Narrow Defeat For Munster Under 20’s

Poor tackling proved costly for Munster in their opening game in this season’s Under 20 Inter Provincial championship at Musgrave Park against Leinster.

Munster 9, Leinster 13.

Despite playing against the strong wind and rain it was Leinster who made the better start when out half Cathal Marsh kicked a penalty from just inside the Munster half for a 3-0 lead after two minutes

Munster were level after nine minutes when JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty.

Munster’s pack were finding the going tough in the forward exchanges and the amount of missed tackles had Munster on the back foot for long periods.

A second penalty by Hanrahan a minute before half time left it 6-3 in favour of the home side at the break.

However the lead only lasted a minute into the second half when from the kick off Leinster brought play into the Munster twenty two and quick ball from a ruck saw prop Des Merry go in for a try untouched and Luke McGrath converted.

Munster began to get on top in the forward exchanges but were unable to penetrate a solid Leinster defence.

Hanrahan closed the gap to a point with his third penalty after fifty two minutes. But Leinster finished the stronger and McGrath restored the lead to four points with twelve minutes remaining.

Munster: G O’Suilleabhain (UCC); S Glynn (PBC), K Slater (UCC), R Scannell (PBC), S Horgan (Rockwell College); JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemian), B Haugh (Young Munster); N Horan (Crescent Comp.), B Scott (UCC), J Considine (Young Munster); S McCarthy (Rockwell College), S Buckley (Garryowen); R Murphy (Dolphin), M Cronin (Highfield) (Capt.), L Cahill (UCC). Replacements: J Donovan (Old Crescent) for S McCarthy 20, R Martin for J Considine 22, C Gallagher (UCC) for L Cahill 31-34 (blood), J Rael (Garryowen) for B Scott 63, N Cronin (Garryowen) for Haugh 62, C Gallagher for S Buckley 68, T Ryan (Garryowen) for S Glynn 74.

Leinster: M Sherlock; B Daly, S Murphy, M Roche, S Coghlan-Murray; C Marsh, L McGrath (capt); D Merrey, A Clarkin, P Reilly; A O’Connor, D Mannion; J Conan, B Du Toit, J Coghlan. Replacements: M Oyuga for Du Toit 72, F Horan for Coghlan-Murray 79.

Referee: S Gaffikin (IRFU).