A tour de force performance by full back Conor Kilroy helped Connacht to their third win in this season's under-20 interprovincial championship against Munster at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday. Their opponents had secured two victories and one loss in their campaign, but had to readjust their selected side with changes at centre and hooker. The early stages of the tie were inconclusive but gradually, the Connacht pack started to gain momentum and on 15 minutes, Kilroy kicked his province into a 3-0 lead with a penalty on the Munster 22.
Kilroy extended their lead to 60 eight minutes later with a 35metre penalty. The hosts had a let-off 10 minutes before the interval when left wing Andy Morrissey struck a penalty from just outside the Connacht 22, which hit the right hand upright and the ball bounced back into play, Connacht just managed to clear the danger.
The final score before half-time came after 36 minutes, once more from Kilroy's boot, this time on the Munster 22, to leave it 9-0. Munster started the second half in attack and after 46 minutes, Morrissey sunk a good penalty. This fired up his side who put more pressure on Connacht and in the 59th minute, their number eight, Paul Neville, scored a try out on the left. Morrissey converted and they led 10-9.
Connacht, however, came back, inspired by Kilroy, who once more slotted home two penalties after 65 and 74 minutes, securing a win for the home side.
Connacht: C Kilroy (UCG); D Kearney (UCD), M Prendergast (UCD), G Johnston (Buccaneers), M Lavelle (St Mary's College); T Stuart-Trainor(Buccaneers), D Mescal (UCG); J Fahey (Clontarf), J McVeigh (Buccaneers), M Cahill (Bohemians), D Loughlin (Monivea), B O'Connor (Skerries), J Duffy (Galwegians, capt), P Lynch (UCG), C Pratt (Old Wesley). Temporary replacement: A Keaveney (Corinthians) for D Loughlin, 78-79 mins). Replacement: A Durkin (Corinthians) for P Lynch, injured, 61 mins.
Munster: D O'Sullivan (Skerries); R Col- lins (UCC), R Niland (Lansdowne), K Hartigan(Garryowen), A Morrissey (Highfield); J Staunton (Garryowen), P Stringer (UCC); M Horan (Shannon, capt), D Gavin (Richmond), P Bracken (Garryowen), D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), M O'Driscoll (UCC), A O'Gorman (Bohemians), P Neville (Old Crescent), D Quinlan (Shannon). Replacement: B O'Mahony (UCC) for J Staunton, injured, 72 mins.
Referee: P Eakin (USR).
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