Young Munster pounded the Bohs 22 for most of the last 25 minutes but they failed to get the try that could have brought this final into extra time.
Inspired by the performances of JJ Hanrahan at out-half and Ben Martin at full-back, the Annacotty side controlled the opening half. Hanrahan landed a penalty from distance on five minutes and Bohs always threatened when they spread the ball wide. On 33 minutes Cathal Sheridan broke to the blind side, Ben Martin carried on the move and the Australian’s lengthy pass found Tommy O’Donnell who made the try line with some ease. Hanrahan added the conversion and it was 10-0 with 33 minutes played. Bohs’ second try came a few minutes before the break. Backs and forwards combined as they brought the play from the right hand touchline to the left, returning again to the right as they expertly held onto possession and Ben Martin’s crisp pass sent Tommy O’Donnell in for his second try of the game.
Young Munster showed more fire and determination in the second period and five minutes in, centre Lucas Kuntz picked up a loose ball close to the line and dived over with Willie Staunton missing the conversion. Staunton made amends on 49 minutes when he landed a penalty to make it 15-8 and hit the target again on 55 minutes to reduce the leeway to four points. Bohs made a rare assault on the ‘Munsters’ territory from the restart and were rewarded with a JJ Hanrahan penalty to bring the lead to 18-11. Young Munster got plenty of possession during the remainder of the game, twice they had men over, they were within inches of the try line but the Bohs defence held out magnificently.
Final score: UL Bohemian 18 – 11 Young Munster
Young Munster: D Bannon; C O’Hanlon, M Doi7le, L Kuntz, D O’Connor; W Staunton, E Mulcahy; D Murphy; G Burke, D Cantillon; S Duggan, D Gallagher; P Fitzgerald, L Russell, N Melbourne. Replacements, G Slattery, A Cotter, D Goggin, M McFadden, I Fitzgerald, S Upton, D Browne.
UL Bohemian: B Martin; F Ahern, M McPhail, N Kennelly, R Whyte; JJ Hanrahan, C Sheridan; T Burke, S Henry, A Simpson; E Kelly, C Kindragen, E Rossiter, T O’Donnell, S Rennison. Replacements: F Lawler, N O’Brien, B Walsh, I Condell, D Farrell, D Moroney.
Referee, Leo Colgan, MAR.
[courtesy of limerickrugby.ie]
Next 1st XV Fixture:
MUNSTER SENIOR CUP
Saturday 15th September
Young Munster V UCC
Tom Clifford Park 2.30pm
