Bonus point for Munster in mediocre affair

Munster 27, Connacht 27

The official played an inordinate nine minutes of injury time and then put the proverbial boot in by penalising Connacht in the very last play.

Like Bradley, the Munster fans will have mixed feelings about this display, sometimes brilliant in the first half but shoddy in the second.

That last gasp penalty from Paul Burke was Munster’s only score in the second half during which Connacht came from 14-24 down to lead 27-14.

Munster’s problems stemmed from a deficiency in the set pieces.

The positives came in the form of quality play in the loose, with Jerry Flannery, Jim Williams, Stephen Keogh and Frankie Roche particularly conspicuous up front while the back division created many passages of quality play.

Munster made the most of their first half opportunities and produced four tries to guarantee them, if nothing else, a bonus point.

The opening score came on 11 minutes from Connacht centre Niall O’Brien who was sent through by Paul Warwick and the out-half converted.

But Munster proved to have plenty in reserve and Christian Cullen sent Anthony Horgan speeding in a few minutes later.

Midway through the opening spell Cullen charged through and managed to offload to Leamy who went in for a try that Burke converted.

A bad pass from scrum half Mike Prendergast allowed Conor McPhillips in for a soft try that Warwick converted.

Shaun Payne got Munster’s third try after Leamy, Horgan and Flannery did the heavy work, and on the stroke of half-time Cullen was rewarded for his high work rate when he finished off a move executed by Jason Holland to score at the posts. Burke converted for a 24-14 lead at the break.

Munster were unable to sustain that effort as Connacht took control.

Warwick kicked a penalty after seven minutes and Adrian Clarke got a crucial try that Warwick converted after 13 minutes.

The out half put Connacht into the lead with a penalty 15 minutes from time and it seemed ironic that substitute Eric Elwood should be partially to blame for giving it up.

Elwood’s clearance was charged down. Leamy picked up in space, Munster drove forward and two Connacht defenders stepped offside to afford Burke and Munster the opportunity to salvage something from a disappointing second half display.

MUNSTER: C. Cullen, J. Kelly, S. Payne, J. Holland, A. Horgan, P. Burke, M. Prendergast, F. Roche, J. Flannery, G. McIlwham, T. Bowman, T. Hogan, S. Keogh, J. Williams (captain), D. Leamy. Replacements. R. Henderson for Holland (78), D. Ryan for Bowman (81), temporary, J. Storey for Kelly (52-57).

CONNACHT: D. Slemen, T. Robinson, M. Mostyn, N. O’Brian, C. McPhillips, P. Warwick, T. Tierney, A. Clarke, J. Fogarty, P. Bracken, C. Short, A. Farley (captain), J. Muldoon, J. O’Sullivan, M. Lacey. Replacements. E. Elwood for Slemen (60), C. O’Loughlin for Tierney (68), H. Bourke for Fogarty (75), P. Neville for O'Sullivan (83).

Referee: N. Owens (Wales).

Munster have launched a new Academy for young, elite players and two of the stars of Ireland’s recent Schools trip to Australia have been included amongst five newcomers.

Duncan Williams and Tom Gleeson are joined by Ross Noonan, Donnacha Ryan and Mark Melbourne in an Academy that has Donal Lenihan as chairman and Hamish Adams, the former Dolphin coach, as manager.

The Munster Academy board also includes Munster coach Alan Gaffney, chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald, Ultan O’Callaghan, Mark McDermott, Philip Danagher and IRFU representative Eddie Wigglesworth.