Leinster Schools - 16 Munster Schools - 17 Munster Schools captain Thomas Gleeson held his nerve to drive over a 40-metre penalty in the last act of a dramatic Interprovincial series tussle at Donnybrook yesterday.
The Leinster Schools were on the trail of their fourth straight championship and as many consecutive wins over Munster Schools. Slowly, the home side got their hands to the ball and second row Devin Toner broke from a ruck to block down Munster's outhalf Conan Doyle for the first try of the game.
Doyle, playing intelligently for territory, refused to buckle and, when Leinster killed the ball at ruck, Gleeson was given the opportunity to restore the lead. He didn't miss from close-in.
Leinster outhalf Jonathon Sexton used the runners either side of him to punch holes around the fringes and when he ran out of options the straightforward drop goal edged Leinster back in front, 8-6, by the 27th minute.
Then, Leinster, sparked by Sexton, moved the ball quickly out wide and in tight to create the opening for full back Robert Kearney to send right wing Kevin Barden to the line for a 13-6 lead at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Munster openside Barry O'Mahony grabbed an overthrown lineout ball and raced over from outside the 22.
Munster were on a roll. Gleeson landed a drop goal in the 44th minute and the lead had changed hands again. In the last minute Sexton planted the penalty from straight in front of the posts for Leinster. That looked to be the match-winner, but Munster drove on a tap penalty and an infringement at the ruck allowed Gleeson to split the posts.
LEINSTER SCHOOLS: R Kearney (Clongowes Wood); K Barden (Belvedere), E Flanagan (Castleknock), C Keegan (St Paul's), F Carr (Newbridge); J Sexton (St Mary's), M Darcy (High School); G Walsh (Blackrock), G O'Meara (St Mary's), P Collins (Templeogue), C McInerney (St Mary's), D Toner (Castleknock), R Boucher (CBC Monkstown), P O'Meara (Clongowes Wood), D O'Reilly (Blackrock). Replacements: B McGovern (St Mary's) for Walsh 44 mins; P Foley (St Michael's) for O'Meara 52 mins; G Byrne (Terenure) for Keegan 62 mins.
MUNSTER SCHOOLS: E Ryan (PBC, Cork); J Shortt (CBC, Cork), T Gleeson (PBC), A Kelleher, (PBC), P Shallow (Rockwell); C Doyle (Ard Scoil Rís), D Williams (CBC); D Hurley (CBC), S Cronin, (Ard Scoil Rís), L Casey (Ard Scoil Ris), D Sherry (Ard Scoil Rís), W Holland (CBC), M Essex (CBC), B O'Mahony (Crescent), J Harte (CBC). Replacement: R Hasson (CBC) for Casey 52 mins; F Daly (St Munchin's) for Shortt 61 mins; R O'Loughlin (Ard Scoil Rís) for Williams 64 mins.
Referee: C Beverland (Ulster Society).
