Munster U20’s Suffer Defeat to Connacht

Munster travelled to Athlone on Saturday to compete against Connacht in the 3rd/4th place play off without five of the first team players (S. Archer, M. Sherry, K. Essex, S. Scarlon and E. Kennedy) due to injury.

Munster started strongly and after 3 minutes the impressive Munster centre, Murray Kinsella, rounded off a back line move with a try which Scott Deasy failed to convert.

From the restart Connacht, who had the benefit of a strong wind, struck back with 2 penalties on the 6th and 12th minute. The referee produced 4 yellow cards on the day with the first one going to the Connacht replacement second row on 15 minutes. Munster took advantage and after applying considerable pressure they were awarded with a try scored by the Munster No.10, Declan Cusack.

Munster suffered a severe blow on the 36th and 38th minutes when Dave Foley and Diarmuid Upton were both yellow carded. On the 39th minute with Munster down to 13 players Connacht took advantage and produced a converted try.

Munster’s other second row Ian Nagle received a yellow card on the 45th minute and again with Connacht having a numerical advantage scored a converted try on the 50th minute.

Munster replied on the 54th minute with a penalty from Deasy leaving the score at 20-13 in favour of Connacht.

The final 20 minutes produced 4 tries with James O’Neill scoring on the 62nd minute and Connacht responding with a converted try on the 70th minute. The score at this stage was 27-18 for Connacht.

On the 80th minute Richie Mullane scored a try which Deasy converted. With the score at 27-25 and deep in injury time Munster attempted to run the ball out of defence but Connacht turned the ball over and scored a late try which they failed to convert leaving the final score at 32-25 in favour of Connacht

It was a disappointing end to this Inter Provincial Competition.

We would like to thank all the parents of the players and the supporters for attending all our matches in such great numbers.

I would like to thank all the members of the Management Team for their dedication and hard work over the past 12 weeks in preparing and working with the players during the preseason and during the Inter Provincial Campaign.

I wish all the players every success as they move on to compete for their clubs / colleges and to those who are selected for the Irish U20 National Squad.

Alan Miller – Manager

Ian Costello – Head Coach

Hamish Adams – Assistant Coach

Raymond Egan – Fitness & Conditioning Coach

Scott Murphy – Physio

Ian Fleming – Kit Manager

Leonard Browne – Video Analyst

Team

1 – John Ryan – UCC
2 – Matt Kearney – UCC
3 – Pat O’Regan – UCC
4 – Ian Nagle – UCC
5 – David Foley – UL Bohemians
6 – Noel Kinane – UL Bohemians
7 – James O’Neill – Young Munster
8 – Liam Murphy – Young Munster
9 – Diarmuid Upton – Young Munster
10 – Declan Cusack – Thomond
11 – Brian Derham – UCC
12 – Scott Deasy – UCC
13 – Murray Kinsella – UL Bohemians
14 – Diarmuid McMahon – Garryowen
15 – Richard Mullane – Shannon

Replacements;-
16 – David Kilcoyne – UL Bohemians
17 – Jonathan Griffin – Young Munster
18 – Keith Quigley – Young Munster
19 – Dave Twomey – UL Bohemians
20 – Andrew Burke – Cresent College Comprehensive
21 – Conor Murray – Young Munster
22 – John Verling – UL Bohemians