Sport

Under-20: late Finn try pushes Connacht closer to interpro title

Ulster 17 Munster 9: MUNSTER, FOLLOWING their recent 13-9 defeat by Leinster, are now out of contention for the Interprovincial…

Sat Sept 17 2011 - 01:00

Ulster 17 Munster 9:MUNSTER, FOLLOWING their recent 13-9 defeat by Leinster, are now out of contention for the Interprovincial title as Ulster proved too strong at Deramore Park yesterday.

The home team, who had lost to Connacht 19-22, led 5-3 at half-time and were much the better team in the second period although admittedly they were helped by numerous Munster errors.

The home side had tries from captain and scrumhalf Conor Spence, prop Kyle McCall and outside centre Christopher Farrell while Munster had to rely on three penalties from the boot of under-20 international JJ Hanrahan.

Scorers – Ulster ( C Farrell, C Spence, K McCall one try each, P Nelson one con); Munster (JJ Hanrahan 3 pens).

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ULSTER: C Simpson; A Andress, C Farrell, P Nelson, A Morrison; S Olding, C Spence; J McMahon, R Bonnar, J Kirk, J Donnan, C Joyce, K McCall, D Kerr, R Harrison. Replacements: R Jablinski, S O’Connell, N Faloon, A Cairns, J Creighton, J Andrew, J McClean.

MUNSTER: G Ó Suilleabháin; S Glynn, K Slater, JJ Hanrahan, S Horgan; E Mills, B Haugh; B Scott, J Rael, N Horan, D O’Shea, J Donovan, S Buckley, M Cronin capt R Murphy.

Replacements: C O’Donnell, R Martin, L Cahill, C Gallagher, N Cronin, R Scannell, T Ryan.

Referee: E O’Dowd

Leinster 16 Connacht 19

RIGHT WING Conor Finn pounced for the match-winning 78th-minute try for a far superior Connacht to put them within one more game of winning the Under- 20 Interprovincial Championship, at Donnybrook yesterday.

Connacht made hard work of a match they dominated from the second quarter onwards. They fell behind to the boot of Leinster outhalf Cathal Marsh and flanker Brian du Toit’s try. Centre Tadhg Leader kept them in touch from placed balls before Finn’s late try.

Connacht must beat Munster in Athlone next Friday to secure the championship for the first time.

Scorers – Leinster 16 (B du Toit try; C Marsh 3 pens, con); Connacht 19 (C Finn try; T Leader 4 pens, con).

LEINSTER: M Sherlock; B Daly, S Murphy, M Roche, S Coghlan-Murray; C Marsh, L McGrath (capt); D Merrey, A Clarkin, P Reilly, A O’Connor, D Mannion, J Conan, B du Toit, J Coghlan. Replacements: T O’Reilly for Conan (32 mins – temp); F Horan for Coghlan-Murray (half-time); N McCarthy for Mannion (71 mins); M Oyunga for Coghlan (76 mins).

CONNACHT: S Layden; C Finn, R Henshaw, T Leader, C Boland; J Carty, M Walsh; P Griffin, C O’Connell, J Dever, D Qualter, C Kindregan, A Conneely, W O’Brien, B Moylett (capt). Replacements: K Marmion for Walsh, I O’Grady for O’Brien (both 47 mins); E Tarmey for Kindregan (68 mins); A Keating for Dever (73 mins).

Referee: W O’Connor (IRFU).