The result was never going to be the primary indicator of the worth of this pre-season workout, but in running in six tries and building important momentum, there was a lot to like about the performance from Noel McNamara’s Ireland Under-20s.

Crowley, who won the AIL Try of the Month award for December, is one of three Munstermen to face their home province.

“IF it wasn’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all,” was the assessment of Clare’s County Board’s liaison officer with the footballers, Tommy Downes, the county’s ‘Mr Football’.