Thurles Win Munster U18 Plate

Thurles were the first big winners this afternoon on the Bank of Ireland Munster Underage finals day, as they defeated Mallow 17-12 at Thomond Park under blindingly sunny skies in Limerick.

A Thomond Park still resonating after the fantastic European Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Toulouse the day before hosted a Thurles side buoyed by a 10-3 victory against fellow Tipperary side Nenagh Ormond in the semi-finals, and they had ran up double figures within the opening quarter-hour.

After settling early in possession, the mid-Tipp outfit rumbled their way towards the Mallow line, and eventually Eoin Currane curst through the Mallow defence to cross for the afternoon’s first score which Jack Flanagan converted.

Flanagan then added a further three points from the boot with a strong kick from the right-hand side.

The Thurles fly-half was proving instrumental, and as the game ticked rowards the interval he drew a gap in the Mallow defence before powering past a covering tackle and stretching under the posts for Thurles’ second try, dusting himself off to add the conversion.

Mallow’s place in the final has been richly deserved after defeating a fancied Bandon side in the semis, and despite the early setback they got to the task of trying to get a score before the half, they were so close too, held up right on the line by a steadfast Thurles defence.

They had a chance to get on the scoreboard just before the break, but David Nyhan’s penalty drifted just wide of the post. The North Cork outfit stuck with it after half-time and eventually crossed for a most deserved try, John Willis the finisher.

With that the momentum changed, and now it would be the Cork side in the ascendency, Willis was proving to be a deadly finisher, and crossed ten minutes later to make it a five point game, however Browne couldn’t slot the conversion.

Mallow were unrelenting, and Thurles visits inside their opponents 22 were few and far between, as Mallow’s Colm Flaherty burst through the Tipperary defence for the leading score, but was held up at the last moment.

Thurles held their nerve however, and saw out the closing moments with consummate professionalism to hang on for a 17-12 victory and bring the plate back to Tipperary.