Garryowen 14 Young Munster 20: YOUNG MUNSTER made a dream start on their return to the top grade with a thrilling win against arch rivals Garryowen at Dooradoyle last night.

It looked as if all Young Munster’s good work would be in vain after Garryowen edged in front with a try by Robert Meyer just after the hour mark. But six minutes later Young Munster regained the lead when Danny Grace raced in and man of the match Alan Kingsley landed the conversion.

Young Munster could scarcely believe their good fortune when they swept into a 13-0 lead after only 17 minutes. Kingsley popped over a ninth-minute penalty and three minutes later Willie Staunton’s chip landed into the hands of Darragh O’Neill for a Young Munster try which Kingsley converted and he then added a penalty.

Three penalties by Conor Murray had Garryowen trailing by only 9-13 at the break and when Meyer got his try it looked like Garryowen would snatch it.

But once they got back their six -points advantage Young Munster held out in what was a magnificent start to the new campaign.

The defences on both sides were superb but the Young Munster men did best when they weathered a onslaught on their line in the last five minutes of the first half.

GARRYOWEN: L Bourke; I Hanley, C O'Shea, K Hartigan, C Hircock; C Doyle, C Murray; JP Cooney, R Meyer, D Lavery; F McKenna, A McCloskey; P Neville, C Hartigan, D Sherry.

YOUNG MUNSTER: R Moloney; C O'Hanlon, M Costello, D Grace, D O'Neill; W Staunton, A Kingsley; G Flaherty, G Slattery, H McGrath; D Payne, S O'Neill; L Og Murphy, S Hassett, N Melbourne.

Referee: A Rolland(IRFU).