THERE may not have been any great incentive on offer at Eaton Park on Saturday - both sides are safe in Division One - but that certainly did not deter the combatants from serving up a lively battle.

Within the first six minutes of the match Ballymena centre Derek McAleese knocked over two penalties as Young Munster appeared slow to settle. When the Limerick side began to find their rhythm, Ballymena were forced to concede ground and Aidan O'Halloran opened his side's account from a penalty and repeated the dose shortly afterwards.

When Young Munster transgressed following a scrum McAleese kicked his third penalty. It was the signal for a more sustained bout of Ballymena pressure and McAleese landed two further penalties.

It was Young Munster who called the shots in the second half. Their endeavour brought its own reward in the 46th minute when Ger Earls displayed quick thinking. He quickly followed up as O'Halloran miscued a penalty attempt, grabbing the ball and forcing his way over the line O'Halloran made no mistake with the conversion.

Young Munster maintained their onslaught but it was not until 12 minutes from the end that O'Halloran landed his fourth penalty.