Munster U20 Lose To Ulster

Ulster regained the Under 20 Inter Provincial Championship after an eight year gap when they completed the grand slam with a victory over Munster at Musgrave Park.

Munster 9, Ulster 18.
With Leinster having defeated Connacht earlier in the day, Munster knew that they had to win by at least thirty eight points if they were to be crowned champions, while a draw would have been enough to give Ulster the crown.

Munster started as if they meant business and took the game to Ulster with out half Tom Kiersey putting some probing kicks behind the Ulster defence and Harry McNulty was posing problems for the visitors defence with some telling runs.

Brian Haugh put Munster ahead with a penalty after four minutes but some silly errors by the home side allowed Ulster back into the game and they took full advantage and scored the first of their two tries on fourteen minutes.

Munster were penalised on the half way line in a scrum and Ulster kicked for touch five metres from the line. John Donnan won the lineout for Ulster and they mauled their way over the line for a 5-3 lead.

Munster hit back immediately and a second Haugh penalty made it 6-5.

Ulster’s out half Stuart Olding restored Ulster’s advantage with a penalty nine minutes before the break.

Munster started the second half in search of a try with Kiersey directing operations but once Ulster withstood the early onslaught, the home side were on the back foot for the remainder of the game with Olding and full back Rory Scholes posing numerous problems.

Olding increased his side’s advantage with a penalty on fifty minutes when Munster were penalised yet again at the scrum. A long range effort by Haugh left it 11-9 with just over twenty minutes remaining.

Ulster continued to apply the pressure and they were rewarded with a second try thirteen minutes from time when Mark Best scored after several drives at the line by the visitor’s pack and Olding converted.

Munster: D Sweetnam (Bandon Grammar School); R Jermyn (Midleton), H McNulty (Dublin University), R Scannell (Dolphin), A Enright (Abbeyfeale); T Kiersey (Waterpark), B Haugh (Young Munster); N Horan Crescent Comprehensive), W Foley (Dolphin), B Scott (UCC); S McCarthy (Shannon), J Madigan (Charleville); J O’Donoghue (UL Bohemian), D Ryan (Young Munster), J Fitzgerald Capt. (PBC). Replacements: J Kind (Dolphin) for Madigan, D O’Connell (UCC) for Fitzgerald both 49, S O’Leary (Young Munster) for Kiersey 63, ), D Hartnett (PBC) for Scott 68, M Abbot (PBC) for Foley, B Nugent (UCC) for Haugh both 71, J McInerney (Garryowen) for Enright 74, C O’Donnell (Cashel) for Horan 76,
Ulster: R Scholes (Belfast Harlequins); R Adair (Sullivan US), R Martin (Northumbria University), C Farrell (Dungannon), D Busby (Portadown College); S Olding (Belfast Harlequins), J Creighton Capt. (Malone); J Caulfield (Irish Exiles), J Andrew (Ballymena), C Taylor (Malone); J Donnan (Ballynahinch), M Rea (Ballymena Academy); C Joyce (Malone), S Hooks (RS Armagh), B Alexander (Royal Belfast Academical Institution). Replacements: M Best (Campbell College) for Farrell 33, G Bartley (Ballyclare HS) for Hooks HT, S McNabney (Ballymena Academy) for Taylor 74, N Sinclair (Queens University Belfast) for Andrews, J Craig (Ballyclare HS) for Caulfield, M Keane (Royal Belfast Academical Institution) for Creighton, N Martin (Ballymena) for R Martin all 79. Referee: S Gallagher (IRFU)