Terenure get hard Limerick lesson

TERENURE have learned how steep a learning curve can be. In a match that was finished in a 10 minute rout midway through the first hall, the AIL debutants limped off the field no doubt thinking: so this is what is meant by Limerick rugby.

The ferocity and timing of tackles, the direction by an outstanding Aidan O'Halloran at out half, the rucking and mauling, particularly from Des Clohessy, and even the use of a fierce breeze blowing initially in Young Munster's favour were all utterly controlled by the visitors in Lakelands Park.

"The forwards played very well. They were much more hungry than we were and they thoroughly deserved to win," said a disappointed Terenure coach, Gerry Murphy. "They mixed up their game, used the wind better than we did and put in very good tackles on the gain line. When they score 30 points, you're never going to get them back."

The beginning of the end of the match began in the 14th minute and was over by the 25th. By then the heart had been torn out of the home side who had gone into the game hopeful of keeping their position near the top of the table. But four tries, two of them converted, to no reply marked a bewildering phase of the game that Terenure are going to find difficult to dislodge from their minds.

Firstly, left wing Niall McNamara crashed over the Terenure line in the corner after 14 minutes when a ball was spun out long, missing the two centres. On the 18th minute, a miscued Terenure; pass allowed Young Munster to drive forward, this time on the right, giving hooker Mark Fitzgerald acres of space to go through.

Three minutes later, O'Halloran, chipped a nicely weighted ball which the Terenure cover fumbled; Anthony Herlihy collected and went over for try number three. O'Halloran converted and four minutes later Young Munster were knocking at the door again.

A lineout 20 metres out gave Mick Fitzgerald the opportunity to make ground. Derek Tobin then took up the running when Fitzgerald was grounded before Clohessy finally barged his way through. O'Halloran converted, added a drop goal and it was 30-0 with only 28 minutes gone. The game was over.

Damage limitation was the obvious thought at that stage, but what do you do when kicks to touch were blowing back in your face? Answer: watch O'Halloran.

Even with the wind in Terenure's favour after the break, the visiting out half marshalled his team with intelligent, low kicks to touch. Nothing too ambitious, but enough to turn Terenure and kill the momentum that they were eventually able to generate.

Peter Walsh kicked a penalty in the 49th minute for his side's first score, before substitute Paul Hennebry grabbed a try eight minutes later. Ciaran Clarke, Terenure's most effective runner on the day, scored simply on the left when Munsters were stretched on the other side, and Donal Hyland added his name on the score sheet in extra time to put something of a gloss on a miserable home display.