O’Connor Delighted With Clubs Team

The Munster U18 Clubs side, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, beat Connacht 35-17 in the Interpro decider last Saturday afternoon to claim the title for the first time in 13 years at the Sportsground.

It is just the fourth time Munster have won the competition in 21 years as they broke Leinster’s seven-year stranglehold on the trophy (Ulster and Leinster were joint-winners in 2008/09).

Quite the achievement then for the young squad that was drawn together from clubs all over the province. Munster Rugby Development Officer Brendan O’Connor led the team as Head Coach and he was delighted with the high standard his squad set in completing the clean sweep.

“The quality of player I’ve seen coming through clubs has improved massively so it’s a credit to the clubs,” said O’Connor. “The lads played with confidence and they back themselves and we never questioned what we were doing, we had confidence in what we were doing and just went out there and did it. It was all about the attitude of the players.

“We trained alongside the schools team throughout the summer programme in Rockwell, it was great that way because we could benchmark fellas off each other. The quality of some of the clubs and schools players is superb, I think that gulf between clubs and schools has narrowed massively and the clubs are producing a good quality player now with a good skillset.”

The campaign started with a tough away trip to Ulster and things looked bleak for O’Connor’s side at the break as they trailed 14-3. However, a stunning second-half comeback saw Munster win 19-14 and take their first step towards the title. “Confidence grows and winning becomes a habit,” explains O’Connor.

“We had a statement, ‘winning isn’t everything, but trying to is’, that was our mantra throughout. We put a lot of emphasis on how we play as well.” After the Ulster win came the formidable challenge of Leinster here at Thomond Park, a side that Munster hadn’t beaten at this level for eight years. A 15-3 win followed though as momentum began to build. Playing an expansive style of rugby that requires good skills, the campaign culminated in a brilliant five-try 35-17 win over Connacht in the title decider.

“We had fellas who grew into the game and got confidence as the weeks went by. “They’d give you a heart attack at times the way they play the game but it’s great because they try things,” says ex-Munster and Connacht flanker O’Connor. “If I give them an environment where they can’t try stuff, I’m not doing my job. We played a game where 1 to 15 touches the ball and is confident on the ball and makes good decisions.

“They haven’t lost in a Munster jersey which is great for them and hopefully they bring that into next season. They set standards during the summer for themselves and we try to live by those standards on and off the pitch and I would hope that they bring something back to their club around what it takes to start winning and enjoy rugby.

“I always said to them, when you play with a smile on your face, that’s number one. And after that, when you enjoy it, you’ll start to buy into. If you don’t play with a smile on your face and you don’t enjoy it, that’s when you won’t get performances.”

There were certainly plenty of smiles after last Saturday’s title clinching performance at The Sportsground as this year’s crop joined the class of 1995/96, 2000/01 and 2003/04 in winning the U18 Clubs Interprovincial title.

Munster U18 Clubs Squad: Aaron Hennessy (Ennis RFC), Derry Gleeson (Garryowen FC), Fionn Flanagan (Bruff RFC), Seán O'Connell (Cashel RFC), Paudie McCarthy (Bantry Bay RFC), Ryan Lenihan (Sunday’s Well RFC), Cian Maguire (Clonmel RFC), Charlie Murphy (Dungarvan RFC), Evan Murphy (Nenagh Ormond RFC), Sam Kroupa (Nenagh Ormond RFC), Ross McCormack (Fethard and District RFC), Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC), Alan McInerney (Young Munster RFC), Shane Brosnahan (Young Munster RFC), John Hodnett (Clonakilty RFC), Nick O'Donoghue (Waterpark RFC), Aaron Hehir (Shannon RFC), Harry Byrne (Garryowen FC), Joe O'Connor (Tralee RFC), Evan O'Gorman (Capt.) (Young Munster RFC), Tom Hanley (Charleville RFC), Harry Donnelly (Waterpark RFC), Joe Quilter (Tralee RFC), Conor Hayes (Young Munster RFC), Ikem Ugwuru (Ennis RFC), Ben Daly (Waterpark RFC), Joe Quilter (Tralee RFC).

Munster U18 Clubs Management Team: Brendan O’Connor – Head Coach, Darragh Hurley – Scrum Coach, Andy Brace – Backs Coach, Gordon Crowley – Kit Manager, Ross O'Callaghan – S& C Coach, Ian Dowling – Physio, Fiona Quinn – Team Doctor, Lenny Browne – Video Analyst, Tom Nyhan – Team Manager

Munster U18 Clubs Results
Saturday, 3rd September, Ulster 14-19 Munster, Rainey Old Boys RFC
Sunday, 11th September, Munster 15-3 Leinster, Thomond Park
Saturday, 17th September, Connacht 17-35 Munster, Sportsground