U18 Schools Secure Third Win

The Munster U18 Schools side, sponsored by Trend Micro, made it three wins from three in their Interprovincial campaign thanks to a 19-13 win over Ulster in CIT this afternoon (Saturday).

A ten-minute spell before the break proved crucial as two tries saw Fiach O’Loughlin’s side, who had been trailing 8-7, move into a 19-8 half-time lead they would never relinquish.

Munster's tries came from impressive PBC centre Sean French (two) and a close range effort from Bandon Grammar prop Travis Coomey.

Glenstal Abbey out-half Ben Healy kicked two of the conversions and was unlucky to see his other effort come back off the post.

Ulster, backed by a vocal travelling support, hit the front on three minutes thanks to a Stewart Moore penalty.

Munster then enjoyed a good spell of pressure with the final pass just letting them down before French picked a perfect line and burst through a gap in midfield for a 10^th minute try under the posts.

Healy’s simple conversion made it 7-3 but Ulster hit back with a very well-worked move down the right as they expertly utilised the spare man with flanker Ethan Field diving over in the corner to make it 8-7.

Munster enjoyed a strong finish to the half though as French powered his way over in the left corner after a rolling maul with scrum-half Colin Sisk providing the pass down the blindside.

Coomey was the beneficiary of the next Munster attack as he forced his way over from close range with Healy adding the difficult conversion for an 11-point half-time lead.

Ulster had the lion's share of possession in the second half but the Munster defence stood firm.

It was stop-start after the break and with the penalty count adding up, French was shown a yellow for Munster as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

And Ulster ensured a nervy finish when they deservedly crossed in the right corner through Bruce Houston but Munster managed to hang on for their third victory of the campaign.

The U18 Schools finish their campaign away to Leinster in two weeks' time.

Munster U18 Schools
15. Eoin Monahan (CBC Cork)
14. Paul Clancy (Castletroy College)
13. Sean French (PBC Cork)
12. Luke Fitzgerald (Glenstal Abbey)
11. JD O'Hea (CBC Cork)
10. Ben Healy (Glenstal Abbey)
9. Colin Sisk (CBC Cork)
1. Travis Coomey (Bandon Grammar)
2. George Downing (Glenstal Abbey)
3. Luke Masters (CBC Cork)
4. Colin Deane (Bandon Grammar) (C)
5. Anthony Ryan (CBC Cork)
6. Finn Burke (CBC Cork)
7. Daniel Feasey (Crescent College Comprehensive)
8. Luke Clohessy (Ardscoil Rís)

Replacements:
16. Daniel O'Connor (CBC Cork)
17. Josh Wycherley (Cistercian College Roscrea)
18. Mark O'Driscoll (St Munchin's College)
19. Cian Hurley (CBC Cork)
20. Fintan Coleman (Crescent College Comprehensive)
21. Mark Fleming (Glenstal Abbey)
22. Cian Fitzgerald (PBC Cork)
23. Craig Casey (Ardscoil Rís)
24. Darragh O'Gorman (Ardscoil Rís)
25. Ben Moloney (Glenstal Abbey)
26. Jonathon Wren (PBC Cork)

This weekend's underage Interprovincial fixtures and results:
Friday: Munster Combined U20 & Development Squad 21-18 Ulster, Thomond Park
Today: Munster U18 Schools 19-13 Ulster, CIT; Munster U19s v Ulster, CIT, 3pm
Tomorrow: Munster U18 Clubs v Leinster, Thomond Park, 2.30pm