PwC Under-19 Men’s Interpros: Round 1 Review

A clinical first-half performance drove Munster to an opening PwC Under-19 Men’s Interprovincial Championship win over Connacht. Leinster were also bonus point winners away to Ulster, completing a hat-trick of age-grade victories for the province at Affidea Stadium.

PWC UNDER-19 MEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 1:

Saturday, August 16 –

CONNACHT UNDER-19s 12 MUNSTER UNDER-19s 34, Creggs RFC
Scorers: Connacht U-19s: Tries: Peter Moran, Oisin Berthoz; Con: Billy Cross
Munster U-19s: Tries: David Geoghegan, Robert O’Donnell, Bobby O’Callaghan, Rory Forde; Cons: Rory Forde 4; Pens: Rory Forde 2
HT: Connacht U-19s 0 Munster U-19s 24

Kinsale centre Rory Forde contributed 19 points, including the bonus point try, as fast-starting Munster kicked off their campaign with a convincing 34-12 victory over Connacht on Creggs RFC’s all-weather pitch.

Two terrific individual tries from Robert O’Donnell and Bobby O’Callaghan pushed Munster’s lead out to 24-0 by half-time. David Geoghegan had crossed early on, with Forde unerring from the tee with nine points.

Connacht will take plenty of positives from the closing 35 minutes which finished 12-10 in their favour. Wingers Peter Moran and Oisin Berthoz ran in two classy scores of their own, although Forde’s 53rd-minute effort had the visitors too far in front.

The Aiden McNulty-coached Munster U-19s asserted themselves with an opening sixth-minute try, having picked off two early Connacht lineouts. They got into maul territory themselves, and prop Geoghegan scrambled over when they were playing with a penalty advantage.

Following Forde’s first conversion of the day, Connacht had a brief territorial edge before out-half Oisin Kelly came to their rescue. He got back to win a turnover penalty after a promising midfield break from Dungarvan’s Richie Whelan.

Winger Moran’s timing at the breakdown gave Connacht’s defence a further lift, although they fell 10 points behind on the quarter hour mark. Ryan Duffy was penalised for not rolling away, and Forde landed the place-kick in windy conditions.

Connacht’s good work with Kelly’s fine high catch, and a subsequent penalty on halfway, was undone by a couple of inaccurate lineouts. However, when Munster advanced again from a penalty of their own, the hosts did well to hold up Zach Piper from a maul.

Buccaneers flyer Philip Finnan ran into some space on the left, yet his kick through beat everyone over the endline. Oisin O’Donoghue won possession back by earning a penalty at the breakdown, and the westerners had an overlap to exploit in the 27th minute.

Frustratingly for Connacht, a pass was slightly behind Simon Cantwell, and the ball deflected up for O’Donnell to intercept just outside Munster’s 22. He sprinted clear down the stand side for a sudden score which his centre partner Forde converted.

Connacht failed to capitalise on Josh Kelly’s 50:22 kick, and Munster stung them again with another fleet-footed try. C0-captain Aaron Moloney neatly released O’Callaghan from 60 metres out, and he expertly fended off Berthoz and outpaced full-back Kelly for the try-line.

Charlie Bramley’s breakdown work sent Munster back on their way towards the Connacht whitewash, early in the second half. Tom Shanahan was inches away, just knocking on as he attempted to squeeze over from a ruck.

Injuries to Luke Keaveny and O’Donnell meant play was held up for a while, and Connacht regrouped well in defence. They denied Piper a try when he broke off a maul, and Dara Walsh dug in at the breakdown to help win a relieving penalty.

Things clicked for the home side in attack when replacement scrum half Fiachra O’Neill scampered up to Munster’s 10-metre line. Daniel Browne flung a pass out wide and Moran took off, handing off and slipping out of O’Callaghan’s tackle to dart over in the left corner.

McNulty’s charges hit back in the 53rd minute, bagging their bonus point with a pacy set of attacking phases. Replacement Sean Roche did the initial damage with a strong run on the left, and Forde soon scored under the posts when reaching out of a tackle.

With his side trailing 31-5, Galway Corinthians lock Walsh stood out for his aerial ability, soaring to win a restart, drawing an appreciative response from the home support, and then following up to steal a subsequent lineout.

His club-mate Berthoz took up the baton with a couple of big moments. He won a turnover penalty right on his own line, and then with seven minutes remaining, collected Billy Cross’ well-weighted kick and brillianty burst clear, evading Roche’s clutches to dive in behind the posts.

The extras from Cross shaved the deficit down to 19 points, but any hopes of Connacht drawing closer back were ended by Forde’s 67th-minute penalty. Munster are on their travels again next Saturday, playing Ulster at Newforge, while Connacht visit Energia Park on Sunday to face Leinster.

TIME LINE: 6 minutes – Munster try: David Geoghegan – 0-5; conversion: Rory Forde – 0-7; 16 mins – Munster penalty: Rory Forde – 0-10; 27 mins – Munster try: Robert O’Donnell – 0-15; conversion: Rory Forde – 0-17; 30 mins – Munster try: Bobby O’Callaghan – 0-22; conversion: Rory Forde – 0-24; Half-time – Connacht 0 Munster 24; 46 mins – Connacht try: Peter Moran – 5-24; conversion: missed by Billy Cross – 5-24; 53 mins – Munster try: Rory Forde – 5-29; conversion: Rory Forde – 5-31; 63 mins – Connacht try: Oisin Berthoz – 10-31; conversion: Billy Cross – 12-31; 67 mins – Munster penalty: Rory Forde – 12-34; Full-time – Connacht 12 Munster 34

CONNACHT U-19: Josh Kelly (St. Mary’s College); Peter Moran (Carrick-on-Shannon RFC/Mohill Community College), Oisin O’Donoghue (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Daniel Browne (Galway Corinthians RFC/St. Joseph’s Patrician College), Philip Finnan (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College); Oisin Kelly (Suttonians RFC/St. Fintan’s High School), Tom Walsh (Buccaneers RFC/Clongowes Wood College) (capt); Cathal Moffatt (Sligo Rugby/Sligo Grammar School), Seán Glennon (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College), Ryan Duffy (Buccaneers RFC), Pasha Thiam (Galway Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Éinde), Dara Walsh (Galway Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Éinde), James Greaney (Galway Corinthians RFC/Presentation College Athenry), Luke Keaveny (Galway Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir), Simon Cantwell (Suttonians RFC/St. Fintan’s High School).

Replacements: Oisin Meehan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Presentation College Athenry), Jaynel Almanzar (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Muire Máthair), Dara Noone (Galway Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir), Matthew McNamara (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Éinde), Dylan Rice (Castlebar RFC/St. Gerald’s College), Fiachra O’Neill (Connemara RFC/Clifden Community School), Billy Cross (Naas RFC/Newbrigde College), Oisin Berthoz (Galway Corinthians RFC/St. Joseph’s Patrician College).

MUNSTER U-19: Keelan Dunne (Cistercian College Roscrea); Bobby O’Callaghan (PBC Cork), Robert O’Donnell (Castletroy College), Rory Forde (Kinsale RFC), Gerry Joyce (Crescent College Comprehensive); Daniel Coughlan (Bandon RFC), Aaron Moloney (Cistercian College Roscrea) (co-capt); Richie Whelan (Dungarvan RFC), Zach Piper (Bandon Grammar School), David Geoghegan (St. Munchin’s College), David Mac Coitir (CBC Cork), Tom Shanahan (Crescent College Comprehensive), Kedagh Broderick (Nenagh Ormond RFC) (co-capt), Cillian McNamara (Castletroy College), Charlie Bramley (Kilkenny College).

Replacements: Oscar Doody (Cistercian College Roscrea), Tomás Crotty (Dungarvan RFC), Solomon Delea (Cobh Pirates RFC), Olan Dillon (PBC Cork), Evan Welham (Cobh Pirates RFC), Frankie Óg Sheahan (PBC Cork), Jack O’Callaghan (CBC Cork), Sean Roche (Glenstal Abbey School).

