Munster display traditional true grit

Leinster A 29 Munster A 36:A TRY FROM their excellent loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne in the first period of extra-time provided the decisive score in an entertaining British Irish Cup semi-final before 4,895 spectators at the RDS yesterday. The visitors showed tremendous grit to come from 11 points down early in the second half and might have won the game in normal time had outhalf Scott Deasy – he had a fine game – been availed of two late penalty opportunities.

The see-saw nature of the encounter after the interval made for compelling viewing and the game rose above truly inept officiating. Leinster will feel a little more aggrieved in defeat, especially as they lost a number of players to injury during the game.

Munster won’t care and will rightly reflect on the tremendous character and physical resilience shown in outlasting the home side.

The visitors were content to pursue territorial options in the first half through the boot of outhalf Deasy, while Leinster were guilty of overelaborating behind the scrum, the offloading taking place well behind the gain-line and not committing defenders.

Only once in the first 40 minutes, after a nice outside break from Brendan Macken, did the home side really look threatening in terms of their back play.

Hooker Aaron Dundon and number eight Leo Auva’a punched holes closer in but the support was a little slow in arriving and Munster scrambled effectively in defence.

The visitors also profited from several Leinster turnovers and the home side were lucky to survive when Munster fullback Seán Scanlon produced a chip and chase. Although beaten to the ball just short of the line by Leinster scrumhalf Luke McGrath, the ball squirmed free and was played by a Leinster player coming back. It should have been a penalty.

Munster didn’t get that one but were given a soft one soon after for an alleged blocking. Deasy kicked his third penalty to give the visitors a 9-6 interval lead, eclipsing his Leinster counterpart Noel Reid, who could only manage two from five attempts.

The first 15 minutes of the second half produced four tries, Leinster grabbing the first two – Munster number eight Paddy Butler was in the sin bin at the time – thanks to McGrath and then flanker Dominic Ryan, the latter following a brilliant break by Auva’a. Reid converted both but two mistakes from the Leinster outhalf saw Munster produce a stunning recovery to claw back from 11 points down to lead 23-20.

Munster flanker Barry O’Mahony blocked down and regathered a Reid clearance and then the Leinster outhalf turned over possession while attempting a grubber kick. The visitors counterattacked brilliantly and Scanlon’s hands and Luke O’Dea’s pace and sidestep did the rest. Deasy converted both tries.

Reid kicked two penalties, and Deasy one with the Munster outhalf spurning two other chances with placed balls. In the end it didn’t matter. Munster will play the winner of Cross Keyes and Cornish Pirates, the latter the only side to beat them in this season’s tournament in the final.

Scoring sequence: 8 mins: Deasy penalty, 0-3; 13: Reid penalty, 3-3; 22: Deasy penalty, 3-6; 33: Reid penalty, 6-6; 37: Deasy penalty, 6-9. Half-time: 6-9. 45: McGrath try, Reid conversion, 13-9; 49: Ryan try, Reid conv, 20-9; 51: O’Mahony try, Deasy conv, 20-16; 55: O’Dea try, Deasy conv, 20-23; 57: Reid penalty, 23-23; 60: Reid penalty, 26-23; 63: Deasy penalty 26-26; 80(+3): Reid penalty, 29-26; 80 (+7): Deasy penalty, 29-29; 80 (+9): Kilcoyne try, Deasy conversion, 29-36.

LEINSTER A: D Kearney; A Conway, B Macken, C O’Shea, F Carr; N Reid, L McGrath; J McGrath, A Dundon, M Moore; D Browne, M Flanagan; R Ruddock, D Ryan, L Auva’a. Replacements: C Marsh for O’Shea (ht); A Boyle for Marsh (43 mins); J O’Connell for Moore (69); J Murphy for Browne (75); T Sexton for Dundon (77 mins): M Healy for Kearney (90 mins).

MUNSTER A: S Scanlon; L O’Dea, D Barnes, JJ Hanrahan, I Dineen; S Deasy, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, S Henry, J Ryan; B Hayes, I Nagle; B Holland (capt), B O’Mahony, P Butler. Replacements: D Fogarty for Henry (50 mins), P Borlase for J Ryan (50), C Sheridan for Williams (69); B O’Hara for O’Mahony (71), D Cusack for Hanrahan (76), P Donnellan for Holland (90-92 mins). Sin Bin: P Butler (Munster) 44 mins

Referee: I Davies (Wales)