U-21 Inter-pros: Munster Gain Revenge

Three penalties from Garryowen fly-half Conan Doyle helped Munster gain revenge on champions Ulster in their Under-21 Inter-provincial Championship opener on Friday.

Ulster’s Thomas Anderson in action for Ireland Schools

UNDER-21 INTER-PROVINCIAL: Friday, September 2

Ulster U-21 5 Munster U-21 17, Ravenhill

Scorers: Ulster: Try: Jonny Watt

Munster: Try: Michael Essex; Pens: Conan Doyle; Drop: Tom Gleeson

Three penalties from Garryowen fly-half Conan Doyle helped Munster gain revenge on champions Ulster in their Under-21 Inter-provincial Championship opener on Friday.

Munster, defeated in Cork by the northerners last season, held all the aces as their pack outmuscled the home side at Ravenhill, allowing Doyle to kick them to victory.

Ulster, whose 18-year-old lock Thomas Anderson, a son of former Ireland international and current Ballynahinch coach Willie Anderson, was making his debut, had only two players back from last season’s squad, and admittedly struggled.

Winners of the U-21 championship in 2002/03 and 2003/04, Munster went 5-0 in front on 14 minutes when scrum-half Sam Cronin scooped a neat inside pass to flanker Michael Essex and he beat the cover to the Ulster line.

Geoff Moylan’s side had a suffocating hold on possession and territory and they pushed further ahead through Doyle’s first penalty on 44 minutes.

Centre Tom Gleeson tagged on a drop goal eight minutes later, and although Ulster number 10 Jonny Watt won the race to touch down his own kick ahead for a 62nd-minute try that went unconverted, Munster made certain of the win with a straight-on penalty from Doyle.

Moylan’s youngsters will look to build on their good start when they travel to Galway to meet Connacht U-21 next Friday. Ulster, led by inspirational number 8 David Pollock, will look to regroup against Leinster U-21.

ULSTER U-21: Rory Drysdale (Ballymena); Dale Black (Dungannon), Mark Scott (Ballynahinch), Jamie McGrugan (Ballymena), Richard Fegan (Malone) (Marc Suiter (Cooke) (60)); Jonathon Watt (Dublin Uni), Joe Burns (Dublin Uni) (Adam Bartholomew (QUB) (75)); Graham Murphy (Dublin Uni) (Aaron Burns (Ards) (76)), Chris Knipe (Dungannon), Gary Mitchell (Instonians), Jamie Cornett (QUB) (Neville Magee (Omagh) (55)), Thomas Anderson (QUB), Adrian Saunderson (Ballyclare), Willie Faloon (Ballynahinch), David Pollock (QUB) (Capt).

MUNSTER U-21: Ian Hanley (UL Bohs); Eric Moloney (UCC), Alistair Ross (Cork Con), Tom Gleeson (Cork Con), Ed Mills (Dolphin); Conan Doyle (Garryowen), Sam Cronin (PBC); Darragh Hurley (UCC), Batt Duggan (UCC) (Cathal Parkes (UL Bohs) (78)), Dave Ryan (Highfield), Ben Nagle (UCC), Chris Kenefick (UCC), Billy Holland (UCC), Michael Essex (UCC) (Barry O’Mahoney (Crescent College) (69)), David Sherry (Garyrowen).

Referee: Paul Haycock (Leinster)

U-21 Inter-provincial Championship Fixtures:

Friday September 9: Connacht U-21 v Munster U-21, The Sportsground, 6.00pm; Leinster U-21 v Ulster U-21, Donnybrook, 6.30pm

Friday September 16: Munster U-21 v Leinster U-21, Thomond Park, 7.00pm; Saturday, September, 17: Ulster U-21 v Connacht U-21, Ravenhill, 1.00pm

Saturday September 24: Series Play-Offs, Dubarry Park, Buccaneers RFC