Munster show more composure
Rugby
By Daire Walsh
Leinster A 12 Munster A 18
TRIES in either half from Ronan O’Mahony and Sean Henry proved decisive for Munster A in Donnybrook yesterday afternoon.
The reigning British and Irish Cup champions opted to field an experienced side for this encounter, with Felix Jones, Johne Murphy, Danny Barnes and the veteran Peter Stringer all taking their place in the Red Army’s defence.
Former U20 International JJ Hanrahan was off target with an early penalty, but Munster A took a deserved lead on 12 minutes, when winger O’Mahony crossed the whitewash on the left-hand side following excellent work towards the line by powerful hooker Henry.
Hanrahan was also wide of the mark with the subsequent conversion, and Leinster took advantage of this missed opportunity by forcing the Munster rearguard into the concession of penalties on the 19th and 25th minutes.
Leinster’s Clontarf out-half, Noel Reid, was on hand to successfully secure both of these kicks, as Leinster were starting to settle into the proceedings. Reid fell short with a penalty just moments later, but he made amends with a routine penalty from close-in with just six minutes left in the half.
This was to be his last meaningful impact on the game, though, as he was replaced on 36 minutes by the flame-haired Cathal Marsh. This offered Munster the incentive to push on in the closing stages of the opening period, as UL’s Hanrahan was able to recover his accuracy in time to kick over a brace of late penalties, giving Munster A a two-point lead (11-9) at midway.
This offered Munster plenty of momentum upon the resumption, and it took them just three minutes to secure their second five-pointer of the afternoon, when Henry drove over to the right of the posts after a long spell of pressure in the Leinster 22. Hanrahan was left with a difficult bonus kick out on the wing, but he displayed great composure to slot the ball between the posts, giving his side a nine-point cushion.
A 77th minute penalty by Marsh (coming after Munster replacement Scott Deasy had dropped a similar effort short) gave Leinster some hope in the closing moments, but the Munster men were able to hold out.
Scorers For Leinster A: N Reid 3 pens, C Marsh 1 pen.
Munster A: JJ Hanrahan 2 pens, 1 con, R O’Mahony, S Henry.
LEINSTER A: David Kearney; Andrew Boyle, Brendan Macken, Jordan Coghlan, Sam Coghlan-Murray; Noel Reid, Adam Griggs; Jack McGrath, James Tracy, Jamie Hagan, Tadgh Beirne, Ben Marshall, Rhys Ruddock, Conor Gilsenan, Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: Cathal Marsh for Reid (36), Thomas Sexton for Tracy (half-time), Tom Daly for Macken (48), Martin Moore for Hagan (54), Jack Conan for Murphy (63), Jack O’Connell for McGrath (65), Josh Van Der Flier for Gilsenan (68), Adam Byrne for Kearney (70).
MUNSTER A: Felix Jones; Johne Murphy, Danny Barnes, Ivan Dineen, Ronan O’Mahony; JJ Hanrahan, Peter Stringer; John Ryan, Sean Henry, Christy Condon, David Foley, Ian Nagle, Shane Buckley, Tommy O’Donnell, Paddy Butler.
Replacements: Ryan Murphy for O’Donnell (20), Stephen Archer for Condon, Duncan Williams for Stringer, Cian Bohane for O’Mahony, Brian Hayes for Foley (all half-time), Duncan Casey for Henry (50), Philip Donnellan for Butler (53), Scott Deasy for Hanrahan (57), Kevin Griffin for Ryan (74).
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU).