Young Munster Earn Fourth Straight Win
Young Munster made it four wins on the bounce in AIB League Division 1B as they moved clear of Galwegians in the second half at Crowley Park on Saturday.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1B: Saturday, December 12
GALWEGIANS 9 YOUNG MUNSTER 16, Crowley Park
Scorers: Galwegians: Pens: Dave Clarke, Rob O’Beirne 2
Young Munster: Try: Derek Corcoran; Con: Alan Kingsley; Pens: Alan Kingsley 3
With director of rugby Mike Prendergast providing an experienced hand at scrum half, Young Munster were able to keep the heat on leaders Old Belvedere at the business end of the table.
The game-breaking score came on 65 minutes when winger Derek Corcoran took the ball on, sold a dummy and skipped through under the ‘Wegians posts.
The hosts, who won 15-10 in the corresponding fixture last season, started brightly and they took the game to the Cookies up front.
Centre Dave Clarke knocked over a fifth minute penalty and full-back Rob O’Beirne added a second coming up to the half hour as Kevin Tierney’s charges took a 6-0 lead.
But a brace of penalties from Munsters out-half Alan Kingsley squared up the tie for half-time and the Limerick men simply dominated the second half, pinning ‘Wegians back into their 22 for a good 20 minutes.
The home side did not help themselves with some poor clearance kicks, although a well-executed maul drive set up O’Beirne for his second penalty and a 13-9 scoreline.
‘Wegians were still in contention at that stage but Munsters closed it out with a third penalty from Kingsley who actually missed a further late kick which would have denied ‘Wegians a losing bonus point.
GALWEGIANS: Rob O’Beirne; Tiernan O’Halloran, Aifai Esera, Dave Clarke, John Cleary; Ross Shaughnessy, Kieran Campbell; Ja Naughton, Conor Muldoon, Jamie Stephens, Joe Moran, Brian McClearn, Ambrose Conboy, Ivan Muldoon (capt), Ati Olive.
Replacements used: Derek Boyd for Moran (65 mins). Not used: Steve McGrath, Ross Fitzgerald, Ronan Dillon, Barry Lee.
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 used: Ken Hanley for Payne (65 mins), Ger Burke for Hassett, Brendan Guilfoyle for’J O’Neill (both 70). Not used: Hugh McGrath, Ian Cross.
Referee: Jonathan Peak (IRFU)