Connacht Under-19 10 Munster Under-19 16:Munster edged out Connacht in a highly-competitive under-19 clash at the Galway Sportsground yesterday to claim to their first win of the interprovincial series.
In a fast-paced game in which both sides showed a willingness to spread the ball, Munster pulled through in the second half with two long-range penalties from outhalf Andrew Burke.
They were the only scores of a robust second period in which both defences refused to buckle, and with little between the sides, Munster just deserved the victory by virtue of Burke's kicking accuracy.
The sides were level, 10-10, at the break after Munster fortuitously drew level when awarded a penalty try. Connacht fullback John O'Brien was adjudged to have impeded Munster right wing Mark Doyle in a kick and chase for the ball. Burke converted.
Connacht, who had the edge in the territorial stakes with the wind at their backs, had opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty from outhalf David Clarke from just inside the 10-metre line, but Munster took their opportunity to post a drop goal after eight minutes.
Munster were made to play when they lost the ball in contact, and Connacht prop Conor Higgins was quickest to react, setting up the platform for lock Fergus Moyles to crash over for the opening try after 27 minutes, which Clarke converted.
However their 10-3 lead was wiped out when O'Brien, an All-Ireland minor football medallist with Galway, clashed with Doyle seven minutes later.
CONNACHT: J O'Brien; C Moyles, B Henshaw,T McDonagh, L Keegan; D Clarke, A O'Connell; J East, S O'Maille, C Higgins, F Moyles, J Moran, D Ott, L Carpenter, D Murphy. Replacements: G Leader for Ott (66 mins).
MUNSTER: O Mulrooney; M Doyle, B O'Regan, I Cross, F Aherne; A Burke, C Nolan; D Kavanagh, P Kelliher, P O'Donovan, K O'Dwyer, D Frawley, P O'Mahony, B Sheehan, B O'Callaghan. Replacements: C Moore for Nolan, D Cantillon for O'Donovan (both 50 mins); J Mulcahy for O'Dwyer (61 mins); P Cleary for Sheehan (66 mins).
Referee: J Quinn (MAR).
