A cracking game to maintain the IRFU's successful Friday evening entertainment at Donnybrook. Given the senior team's value for money in the European Cup these past few weeks, the under-21s from Leinster and Connacht had much to live up to.
They did just that in a game of open, running play, some fantastic mauling from the visitors and at times wonderfully reckless rugby which in the last 10 minutes served up three tries which twisted the match in Connacht's favour.
There were, of course, some eye catchers. Connacht's Martin McPhail, with two tries, showed how every hungry centre should finish, while Barry Lynn, the Leinster outside centre, and James Norton on the right wing scorched various trails around the park.
The opening exchanges saw Buccaneers kicker Colm Glynn put Connacht ahead with a penalty before Leinster replied quickly after with a try that germinated in midfield with St Mary's Barry Lynn and ended with Terenure winger Philip Costello finishing in the corner.
Just before the break Connacht conducted one of their driving mauls from a right touch lineout. They drilled down the right before releasing across field for McPhail to wriggle over for 10-16.
Connacht came out forcing Leinster into some desperate but effective defending. After an exchange of penalties, Rob Connolly found himself in space following a Leinster midfield break and the galloping Norton arrived to finish in the corner for 18-22.
Three minutes later St Mary's Conor McPhilips collected just inside the Connacht half and ran 40 metres for what appeared to be the winner.
With just two minutes remaining the Connacht pack drove and mauled to within feet of the line and McPhail nicked over from the side of the scrum for Glynn to convert for 25-29. Only then the crowd caught their breath.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: C Glynn pen 0-3; 11 mins: P Costelloe try, E Hickey con 3-7; 19 mins: C Glynn pen 7-6; 22 mins: C Glynn pen 7-9; 32 mins: E Hickey pen 10-9; 39 mins: M McPhail try, C Glynn con 10-16. Halftime. 60 mins: C Glynn pen 10-19; 63 mins: E Hickey pen 13-19; 66 mins: C Glynn pen 13-22; 70 mins: J Norton try 18-22; 73 mins: C McPhilips try, E Hickey con 25-22; 78 mins: M McPhail try, C Glynn con 25-29.
LEINSTER UNDER-21: B Burke (Barnhall); J Norton (St Mary's), B Lynn (St Mary's), J Downey (Clontarf), P Costelloe (Terenure); E Hickey (UCD), B O'Riordan (UCD); J Lynn (Lansdowne), B Blaney (Terenure), J Keogh (Terenure), R Bolger (Carlow), C Davis (UCD), S Jenning's (St Mary's, capt), R Connolly (Greystones), M Carroll (Blackrock). Replacements: K Corrigan for Blaney (40 mins); M Olima for Costelloe (47 mins); C McPhilips for Burke (61 mins). A Kelly for Jennings (77 mins).
CONNACHT UNDER-21; J Meagher (Buccaneers); B Liddy (Galwegians), F McLoughlin (Galwegians), M McPhail (UL Bohemians), P O'Sullivan (Skerries); C Glynn (Buccaneers), C O'Loughlin (Buccaneers); C Hussey (Old Belvedere), H Burke (Old Belvedere), W Maxwell (Garyowen), A Maher (DU), C Murphy (Clontarf), J Muldoon (Galwegians), I Muldoon (Galwegians), A Conboy (Corinthians).
Referee D Keane (ARLB).
