RUGBY ROUND UP
Leinster earn home semi-final with hard fought win in the Sportsground
By Daire Walsh
LEINSTER will play at home in the Guinness PRO12 semi-final, after they defeated Connacht in an enthralling interprovincial encounter at the Sportsground in Galway last Saturday evening.
Connacht had established a four-point lead in the early stages of the second-half, but thanks in large part to subsequent tries by Rhys Ruddock (the captain on the night) and Barry Daly, the Blues claimed a 37-24 victory.
Just eight days out from a Champions Cup showdown with Clermont Auvergne, Leinster made wholesale changes from the previous week’s triumph over Ospreys. There was a total of 11 alterations to Leo Cullen’s starting line-up, and there was a welcome return for Kill’s Adam Byrne on the right-wing.
Byrne was forced off in the early stages of the European quarter-final win against Wasps, but following his full recovery from a hamstring complaint, he was selected alongside the experienced duo of Zane Kirchner and Dave Kearney.
James Tracy appeared from the bench at the Liberty Stadium seven days beforehand, and was given a chance to impress in a front-row that also featured Irish internationals Cian Healy and Mike Ross.
Naas’ Jamie Heaslip is still sidelined with the injury that ruled him out of Ireland’s final RBS Six Nations game with England, while Joey Carbery and Fergus McFadden were rested ahead of the trip to Lyon this weekend.
There was Kildare interest in the Connacht side as well, as Ballymore Eustace native Craig Ronaldson broke the deadlock for the hosts in the opening minute. However, after setting up Kirchner for a try in the right-corner, Byrne claimed a breakaway score on the stroke of 10 minutes.
This helped to place the visitors in pole position, before a majestic Jack Carty crossfield kick led to a five-pointer from Danie Poolman.
Rory O’Loughlin crossed the whitewash for Leinster before the end of the half, but courtesy of 14 points from the boot of Ronaldson, Connacht reduced their deficit to a single point (20-19) in time for the interval.
Connacht moved themselves back into the ascendancy with an unconverted effort by Dave Heffernan nine minutes after the restart, but following 17 consecutive points – including Ruddock and Daly touchdowns in the 52nd and 68th minutes respectively – Leinster maintained their position at the summit of the table.
Naas RFC will also have a date with destiny at Forenaughts on Sunday, when they welcome UL Bohemians for a Division 1A promotion/relegation play-off semi-final.
Their second place finish in the second-tier affords them home advantage, and should they progress from this game, they would then face either Garryowen or Old Wesley in a final winner-takes-all tie.
Meanwhile, it was a massive occasion for all involved in Athy RFC on Sunday, as the club hosted the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup final between Skerries and Tullow. It was a memorable spectacle throughout, but thanks to tries from Richie Nicholls, Stephen Smith and Dylan Leyborne, it was Tullow who prevailed on a scoreline of 20-3.