- BKT United Rugby Championship Round 15
- AIL: Young Munster carry Limerick title hopes
- Champions Richmond take title with some style
- Mid-week Rugby Round-up with limerickrugby.ie
- St Mary’s face big league challenge in Thurles
- Richmond take a step closer to Junior League title
- ‘Munsters’ record another victory in their league quest
- Limerick rugby shocked by the passing of Tom Tierney
- Despite defeat coach Gerry Slattery hails his players
- PBC scrape home after thrilling SMC come-back
- Big game for Richmond: ‘Munsters’ to advance in cup
- Frank Quinn looks at forthcoming Six Nations and RWC
- St Mary’s, NCW and Galbally-M earn league wins
- Young Munster’s spirit earns them late bonus points
- Ospreys no match for slick and hungry Munster men
- Can Young Munster move closer to 1993 glory
- New signing will join Munster squad next season
- Zebo and Coombes return for Munster against Ospreys
- Munster’s fixtures for the run-in to Guinness PRO14
- Craig Casey gets the call as Ireland name their 6N 36
- The ‘Clueless Munster’ tag hits a nerve locally
- Late try snatches likely victory away from Munster
- Classic derby game beckons as teams are named
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
Brilliant Earls try seals victory over Leinster
- Updated: 29/12/2018
By Aidan Corr
Thomond Park
Guinness PRO14 Championship:
Munster 26, Leinster 17
WITH a 13-3 lead at half-time and faced by 14 for the rest of the game, Munster held the initiative. They started the second half well, Joey Carbery pushing the lead to 16-3 with a fourth successful kick with four minutes played. Leinster stepped up the pace from the restart, trusted their pack and were rewarded when James Tracy got over and Sexton reduced the lead to 16-10 after 49 minutes. Keith Earls was always creative when he got the ball and a trademark kick and chase caused havoc in the Leinster defence.
The Blues went close in the 53rd minute but lost the ball at a five metre lineout. As tiredness set in and the replacements were rolled out, the next score would be crucial. With 16 minutes left it went to Munster, Carbery landing another penalty to give his side more breathing space at 19-10.
Constant Leinster looked like reaping another seven pointer on 72 minutes but Keith Earls intercepted almost on his own line to run the full length of the field to score with Bleyendaal adding the conversion for a 26-10 lead. Full narks to Leinster, they got some consolation at the death with a converted try which put a better look on the scoreboard for the Blues.
The opening stages may have had their share of errors from both sides but as the game progressed, so did the intensity. On two occasions there were brawls that were more similar to a Conor McGreggor top of the bill encounter than a Saturday in Thomond Park.
Munster soaked up early pressure before taking the lead, Chris Coete getting over after a lineout maul. Carbery was accurate with the kick and the home supporters were in good voice.
Leinster then lost prop Cian Healy to the bin and we had to wait 22 minutes for the visitors’ first score, a penalty by Johnny Sexton to make it 7-3. Leinster wing James Lowe was shown the red card on 33 minutes and the loss of a player began to tell.
Munster enjoyed lengthy periods of possession for the rest of the half and a brace of penalties, both converted by Joey Carbery, saw them lead 13-3 at the break having lost Chris Cloete with an injury, replaced by Arno Botha.
Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, CJ Stander (C).
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Darren Sweetnam.
Leinster: Jordan Larmour; Noel Reid, Garry Ringrose, Rory O’Loughlin, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong; Scott Fardy, James Ryan; Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements, 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Conor O’Brien.
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