RUGBY COLUMN – APRIL 30
By Daire Walsh
A LEINSTER side containing a sizeable Kildare contingent were on the receiving end of a narrow defeat to Ulster in the final round of the Guinness PRO14 regular season at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.
Given they had already booked a home semi-final in the league a number of weeks ago – in addition to a Champions Cup final date with Saracens that is coming fast on the horizon – Leinster head coach Leo Cullen fielded an experimental side for their latest trip to Belfast. His Ulster counterpart Dan McFarland opted for a similar approach, with this Saturday’s home quarter-final against Connacht taking precedence.
Despite the absence of some high-profile names, there was some major experience within the Leinster ranks. Alongside Ross Byrne, Dave Kearney and Noel Reid in the back-line, Suncroft native Fergus McFadden was making his 178th appearance in the blue colours.
There was also a spot at full-back for Eadestown’s Jimmy O’Brien – who was making his third start of the season and picked his seventh cap overall. Donadea man Will Connors was named in the back-row with Max Deegan and Caelan Doris – fresh from his recent comeback cameo in the Blues’ defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
While the night ended in disappointment for the Lilywhites, the opening period suggested it might well be one to savour. After a predictably tentative opening-quarter failed to produce a breakthrough, the visitors finally drew first blood on 29 minutes.
Captaining the side for first time, Byrne unleashed a magnificent piece of build-up play that provided the space for O’Brien to cross over in the corner. Byrne’s subsequent conversion was off-target in tricky conditiions, however, and Ulster immediately responded through scrum-half Dave Shanahan.
Johnny McPhillips’ bonus strike was successful, but a late Leinster flourish ensured they brought a 13-7 cushion into the interval. Supplementing a Byrne penalty, McFadden crossed over in typically abrasive style to move the Blues back into the ascendancy.
Though the strong contribution of the Kildare duo had seemingly offered them a platform to build on, Leinster couldn’t add to their haul on the resumption. This raised the prospect of a morale-boosting Ulster win and senior debutant Matthew Rea did the needful to set-up a 14-13 success.
It promises to be a memorable weekend of PRO14 action in Ireland as Munster host this season’s surprise package – Benetton – at Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon. They warmed up for that tie (and blew off the cobwebs of their European defeat to Saracens) with a commanding 27-14 triumph at the expense of interprovincial rivals Connacht.
Athy’s Joey Carbery is still some way short of full fitness, but Tadhg Beirne (Eadestown) and Jeremy Loughman (also Athy) were once again included in the match day 23. Beirne played the full 80 minutes and side-stepped Connacht winger Niyi Adeolokun for a magnificent first-half try.
Loughman came off the bench for his 20th appearance of the season and while his yellow-card did place Munster under pressure, they secured the spoils in the end.