CBC)
7. Bill Hayes (Cistercian College, Roscrea)
8. Ian Morton (CBC)

Replacements:
16. Andrew Wall (Rockwell College)
17. Alex McNamara (Crescent College Comprehensive)
18. Ronan O’Callaghan (CBC)
19. Rory Cogan (CBC)
20. Daniel Foley (PBC)
21. Chulainn Williams (Castletroy College)
22. Mark Hetherington (PBC)
23. Alex O’Connell (CBC)

Results: 

Round 1 | Ulster 7 – 26 Munster

Round 2 | Munster 19 – 29 Leinster

Munster U19s 22 – 29 Leinster U19s

Leinster got the opening try of the game on the 10 minute mark when Paddy Taylor crossed for his side with the conversion attempt unsuccessful.

Munster responded on 18 minutes when Munster Academy out-half Dylan Hicks kicked a penalty to reduced the deficit to 3-5.

Munster then took the lead when Hicks quick-tapped a penalty and chipped the ball over the top of the Leinster defence. The out-half won the race to the bouncing ball and landed the conversion to give Munster a 10-5 first-half lead.

Leinster responded with a try from Alex Usanov which Sam Wisniewski converted. On the stroke of half-time, Leinster got another try from their captain Tom Stewart. The conversion drifted wide as Leinster took a 10-17 lead into the half-time break.

On the resumption of the second-half, Munster got back into the game thanks to a try from Michael Foy but Hicks’ conversion drifted wide with just two points now separating the sides.

Oisin Minogue’s try then put Munster into the lead and Hicks’ difficult conversion into a strong wind was successful as Munster took a 22-17 lead.

Leinster levelled the game with a try from Connor Fahy before a try from Alan Spicer and conversion from Caspar Gabriel put the away seven points ahead.

Munster pushed for a levelling score in the dying stages but they weren’t able to break down a strong Leinster defence.

Munster U19 Boys

15. Jed O’Dwyer (Crescent College Comprehensive)
14. Matt Te Pou (St. Munchin’s College)
13. Gene O’Leary-Kareem (PBC)
12. Eoghan Smyth (Midleton RFC)
11. Mason Cawley (Nenagh Ormond RFC)
10. Dylan Hicks (Bantry Bay RFC) (VC)
9. Luca Cleary (Ennis RFC)
1. Mark Fitzgerald (Crescent College Comprehensive)
2. Fionn Casserly (Crescent College Comprehensive)
3. Emmet Calvey (Ardscoil Rís)
4. Michael Foy (CBC)
5. Conor Ryan (Crescent College Comprehensive)
6. Eanna McCarthy (CBC) (C)
7. Oisin Minogue (St. Munchin’s College)
8. Luke Murphy (Ardscoil Rís)

Replacements:
16. George Good (CBC)
17. Darragh O’Connell (Muskerry RFC)
18. Denis O’Callaghan (CBC)
19. Callum Black (St. Munchin’s College)
20. Cormac Quinn (Crescent College Comprehensive)
21. Marcus Lyons (Crescent College Comprehensive)
22. Gavin O’Riordan (CBC)
23. Tom Coughlan (PBC)

Results: 

Round 1 | Munster 22 – 29 Leinster