Clontarf unleash firepower to blow gutsy Munsters away

Clontarf 37 Young Munster 19

Limerick’s sole representatives in Division 1A started at a ferocious pace and raced into a 14-3 lead after half an hour, despite playing with 14 men following Derry O’Connor’s sin-binning. Young Munster’s early surge was inspired by Shane O’Leary, who is back with Connacht after a spell with Grenoble.

But after Clontarf had cut the deficit to just a point at half-time, the scintillating pace of their back three was the deciding factor on the restart. It was certainly the crucial element of the game’s most eye-catching score, a length-of-the-field try after full-back Ariel Robles had picked the ball off his toes and combined with James Hawkshaw and Sam Cronin who fed winger Rob McGrath to score on 63 minutes for a 28-14 lead.