UL take points and bragging rights in eight-try thriller

UL Bohemians 42 Young Munster 3

UL/Bohs have been there or thereabouts over the past few years in an all-out bid to establish themselves as a Division One side and they’re certainly going in the right direction. Yesterday’s five-pointer moves them within four of joint pacesetters UCC, St Marys and Dolphin, and with at least one game in hand on all three.

Meanwhile, Young Munster, with only Highfield beneath them at the foot of the table, are doubtless shattered at putting 31 points on the would-be champions, but still left without even the consolation of a bonus point. UL/Bohs have discovered a match winner in their Aussie out-half Ben Martin and they needed him on the top of his form, as Munsters recovered from a slow start to jump into a 17-10 lead after 25 minutes.

Martin struck early with a penalty and then a try he converted himself, only to see Munsters hit a golden period during which winger Derek Corcoran scored two tries converted by Mark Connolly, who also landed a penalty.

UL/Bohs came back with a Martin penalty and a try following a line-out maul by Anthony Hartigan, although the first of Connolly’s three dropped goals kept Munsters two points in front, 20-18, at the break. The second period was five minutes old when superb opportunism by flanker John Ed O’Connor, arguably the most influential figure on the park, restored the UL/Bohs lead. He took a quick tap at a penalty award 30 metres out and surprised the Munster defence with a spectacular run to the posts for a try that Martin converted.

UL/Bohs never looked back as they took the battle to the opposition, even though hooker Gordon Ryan followed O’Connor into the bin. Connolly’s drop goal expertise kept Munsters in the picture, but Martin also shone in this area with a fine strike on the hour. At that stage his side led 28-23 and it was all over when full-back Colm Garvey and Martin McPhail ran in a couple of tries both of which were converted by Martin.

Munsters could only manage Connolly’s third dropped goal and a last minute try by Alan McNulty, and even that wasn’t enough to salvage anything tangible from what was a very frustrating afternoon for coach Tony Grant and his side. Still, if they continue to play with the spirit and fire so evident yesterday, they will assuredly avoid the dreaded drop to the third division.

UL/BOHEMIANS: C. Garvey; A. Rees (I. Hanley 43 mins), C. Finn, M. McPhail, B. O’Donnell; B. Martin, C. O’Boyle; M. Harty (K. Flanagan 76), G. Ryan, M. Storey, B. Madigan, A. Hartigan, R. Hartigan, J.E. O’Connor, P. Van Esbeck.

YOUNG MUNSTER: S. Carey; S. Howe, C. Casey, A. McNulty, Derek Corcoran; M. Connolly, T. Cronin (David Corcoran 63), D. McNamara, P. McMahon, H. McGrath, J. Gilmartin, D. Payne, D. Kennedy, K. Horan, A. Herlihy.

REFEREE: S. Flannery (Munster).