Referee: Euan O’Riordan (IRFU)

Sunday, August 17 –

ULSTER UNDER-19s 8 LEINSTER UNDER-19s 33, Affidea Stadium
Scorers: Ulster U-19s: Try: Matthew Callaghan; Pen: Owen O’Kane
Leinster U-19s: Tries: Alex Crawley, Ronan Kelly, James Curry, Shane McGuigan, Ryan Ovenden; Cons: Cory O’Connor 4
HT: Ulster U-19s 8 Leinster U-19s 21

The first of two away trips for Leinster in the PwC U-19 Men’s Interprovincial Championship worked out well, as they got the better of their Ulster counterparts on a 33-8 scoreline in Belfast.

Leinster captain Cory O’Connor converted tries from fellow backs Alex Crawley, Ronan Kelly, and James Curry, leaving Ulster, who touched down through Matthew Callaghan, with a 21-8 half-time deficit to overcome.

Coached by Ricky Andrew, the hosts maintained a high work-rate but could not add to their tally. Instead it was Leinster who extended their advantage thanks to tries from Shane McGuigan and Ryan Ovenden, ahead of entertaining Connacht next Sunday afternoon.

A sweeping move almost had Leinster scoring after barely a minute. Arthur Ashmore carved through the middle, passing out wide to Greystones winger Ovenden who was tackled short by James Kerr, his crucial hit leading to a knock-on.

Paddy Woods’ lineout steal, coupled with a tackle-breaking run from Charlie Hargy, were the early highlights from Ulster’s industrious pack. When Leinster’s Ben O’Toole came in at the side of a ruck, Owen O’Kane took the points on offer for a 3-0 lead.

While a turnover penalty won by Angus Graham halted the visitors’ progress in response, a crisp passing move from a lineout saw them flood downfield in the 13th minute. Ovenden and Curry connected neatly, releasing left winger Kelly to raid through into the opposition 22.

Two minutes later and following a sustained period of pressure from his forwards, scrum half Crawley sniped over to reward good work in the build-up from Ashmore and Marcus McCarthy. O’Connor converted to make it 7-3.

Midway through the first half, Matthew Brennan intercepted a pass from Ulster skipper O’Kane and darted downfield. As Ryan McDowell closed in on him, he popped a pass away to the supporting Kelly who had a clear run-in from just outside Ulster’s 22.

The home pack knuckled down and made impressive metres in response, with Ballymena Academy back rower Hargy getting his legs pumping, and driven on by Woods and Sam Clarke, to push Leinster right back close to their own try-line. Tighthead Graham was held up.

There was no denying winger Callaghan when Ulster came hunting again in the 24th minute. IQ Rugby scrum half Fergus Callington broke smartly off the back of a scrum, getting inside his opposite number Crawley and timing his pass to perfection for Callaghan to finish past Ashmore.

It was nip and tuck approaching the interval, with O’Kane missing touch from a penalty, and then Leinster coughing up a free-kick at an advanced lineout. Adam Griggs’ youngsters soon widened the margin to 13 points, nonetheless.

Henry Maher won a turnover penalty inside Leinster’s half, and a purposeful set of attacking phases ended with hooker McCarthy breaking a tackle and offloading for Wicklow’s Curry to scurry in behind the posts. O’Connor turned it into another seven-pointer.

In a free-flowing start to the second period, Callaghan and O’Toole both got a chance to stretch their legs in attack. O’Connor tried to open up the Ulster defence with a kick over the top, and a subsequent pass, but the latter turnover almost resulted in a breakaway try for the hosts.

Callington and Callaghan cleverly used the possession to send number 8 Hargy storming down the left wing. A ruck infringement landed Curry in the sin bin, but Ulster were left frustrated again when the resulting lineout was stolen by Michael Bolger.

Leinster got their big ball carriers gaining ground once more, most notably Clongowes Wood number 8 Ashmore. It was his dominant surge from the back of a scrum that paved the way for Longford flanker McGuigan to power over in the 50th minute.

O’Connor converted his side’s bonus point score, and although more space was beginning to open up, both defences scrambled well. It was tit for tat with some of the turnovers, as Jack McGovern’s poach was swiftly cancelled out by a penalty won by Noah Bell.

