Munster U21s Shine in Dublin

The U21 interprovincial championship began Friday night in Donnybrook,
where Munster beat Leinster by 25 points to 5. Barry Keeshan kicked 5 penalties
for Munster to ensure the win.

Munster dominated play from the outset and the visitors took a well deserved
lead in the ninth minute after a 70 metre break from scrumhalf Thomas O’Leary
as he intercepted a Conor Sharpe pass from midfield to race over the Leinster
line. Barry Keeshan kicked an easy conversion to give Munster a 7-0 lead.

Keeshan then kicked three penalties without reply. Trailing 16-0 at the interval,
things were not looking good for the young Leinster lads. Keeshan kicked off
the second half with more of the same punishment, kicking a penalty 3 minutes
in. Leinster then upped their game and placed some good pressure on the Munster
try-line, and Munster finally gave way when Heaslip powered over in the 58th
minute to add Leinster’s name to the board. Conor Sharpe sent the conversion wide to make it 19-5 in Munster’s favour.

After Leinster’s try, Barry keeshan sent back a message by kicking another
penalty and bringing his personal tally up to 17 points. Leinster shot everything
they could at Munster in the closing minutes only to see Munster substitute
Brian Carroll kick a smashing drop goal to give Munster a 25-5 win.

Ulster and Connacht will open their U21 interprovincial series in a match up
at the Sportsground in Galway on Saturday the 30th at 1:30pm.

Ulster Team:

15 – Richard McCarter (QUB)
14 – Mark Roberts (B. Harlequins)
13 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena)
12 – Johnny McLaughlin (B. Harlequins)
11 – Paul McKenzie (Louughborough University)
10 – Gareth Steenson (QUB)
9 – Michael Kirkwood (B. Harlequins)
1 – Niall Conlon (Dublin University) capt
2 – Philip Currie (Portadown)
3 – Adrian Kirkpartick (Ballymena)
4 – Lewis Stevenson (B. Harlequins)
5 – David Houston (Ballymena)
6 – Michael Willis (Loughborough University)
7 – David Burns (UCD)
8 – Chris Henry (Malone).

Replacements: Gary Maxwell (Dungannon), Lee Pollock (Coleraine), John Andress
(B. Harlequins), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon), Glenn Moore (QUB), Stephen Auld
(Dungannon), Thomas Horner (B.Harlequins).