Under 18s Club Side Start With Impressive Win

The Munster Under 18s Clubs side, sponsored by Trend Micro, started their Interprovincial campaign with a superb 23-17 win over Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon.

Skibbereen out-half Liam Coombes scored a try, two conversion and three penalties with Midleton's Robert Carey scoring the first try in the opening half.

The win was built on a very solid foundation laid by a dominant scrum with the front-row trio of Peter Kelleher, Shane Bush and Ian McCarthy performing excellently.

Coombes was another stand-out performer and scored 18 points but this was a real team performance with the centre partnership of David McCarthy and Jack Quilter also impressing.

Munster led 13-5 at the break thanks to Carey's try, converted by Coombes, with the Skibbereen man adding a further two penalties to give his side an eight-point cushion.

Connacht came back strongly in the second half but Coombes touched down a converted try of his own and another penalty to seal a hard-earned win.

Next up for the Under 18s Clubs side is a trip to Belfast to take on Ulster next week with the campaign ending with a home tie against Leinster at Waterpark RFC on Saturday, September 27th at 12:30pm.

Munster Under 18s Clubs:

15. Sean Ivess (Newcastle West RFC)
14. Sean Gray (Crosshaven RFC)
13. Jack Quilter (Tralee Rugby Club)
12. David McCarthy (Skibbereen RFC)
11. David Gleeson (Newport RFC)
10. Liam Coombes (Skibbereen)
9. Paidi O'Sullivan (Bantry Bay RFC)

1. Peter Kelleher (Ballincollig RFC)
2. Shane Bush (Crosshaven RFC)
3. Ian McCarthy (Highfield RFC)
4. Robert Carey (Midleton RFC)
5. Dylan Reeves Wasik (Capt.) (Bruff RFC)
6. Robbie Walsh (Waterpark RFC)
7. Ross O'Neill (Cork Constitution FC)
8. Alan Fitzgerald (Shannon RFC)

Replacements:

16. Tomas Darcy (Newcastle West RFC)
17. Luke Jordan (Dolphin RFC)
18. Darragh Joyce (Garryowen FC)
19. David Flynn (Ennis RFC)
20. Sean Murphy (Newcastle West RFC)
21. Jordan O'Regan (Waterpark RFC)
22. Eoin Lacey (Fermoy RFC)
23. Kieran Coughlan (Young Munster RFC)