Ulster replacement Dylan Fox ripped the ball back in contact, in response to Bolger’s lineout steal. However, Andrew’s outfit could not avoid leaking a late fifth try, as slick hands from Alvaro Swords, Kelly, and Brennan sent Ovenden over in the left corner.

Replacement Russell Lovo was prominent during the last few minutes, with a weaving run in attack and a well-earned steal at the breakdown. Ulster failed to profit from a run of penalties, though, as despite their lineout improving, Callum Largey knocked on during the final play.

TIME LINE: 8 minutes – Ulster U-19s penalty: Owen O’Kane – 3-0; 15 mins – Leinster U-19s try: Alex Crawley – 3-5; conversion: Cory O’Connor – 3-7; 18 mins – Leinster U-19s try: Ronan Kelly – 3-12; conversion: Cory O’Connor – 3-14; 24 mins – Ulster U-19s try: Matthew Callaghan – 8-14; conversion: missed by Owen O’Kane – 8-14; 35 mins – Leinster U-19s try: James Curry – 8-19; conversion: Cory O’Connor – 8-21; Half-time – Ulster U-19s 8 Leinster U-19s 21; 44 mins – Leinster U-19s yellow card: James Curry; 50 mins – Leinster U-19s try: Shane McGuigan – 8-26; conversion: Cory O’Connor – 8-28; 64 mins – Leinster U-19s try: Ryan Ovenden – 8-33; conversion: missed by James Curry – 8-33; Full-time – Ulster U-19s 8 Leinster U-19s 33

ULSTER U-19: James Kerr (RBAI); Ryan McDowell (Larne Grammar School), Max Readman (Sullivan Upper School), Callum Largey (Methodist College Belfast), Matthew Callaghan (Regent House School); Owen O’Kane (Rainey Endowed School) (capt), Fergus Callington (IQ Rugby); Matthew Wright (Ballymena Academy), Nathan Noble (Sullivan Upper School), Angus Graham (Dalriada School), Noah Bell (Banbridge Academy), Paddy Woods (Campbell College), Sam Clarke (Enniskillen Royal Grammar School), Harry McIlwaine (Omagh Academy), Charlie Hargy (Ballymena Academy).

Replacements: Michael McCavery (Wallace High School), Luke Caskey (Rainey Endowed School), Ranaan Potter (Campbell College), Dylan Fox (Malone RFC), Harry Lamont (Ballymena Academy), Luke Gibson (RBAI), Reuben Allen (Ballymena Academy), Russell Lovo (Campbell College).

LEINSTER U-19: James Curry (Wicklow RFC); Ryan Ovenden (Greystones RFC), Daniel Norval (Wexford Wanderers RFC), Matthew Brennan (Castleknock College), Ronan Kelly (St Gerard’s School); Cory O’Connor (Castleknock College) (capt), Alex Crawley (St. Mary’s College); Louis Magee (Blackrock College), Marcus McCarthy (Belvedere College), Henry Maher (Cistercian College Roscrea), Michael Bolger (Suttonians RFC), Max Egan (St. Mary’s College), Shane McGuigan (Longford RFC), Ben O’Toole (Castleknock College), Arthur Ashmore (Clongowes Wood College).

Replacements: Jack McGovern (St. Gerard’s School), Conor Canniffe (St. Michael’s College), Lorcan Golden (Blackrock College), Tom Reynolds (CBC Monkstown), Evan Brophy (Cistercian College Roscrea), Andrew Stronge (St. Mary’s College), Alvaro Swords (Terenure College), Ethan Balamash (Terenure College).

Referee: Rob McGreer (IRFU)

PWC UNDER-19 MEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS/FIXTURES –

Saturday, August 16 –

Connacht 12 Munster 34, Creggs RFC

Sunday, August 17 –

Ulster 8 Leinster 33, Affidea Stadium

Saturday, August 23 –

Ulster v Munster, Newforge, 5pm

Sunday, August 24 –

Leinster v Connacht, Energia Park, 3pm

Saturday, August 30 –

Connacht v Ulster, Creggs RFC, 1pm

Sunday, August 31 –

Munster v Leinster, Virgin Media Park, 5pm