O’Sullivan stars as Munster edge Leinster
Interprovincial ‘A’ Challenge
Leinster ‘A’ 33
Munster ‘A’ 39
Daire Walsh
Donnybrook
Jack O’Sullivan was in outstanding form at Energia Park last night as Munster ‘A’ edged out the challenge of Leinster ‘A’ in a high-scoring interprovincial clash.
The visitors broke the deadlock with a Ben Healy penalty, and a penalty try increased their advantage on the first-quarter mark. Leinster eventually responded through a converted Dan Sheehan score, only for O’Sullivan to immediately power over at the opposite end.
Nevertheless, another Sheehan try ensured the hosts were just five points in arrears (17-12) at the break. Munster looked set to cruise over the line when dynamic No 8 O’Sullivan bagged his second of the evening on 47 minutes.
Yet, with Cormac Foley registering a brace of five-pointers either side of another Munster penalty try, the blues remained in contention. A John McKee finish inside the closing quarter reduced the deficit to the bare minimum (34-33), but Alan Tynan dotted down on the stroke of full-time to put the seal on Munster’s triumph.
Scorers for Leinster ‘A’: D Sheehan, C Foley 2 tries each, J McKee try, T Corkery 4 cons.
Scorers for Munster ‘A’: J O’Sullivan 2 tries, 2 pen tries and cons, A Tynan try, B Healy 2 pens, 2 cons.
LEINSTER ‘A’: M Silvester; J O’Connor, L Faria, T O’Brien, A Smith; T Corkery, C Foley; M Milne, D Sheehan, J Aungier; B Deeny, O Dowling; M Hernan, S Penny, R Watters.
Replacements: J McKee, C Ward, R Salanoa, C Prendergast, A Soroka, P Patterson, D Fitzgibbon, C Redmond.
MUNSTER ‘A’: A Tynan; L Coombes, A McHenry, J Delaney, A Wootton; B Healy, N Cronin; J Wycherley, D Barron, K Knox; D O’Shea, S O’Connor; G Coombes, C Oliver, J O’Sullivan.
Replacements: E Clarke, J French, C Barrett, T Ahern, C Hurley, C Casey, J Hodnett, H O’Riordan.
Referee: J Rozier (France).