Young Munster pushed all the way by improved UL Bohs
Instead it developed into a thriller with the home side relieved to escape with a one point victory that sends them into the semi-finals where they will meet the winners of the post-Christmas clash of Nenagh Ormond and Dolphin.
Bohs turned up intent on building on some recent impressive performances and gave as good as they got from start to finish before eventually going down by 14-13. They caused Young Munster head coach David Corkery and backs coach Ian Keatley plenty of anxious moments, especially up to the point 10 minutes into the second-half when South African scrum-half Abrie Griesel dived over for what turned out to be the decisive score.
Even then, Munsters, who captured the last of their seven titles in 2010, couldn’t afford to relax and were right under the cosh after 78 minutes when a Bohs try by replacement Joe Murray converted by Rick McKenna left a single point separating the sides. Understandable over eagerness, however, caused a penalty call against them on the restart and Munsters played out the few remaining minutes without undue difficulty.
Bohs, who have to go back to 1962 for the most recent of their four cup successes, looked the more dangerous side for much of the first-half and were a little unlucky to turn over three points in arrears.
Munsters centre Lyons hit the target with three penalties while Rick McKenna for Bohs knocked over two kicks while also missing a relatively easy shot on 27 minutes. It was to prove a very costly miscue.
The second-half got under way with a heavy drizzle driving the wind downfield and helping Bohs.
But some stern words from Corkery seemed to have the desired result and Munsters assumed control within 10 minutes of the resumption when the elusive Griesel darted over for a a well taken try.
But Lyons’s attempted conversion dropped short into the wind. There was little to enthuse the attendance of around 200 until the closing moments when an astute little chip by Bohs out-half Robbie Burke set up a try for Murray which McKenna converted. But it was just too little, too late.
C O’Hanlon; M Vaughan, C Clohessy, G Lyons, D O’Neill; D O’Mahony, A Griesel; P Meyer, G Slattery capt, D Begley, T Goggin, S Duggan, A Ross, D Dee, Y Browne. Rolling replacements – S Fenton, G Ryan, P Allen, E Mundu, D Ryan, G Fitzgerald, P Downes.
R McKenna; A Rossiter, S Sterling, K McManus, R White; R Burke, C Miller; P King, J Bennett, M Lynch, N Kinane, D Frawley, J Ryan, I Condell capt, B Walsh. Rolling replacements – J Moloney, C Wells, C Dodd, J Codyre, C Irwin, J Murray, J McNamara.
T O’Donoghue (MAR).
