Faherty grabs decisive try as courageous Connacht retain title

Connacht retained their Junior Rugby Interprovincial title with a magnificent performance at Castleisland to deny the hosts the trophy.

The western province came to the Kerry venue trailing Munster by a point and had to win to claim the crown.

Munster dominated the opening half but the sides were level (6-6) at the break with Munster’s full back Ben Martin and his opposite number Robert O’Beirn kicking two penalties each.

Munster were again on top in the second half and Martin pushed them ahead with his third penalty.

The decisive score came as the game entered the final quarter when Greg Faherty intercepted a Munster pass and raced under the posts before O’Beirn added the extras.

Munster fought back valiantly but Connacht were not to be denied.

MUNSTER: B Martin (Clonmel); G Carroll (Clonmel), M Kinsella (Waterpark), D O’Keeffe (Crosshaven), P Earlie (Kanturk); M Lyons (Clonmel), R Geary (Cobh Pirates); A Simpson (Richmond), M Cronin (Castleisland), M McInerny (Ennis); S Burke (Galbally), S Walsh (Clanwilliam); B O’Sullivan capt (Tralee), G Phelan (Richmond), D McCabe (Kanturk).

Replacements: P Ryan (St Senan’s), F Lawlor (St. Senan’s), B O’Neill (Kanturk), B Lyons (Thurles), I Fitzgerald (St Senan’s), A Daly (Youghal), J McNamara (Richmond).

CONNACHT: R O’Beirn (Ballinasloe); K Corcoran (Westport), J Harrimate (Ballina), R Lee (Tuam), P Cosgrove (OLBC); J Murphy (Tuam), G Faherty (OLBC); J Walsh (OLBC), M Lee capt (Corrib), P McCreanor (OLBC); M Mullins (Loughrea), B Murphy(Monivea); W Cullinane (Loughrea), J Hayes, (Ballinasloe); S Burke (Tuam).

Replacements: M Ward (Tuam), A Lee (Ballina), R Coughlan (Monivea), J Moran (OLBC), A McNulty (Ballina), M Murphy (Ballina), D Dooley (OLBC), E Dowling (OLBC), T Moore (Ballina), C Hurst (Tuam).

Referee: M Correll (IRFU).