High Flying Munsters End UCC’s Winning Run

Two of the form teams in AIB League Division 1B met at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday with Young Munster emerging as 14-10 victors over UCC.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1B: Saturday, December 5

YOUNG MUNSTER 14 UCC 10, Tom Clifford Park

Scorers: Young Munster: Try: Ger Flaherty; Pens: Alan Kingsley 2; Drop: Alan Kingsley
UCC: Try: Ivan Dineen; Con: Andrew Burke; Pen: Andrew Burke

UCC’s three-match winning run in the division came to an end as eight points from the boot of out-half Alan Kingsley and a second half try from prop Ger Flaherty saw Munsters come out on top.

Back from injury, Kingsley had an immediate impact when he dinked a drop goal through the posts in the fourth minute.

Playing alongside director of rugby Mike Prendergast at half-back, Kingsley also converted a first half penalty but the Cookies should have been in front by more than 6-0 at the interval, such was their dominance.

Munster prospect Andrew Burke cut the deficit with a penalty for UCC, 15 minutes into the second half.

But Young Munster responded quickly when Prendergast made a terrific break and when he was hauled down, Flaherty was by his side to take it on and race in for the game’s opening try.

Kingsley, who failed to convert, pushed Young Munster further ahead with a 67th minute penalty.

Both sides had a player sin-binned following a lengthy dust-up and UCC hit back to secure a losing bonus point, which keeps them in the top half of the table. Team captain Ivan Dineen burst through for a try which Burke converted.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Ray Moloney; Aaron Carroll, Matthew Costelloe, Clem Casey, Derek Corcoran; Alan Kingsley, Mike Prendergast; Ger Flaherty, Ger Slattery (capt), Donal Murphy, Darragh Payne, Shane O’Neill, Shane Hassett, James O’Neill, Neville Melbourne.

Replacements: Ger Burke, Hugh Mc Grath, Ken Hanley, Liam Og Murphy, Ian Cross.

UCC: Sean Scanlon; Brian Derham, Ivan Dineen (capt), Brian Dennehy, Keith Buckley; Andrew Burke, Brian Slater; Gavin Duffy, Andrew Cudmore, John Ryan, Philly Donnellan, Mike Lenihan, Dave O’Callaghan, Shane O’Sullivan, James Ryan.

Replacements: Wayne Falvey, Willie O’Donovan, John Quill, Colin Crowley, Willie Walsh.

Referee: Darragh McCormack (IRFU)