Lansdowne pushed hard by Munsters

Lansdowne 28 Young Munster 21

Lansdowne just held on for maximum points in a thrilling Ulster Bank League Division 1A game with Young Munster on the back pitch of the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

The win solidifies their place in the top two but they made hard work of it.

Lansdowne started each half superbly and seemed firmly in control. Joe McSwiney started the scoring when he blocked a kick on halfway, gathered the ball and ran 40 metres to touch down. Shortly after, from a quick 22 drop-out, Lansdowne created an overlap and Stephen Gardiner finished the move.

Just before half-time a Lansdowne 22 drop out was superbly caught by Eamon Carr and the ball was worked inside for Derry O’Connor to get Young Munster back in the game with a try which Gearoid Lyons converted.

However, Lansdowne again stormed from the traps at the start of the second half as McSwiney and Tom Farrell extended their lead. Scott Deasy converted those tries to make it 28-7.

Young Munster began to use their lineout to good effect and on the hour mark they were awarded a penalty-try off a driving maul. Lansdowne also had two players yellow-carded and Ger Slattery touched down off another drive from a lineout, with Lyons converting both. The Limerick side had further opportunities but Lansdowne held on.

LANSDOWNE: S Deasy; C Kelleher, T Farrell, M Roche, J Coleman; C McKeon, P O’Driscoll; I Prendeville, T Moran, A Boland; B Moylet, S Gardiner; J McSwiney, A Conneely, R Boucher (c)

Rolling Replacements: D Donnellan, E Torrie.

YOUNG MUNSTER: S O’Leary; E O’Keeffe, D Goggin, Gearoid Lyons, E Carr, W Staunton, R Guerin; A Cotter, G Slattery (c), M Kelly; D Gallagher, T Goggin; A Kennedy, Y Browne, S Rennison.

Rolling Replacements:G Ryan, D Ryan, E Mulcahy, C Hifo.

Referee: E Hogan-O’Connell (IRFU)