Young Munster Suffer Agonising Defeat

It was heartbreak for Young Munster on Saturday as they were denied a place in the All-Ireland League final by a Lansdowne try in the last play of extra-time at the Aviva Stadium.

Ulster Bank League Division 1A Semi Final: Landowne 23-19 Young Munster (aet)

Munsters came into the play-offs as 10/1 outsiders for the league title, but they coped well with two first half yellow cards and Gearoid Lyons' reliable boot had them within touching distance of the final both in normal time and extra-time.

Former Munster player Scott Deasy booted Lansdowne in front from an early scrum penalty, however his radar was off on a couple of occasions as the hosts failed to take advantage of the Cookies' high penalty count.

Young Munster centre Lyons equalised with his first successful kick on 25 minutes, the slippery conditions playing their part as attacks at both ends were foiled. The pressure increased on the visitors when they had two players carded in quick succession.

After Diarmaid Dee saw yellow for going off his feet at a ruck, Deasy briefly restored Lansdowne's three-point advantage before his opposite number Willie Staunton replied with a well-struck drop goal.

Lansdowne did manage to go in at the break with a 13-6 lead thanks to a well-worked converted try from centre Tom Daly. It owed much to a brilliant break from Leinster prospect Cian Kelleher, and supporting winger Ian Fitzpatrick did well to feed Daly with the scoring pass.Dan Goggin makes a break for Young Munster

Munsters bounced back from that setback with an equally brilliant seven-pointer early in the second period. Right winger Diarmuid McCarthy, who threatened on a number of occasions, darted onto a Staunton grubber kick and beat the covering defender with Lyons converting.

Lyons delighted the vocal travelling support by adding a pinpoint penalty from near the touchline, moving John Staunton's side ahead for the first time in what was developing into a very cagey affair. Lansdowne then turned the screw in the scrum once more, winning a penalty which young replacement Conor McKeon converted to make it 16-all and send the semi-final to extra-time.

It was first blood in extra-time to Munsters as a Lyons' penalty went over off a post, rewarding scrum half Rob Guerin for a fine initial break and good support work from full-back Kolio Hifo. Now 19-16 down, Lansdowne missed a chance to respond when McKeon was off target with a drop goal.

However, Ruddock's charges found the answers when it mattered most as they wore down a Munsters defence that was missing the sin-binned Craig O'Hanlon. Moran emerged as the match winner in the very final play, using his strength to power over just to the left of the posts. McKeon converted and with that, Lansdowne's players and supporters erupted in celebration.